Lawton committee advances Lake Lawtonka fee increase

LAWTON, Okla. (KSWO) - The Lawton Fee Committee held a special meeting this morning to discuss increases in annual boathouse fees at Lake Lawtonka.

Three years ago, the Lawton City Council approved phased increases in annual boathouse space fees until the full $3,500 rate is achieved in the coming years.

Today the committee voted to send the next phased 25-percent increase to the City Council for its approval.

“The 25 percent increase on boathouses is a continuation from the initial project which started in 2023 based on a master plan study to get boathouses to a fair market rate, and we’ve taken it through our lakes and land commission and today was the fee committee to get their input on if 25 percent was amenable; that’s what the rate is currently,” Lake Superintendent Jim Bonnarens said.

In the meeting, Larry Parks, the City’s Director of Community Enrichment, mentioned that the money from these fees goes directly to upkeep and improvements at the lake.

Separately, the committee also advanced a one-year freeze of annual boathouse lease fees at the 2026 rate for all tenants at Lake Ellsworth due to severely low water depths.