Winneshiek County will seek penalties against campground for weekend rock concerts

Winneshiek County supervisors on Monday morning agreed to ask County Attorney Andy Van der Maaten to go to court against Chimney Rock Campground for failing to get a conditional use permit authorizing the past weekend's "Adventure Camp" rock concerts.

County supervisors say Chimney Rock Campground owner Deb Keefe was warned twice about the need to apply for a conditional use permit for the event, but failed to do so.  County zoning officials sent a letter to the campground owner August 16th informing her of the need to apply for a conditional use permit for the concerts.  They reminded her again of the requirement on August 19th.

Van der Maaten had told supervisors the county's zoning ordinance allows for a $100/day fine for failing to apply for a conditional use permit.  It also allows the county to recover "additional expenses incurred."  Sheriff Leon Bohr says he added staffing over the weekend because of concerns about the rock concerts.