11/20/13 - It was standing room only at a public hearing to discuss partying on Base Line Lake last night at the Hamburg Township Hall. Residents on the lake have been complaining for years to township officials and police about partying and music on the lakeâs sand bar. A local watercraft control ordinance has been suggested as a possible solution, giving police more power to combat such activities. The Department of Natural Resources would have to give final approval for any such ordinance, so public input was sought at a special meeting before the boardâs regular meeting last night. Well over a hundred people showed up. Residents of the lake said the partying can get offensive and out of control, infringing on the rights of property owners and posing a safety hazard. Other people, including some residents, insisted that the claims were exaggerated and the partying was not overly harmful to residents. Others defended the practice by claiming the sand bar was public land and that people should be free to use it as they please. The township will be taking the input from the residents into account as it considers what to do next. Supervisor Pat Hohl told attendees that in addition to considering the ordinance, the board may look into putting more money toward marine patrols in next yearâs budget. The board will likely take action on the partying issue at its next regular meeting. (TD)
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