Russell Slaton
russell@themonitor.net

CANEY CITY–Henderson County Precinct 1 Commissioner Wendy Spivey told The Monitor Oct. 7 about her precinct’s work in fixing the Caney City boat ramp, which is on the north side of the State Highway 198 bridge from Malakoff.
“The Caney City boat ramp is an important public resource for Henderson County and the Cedar Creek Lake community,” Spivey said. “It is one of the few remaining places on Cedar Creek Lake where the public can launch a boat free of charge, and Henderson County Precinct 1 has maintained this facility since 2007.”
Spivey also shared: “Earlier this year, I applied for a Lowe’s community improvement grant in hopes of securing outside funding to make much-needed improvements to the boat ramp. Although we were not selected for the grant, the need for the repairs did not go away.”
Spivey said that when the lake level dropped significantly, her precinct had a rare opportunity to address problems that are normally underwater and difficult to repair. “Rather than let that opportunity pass, Precinct 1 moved forward with the most critical work.”
Spivey said approximately $11,000 was spent on concrete work. “We removed and replaced a deteriorated section of the existing ramp and added approximately 10 yards of concrete to extend the ramp farther into the lake,” commented the commissioner. “Previously, the ramp ended with a significant drop-off, which could create problems for boaters, particularly during low-water conditions. Extending the ramp provides a safer and more usable transition for launching and retrieving boats.:”
Spivey said Precinct 1 also spent a few hundred dollars on materials to construct a temporary cofferdam that allowed the work area to remain dry enough for the concrete repairs. “The remainder of the project was completed using Precinct 1 employees and county equipment, allowing us to make a substantial public improvement while keeping additional costs to taxpayers as low as possible.”
Continued the commissioner, “I believe maintaining this facility is a worthwhile investment of public funds. Cedar Creek Lake is one of our community’s greatest resources, but public access is becoming increasingly limited. This ramp gives families, fishermen, recreational boaters and visitors an opportunity to enjoy the lake without paying a launch fee or belonging to a private marina.
“This was not simply about pouring concrete. It was about preserving free public access to Cedar Creek Lake, correcting a safety and usability issue, and taking advantage of a limited window when the lake level allowed us to do the work properly.
“My responsibility as Precinct 1 Commissioner is to take care of the public assets entrusted to us and to use taxpayer dollars responsibly. By combining a relatively modest expenditure for materials and contracted concrete work with the labor and equipment we already have, we were able to make an improvement that should benefit the public for many years to come.”