Newbold wake ordinance draws support from residents, lake associations

The Newbold town board’s Jan. 11 vote to send a draft ordinance addressing “enhanced” wakes to the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) came after a clear majority of those present for the meeting expressed support for the concept.

The Jan. 11 meeting was the first to be held in the new town hall building and more than 50 people attended, nearly all of whom appeared to support the town board’s decision, as indicated by the round of applause the board received after the decision was made to move the draft ordinance forward. 

Two Sisters Lake, Lake Mildred, Clear Lake and Tom Doyle Lake were all represented by residents during the meeting’s public comment period. All of those who commented were in favor of the proposed ordinance that regulates “artificially enhanced wakes.” 

The testimony included “horror stories” of lakefront property owners’ experiences with others operating boats in a manner that produces oversized wakes.

Concerns regarding the potential destruction of lake ecology were also expressed. 

Oneida County Lakes and Rivers Association president Ted Rulseh and Oneida County Land and Water Conservation aquatic invasive species coordinator Stephanie Boismenue also spoke in support of the proposed regulation.

Town chairman Dan Hess provided attendees with information he gathered through research.

Newbold, he said, consists of 137 lakes, 23 of them being over 50 acres in size. Hess also noted that Pickerel Lake, Bass Lake and North Nokomis Lake are on the federal list of impaired waters. 

“Last year this was brought to my attention by (county board supervisor) Jim Winkler,” he said. “He brought it to the town board discussing complaints that he received on large wakes that were happening on some of the town’s lakes. During this time it was decided that this should be a state issue that should be dealt with through the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources. Again, this year, it was brought to my attention after receiving complaints from Tom Doyle Lakes Association. I’ve also received complaints from Two Sisters Lake Association and Lake Mildred Lake Association, both of which I had met with.”

Hess also mentioned the recent listening sessions held by state representative Rob Swearingen (R-Rhinelander) and senator Mary Felzkowski (R-Tomahawk). He said the two lawmakers discussed a proposed bill regarding enhanced wake. 

The bill, he said, prohibits the oversized wakes on lakes 50 acres or less with a 200-foot buffer from the shoreline.

After outlining different suggestions for the town’s proposed ordinance, Hess opened the discussion up to the rest of the board. 

Supervisor Mike McKenzie wasted no time in making a motion to send a draft ordinance to the DNR for review. However, he said he wanted to include a “two-year sunset clause” within his motion in order to review the ordinance at a later time, “because this thing has a long ways to go and I don’t think anybody really knows how it’s going to end up.”

“So, it has no effect on the proposed ordinance itself, it just would be followed up by the board at some point to make sure that it still is serving the purpose that it is intended for,” he said.

Town supervisor Petra Pietrzak seconded McKenzie’s motion.

The board unanimously agreed to forward the ordinance after Hess made a motion to modify McKenzie’s motion with regard to lakes spanning town boundaries.

The ordinance

According to the draft ordinance, the town board has the authority to enact such a regulation under Chapter 30 of state statutes. 

The draft lists a spring survey by the DNR, where “both Oneida County residents and those who recreate in Oneida County overwhelmingly approved legislation that would prohibit the operation of boats that create hazardous wakes.”

If passed, the ordinance would also require boats producing enhanced wakes to operate at least 700 feet from shore and on lakes of at least 1,500 acres in size.

According to the draft, DNR review must take place at least 60 days prior to the board adopting the ordinance. The draft also indicates there will be additional time for the board to receive more input from the public prior to passage. 

Hess’s motion to modify McKenzie’s original motion was specifically with regard to applicability and enforcement. 

Under Section 1 of the draft, it states the provisions shall apply to lakes in the town under 1,500 acres, “including the following lakes spanning town boundaries but with over 60% of their shoreline in Newbold: Mildred Lake, Pickerel Lake (61 acre border lake), Townline Lake, and Paradise lake.”

Lastly, the draft ordinance points to Chapter 30 once more and states: “any person violating this Ordinance shall forfeit $500 for the first offense and shall forfeit $1000 for the second offense within one year.”

Trevor Greene may be reached via email at [email protected].