By Alex Paul
Albany Democrat-Herald | Posted: Sunday, September 16, 2007 12:00 am
CLEAR LAKE - Mark Smith's skills as a jack-of-all-trades has already come in handy in his position as the new ranger at Clear Lake Resort, about four miles south of Highway 20 on Highway 126.
Smith, 41, brings 18 years' experience to the job, which includes the maintenance of 16 cabins, a restaurant and store, 85 row boats, dock space and day-use picnic areas. Brian Carroll, Linn County parks supervisor, says Smith is up to the task.
"He comes into the job with a great deal of experience and has hit the ground running, which we knew he would," Carroll said. "He's really helping us during this transition time."
Smith spent 18 years with Oregon State Parks, most recently at Manzanita. He's been on the county job since Aug. 20.
An Idaho native, Smith got a degree in criminal justice from Boise State University, but a summer parks job put a curve in his career path. He noticed parks employees seemed happy about going to work. After graduation, he started at Oregon's Smith Rock, then worked in the Columbia Gorge and on the coast. A friend told him about the Clear Lake job, for which there were about 30 applicants.
"I have family in the Redmond and Sisters areas," Smith said of his move. "Also, it looks like a good challenge."
Smith said he has tried to work in all areas of the operation during his first few weeks on the job, everything from working on cabins to renting boats and working in the restaurant's kitchen. He believes it's important to understand what the resort is now before he can gain a vision of what it could be.
"Our first goal will be safety improvement and infrastructure upgrades," Smith said. "We need to do work on the cabins. There are people who have been coming here for years and like things the way they are, then there are new visitors who would like to see things changed a bit."
Cabin and boat rentals have been brisk this summer, Smith said. "We have 85 boats and one day, we had all but three of them rented," Smith said. "We eventually want to upgrade all of the boats to aluminum. The wooden boats are traditional, but they require a lot of maintenance and the paint chips also get into the water." Boats rent for $25 per day or $10 per hour. Cabins rent from $50 to $110 per day. Tent camping is $15 per night.
Smith will live on-site year round. There are six seasonal workers on duty until October, when the restaurant will be open only Friday through Sunday. Smith will be the only full-time staff member at the resort through the winter, but it will remain open for cabin and boat rentals.
Smith is divorced but shares custody of his two children with his former wife.
"I've really enjoyed going out in a boat late in the day with my two children, Logan, 11, and Grace, 9," Smith said.