A member of the Frankfort Utility Service Board is pushing back against social media claims that the city is “destroying the lagoons,” pointing instead to several years of improvements at the Frankfort Lagoons Wildlife Sanctuary.
Rick Gunyon, one of five members of the Utility Service Board (USB) and the board’s liaison to the sanctuary, said the allegations circulating online do not reflect the work that has been done at the site.
According to Gunyon, the USB manages and maintains the property as a public service, keeping it free for residents to enjoy activities such as birdwatching, fishing, walking, and running.
Gunyon outlined a series of upgrades completed over the past three years, including the renovation and repainting of the two shelter areas, the installation of additional trash containers emptied weekly, and the stocking of the ponds with 4,000 fish by a professional fish farm. New pond aerators were added to limit algae growth and support fish health, and multiple improvements were made to ensure compliance with federal ADA regulations.
He added that overgrown brush and trees have been removed and that the wetlands overlook platform was rebuilt with the help of a donation made in memory of a well-known local resident.
More recently, utility employees placed crushed limestone around several viewing benches to correct erosion that had made the areas unsafe. A gate was also installed at the pond ramp; while boating is not permitted for safety reasons, staff must occasionally access the water for maintenance.
Gunyon said the city manages lagoon donations while the utility board provides an annual budget for upkeep and enhancements.
Addressing the online claims directly, Gunyon called them “false accusations” and said such posts contribute to unnecessary controversy in the community. He encouraged residents with concerns about the lagoons to bring them to the public comment portion of any Utility Service Board meeting.
USB meetings are held at 4 p.m. on the first and third Monday of each month at the FMU I.T. Building, 1050 Washington Avenue, behind the Frankfort Electric Power and Light facility.