County to regulate wakeboard boats, blasting
But won’t privatize docks
Staff writer
County commissioners decided Monday to restrict wakeboarding boats on the county lake and to draft a policy on blasting after Orsted blasted a blade off a wind turbine a week and a half ago.
Lake residents often complain about the potential for damage to docks and tied boats because of the large waves wakeboarding boats produce.
“Nobody likes them unless they have one,” lake superintendent Isaac Hett said.
Wakes can cause shoreline erosion, damage to aquatic habitats and vegetation, disruption of water quality and clarity, and spread of invasive species through the boats’ ballast tanks, Hett said. Wakes can cause unsafe conditions for swimmers, kayakers, and people in smaller boats.
“I think we could talk to some of the boat owners out there,” Hett said.
He said it could be possible to create an area where wake boats could be used, but as small as Marion County’s lake is, that might not be practical.
Perhaps six owners use wakeboard boats on the lake, but not all of them on the same weekends, he said.
Commissioners liked Hett’s ideal of making regulations that would allow owners to use the boats, just under a restrictions on ballast use.
Hett suggested having a policy that if owners don’t follow the lake’s guidelines, their boats could be banned.
Hett also talked to commissioners about some residents’ requests to privatize lake docks.
Commissioners decided not to privatize docks.
Commissioner Clarke Dirks said docks should be public, and owners should enforce rules against their misuse.
Commissioner Kent Becker said he wished the county could generate enough revenue to have an enforcement officer regulate dock use.
Dirks said the county needed to develop a blasting policy because of Orsted’s wind turbines.
“It may not happen in our lifetime, but eventually, that stuff is going to have to come down,” Dirks said. “I’d love to see more openness from Orsted, but I don’t think we’re going to get it.”
County counselor Brad Jantz said that under the circumstances that the turbine stopped operating after being struck by lightning, Orsted had removed the blade in an acceptable way.
“All I’m asking for is, let us know ahead and time and let us know what’s happening,” Dirks said.
Commissioners instructed Jantz to draft a blasting policy.
Dirks said Orsted contacted County Administrator Tina Spencer about blasting off a blade Aug. 25 but she didn’t tell commissioners until Aug. 29 — the day the blade was blasted.
The blade had been damaged by lightning.
“I’d like to know what they’re doing,” Dirks said.
He asked to be on site when the blade was blasted, but was ignored.
Dirks said when he contacted Kansas Department of Health and Environment he was told that Orsted had removed all debris. He asked KDHE for a copy of their inspection report.
According to Spencer, debris from the explosion has been removed and the stub of the blade will be removed later.
In other business, District Administrative Judge Ben Sexton talked to commissioners about raising what the county pays in jury fees.
The county pays $10 a day. Other counties are adjusting what they pay.
“I would certainly encourage you to take a look at this,” Sexton said.
Sexton gave commissioners a proposed resolution to raise the fees so they could consider it.