Billings, MT City Council Minutes

[Al]

I think that communities are lashing out at rvers that want to go to a
Walmart and stay a few days in the parking lot. Setup camp pull out
the ole grill and pop a beer. If rvers were just passing thru and
spending a night and moving on, then communities would not be reacting
this way. Instead, it looks like rvers are over-staying themselves in
Billing, Montana.

Lets look at this from the campground owner perspective: This family
has a morgage to pay, employees to pay and all the rest of the bills
associated with running a business, which is based on what they
perceive to be rvers that might stay at their campground. If they
don't protect their right as a business trying to make an honest
living then how are they to survive. Walmart is free, RV park cost a
minimal sum of money.

We did not go thru Billing, MT but we did go thru Cody, Wyoming. We
did notice when we went thru Cody, no less than 12 RVs parked in
Walmart for the night and it was right around lunch. If someone says
KOA cost too much, I would say down the road less than 10 miles is a
state park that run $12 a night. The state park which I might add was
just beautiful was maybe 1/3 full. Lots of spaces everywhere.
Buffalo Bill Reser has my recommendation. Its set on a dam on the
side of a hill. Any RV no matter the size can get in and locate a
space. Clearly we are in their community taking up their resources.
We should give back to them moneys that is rightfully due.

If we were merely passing thru and needed a place to stay and no other
campgrounds are available, then Walmart would be an appropriate
setting. If we planned to stay a few days, then a campground whether
private or public is the more appropriate setting. This ordance if
you read closely is trying to prevent the Walmart Campground Syndrome
where as people setup camp for an extended period of time. We also
must note that when we dry camp in Walmart parking lot, many times we
are looking for somewhere to dump our trash and tanks and take on
water without paying for those priviledges. And after just surviving
Hurricane Katrina where I had a dumpster we use for my business being
taken over with everyone's except mine rotten food, I have a different
perspective on dumping into a dumpster that I am not paying to be
picked up. So I am not trying to start a debate here, just saying if
every rver were not over-staying their welcome, then communities like
this would not be putting laws on the books.

Al & Kathy Johnson
'96 BMC 37'
Mandeville, Louisiana


--- In WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com, "ronmarabito2002"
wrote:
> O.K., I hope this makes up for the lack of comments attached to my
> last message related to comments made by owners of two campgrounds
in
> Billings, MT. Go to this site:
>
>
http://ci.billings.mt.us/Online/PDF/Gove...TES_2005_0
> 8_15.pdf
>
>
> Please go and read the link and see if you like what these
businesses
> think about their customers. You and Me.
>
> They are definitely on my DO NOT CAMP HERE LIST.
>
> R.E. (Ron) Marabito, Dallas, TX 92WB40