(Wahpeton)– Broken down D-N-R Lakes Patrol boats and a lack of money to get them fixed or replaced was a topic of discussion at Saturday’s annual meeting of the Okoboji Protective Association.
The issue was brought up by Phil Petersen of the Iowa Great Lakes Water Safety Council, who reported the Lakes Patrol is now down to just one D-N-R-owned patrol boat and a supplemental boat provided by the Water Safety Council, in addition to another D-N-R-owned patrol boat on Big Spirit Lake. Petersen says another patrol boat developed engine problems a week or so ago, and that it could be atleast another week before it’s back into operation. Petersen says having only two operable boats on the Okoboji’s for the upcoming weekend is a concern, with a number of water-related events that will be going on. He described the situation as being near a crisis point.
To address the situation, OPA members voted unanimously for the organization to lease two patrol boats…one each from Mau Marine and Parks Marina…to be used by the Lakes Patrol the rest of the summer.
The OPA also directed its President, Greg Drees, to write a letter to D-N-R head Jeff Vonk addressing concern over a lack of funding for the Lakes Patrol.
