(Spirit Lake)– Lakes area residents and business owners sounded off Wednesday evening over the latest dock rules being proposed by the Iowa Department of Natural Resources at a hearing the agency hosted in Spirit Lake.
The latest proposal was drawn up by the DNR with assistance from a so-called “stakeholders” group consisting of residents, marina owners and others.
Most of the concerns deal with the proposed fee structure. While private property owners wouldn’t have to pay anything at all, homeowner associations and commercial operations, including marinas, would be looking at significant fee increases. Dee Simmons of Acorn Ridge Estates says that isn’t fair.
Lakes area businessman Tom Clary questioned the rationale behind the proposed new rules, saying if they’re intended to reduce the number of boats on the lake, that the DNR should conduct an environmental impact study before implementing them.
Lakes area resident Brett Thacker who served on the stake holder committee, feels this proposal isn’t much better than the first one presented a year and-a-half ago. He was also critical of the fee structure, saying it will bring in much more money that what’s needed to administer the new rule, saying it amounts to the agency trying to legislate an illegal tax. Thacker also feels the new rules are an effort by the DNR to privatize the Iowa Great Lakes. Ken Herring, Division Administrator for the DNR, took exception to that, saying Dickinson county by far has the most state land and public accesses than any other areas of the state. He says those were financed by money that came from outside this county.
Others who spoke at Wednesday’s hearing called for the elimination of an advisory committee that would rule on discretionary cases. They want local DNR officers to still have that ability. Others worry the new rules will be too cumbersome to enforce and will keep officers from more important tasks such as enforcing safety laws on the lakes.
Others who spoke called on a clearer definition for exceptions to the rules and that some setback requirements be reconsidered.
Herring indicated the DNR would take the concerns under advisement.
He added a final draft of the proposed rules will be completed in January or February and would then go to the Natural Resources Commission. From there Herring said it would go before the Administrative Rules Committee for final implementation. If things go accordingly, Herring said the new rules could go in effect no sooner than February or March, 2007.
