Billings, MT City Council Minutes

[Jack & Donna Smith]

Al, you raise some good points.. When we do stay in a WalMart, we
always ask the Manager about using their lot. Needing something,
always, we do our shopping and have some items in the cart while
talking to the manager... So we do not fill the dumster and not pay.
We usually move each day, and do not "Squat" in one spot...
.
As an earlier thread a couple of months ago stated that the various
rest areas are removing the dump stations. We need to dump somewhere!
The City of Newport Beach had Similar problems a number of years ago.
It seems that some boaters were dumping the tank just coear of the
harbor. There were Pumpout stations there: Yes FOUR (4) Stations for
NINE THOUSAND BOATS.. Any wonder why no one wanted to spend Saturday
morning waiting in line.. Finally, the City installed a Pumpout
station at any dock with more than a few boats.. This cured the
problem somewhat.
Jack Smith
SoCal
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--- In WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com, "Al" wrote:
> 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