12/4/13 - There will be no new watercraft control ordinance for Hamburg Township in response to complaints of partying on Base Line Lake. 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 was suggested as a possible solution, giving police more power to combat such activities, and a public hearing to discuss that option last month heard opinions from dozens of residents. The township board decided at its regular meeting Tuesday not to pursue that option, following the recommendation of Police Chief Rick Duffany. That ordinance would have to be implemented through the Department of Natural Resources, and Duffany told the board that in his research he found that those requests are very rarely granted, and when they are granted the township has little to no control over their content. Additionally, Duffany says it would be unfair to punish everyone who wants to enjoy the lake just because of a few âbad applesâ that generate most of the problems. Instead, Duffany told the board he plans to change the way the department polices the lake during the summer. Schedule changes will allow for more enforcement during the weekends, and Duffany plans to meet with people on both sides of the issue to explain what kinds of behaviors his department will be targeting for enforcement. He says he wants to protect the rights of landowners without negatively impacting those who are enjoying the lakes responsibly. (TD)
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