Attn Chain O' Lakes IL.boaters, need to go to this meeting !!!
We need to get as many people as possible to go to a meeting Dec 13th at 6:30 pm at the McHenry Municipal bldg. 333 S. green st. in Mchenry Il. Read the story below. We need to have a presence at all future meetings to voice our opinions before they pass any more laws/restrictions.
Below is an article that I copied from the Daily Herald today.
" A speed limit for the Chain O' Lakes"
On the Chain O' Lakes, the tranquil sound of the water lapping against a seawall is becoming more frequently replaced by the roar of a high-performance boat.
The noise -- and the safety hazard -- from boats traveling the busy waterway at top speed has people living and boating on the Chain looking for some changes.
Those changes could include establishing a speed limit to help curtail accidents and reduce noise.
Fox Waterway Agency officials will hold discussions in the coming months regarding speed restrictions on the Chain O' Lakes.
"The thought is slowing boats down would not only increase safety but reduce noise," Executive Director Ingrid Ruttendjie said. "It's no secret: The more the boats are revved up, the louder the boat is."
She said a 45 mph speed limit has been bantered about, but added that number is just a starting point. Lake and McHenry county sheriff's departments would be responsible for enforcing the speed limit, she said.
There is no speed limit on the Chain now. Typically, boats travel between 25 and 50 m.p.h. Some are capable of reaching speeds above 100 mph.
Agency officials wouldn't be the first to restrict speed. Lake Geneva in Wisconsin employs a speed limit of 45 miles an hour on weekdays and 35 miles an hour on weekends.
The agency will review options during the next meeting, at 6:30 p.m. Dec. 13 at the McHenry municipal building, 333 S. Green St.
They could face some opposition from marina owners and boaters.
Boater John Vileta of Fox Lake said adding more restrictions on the Chain could drive boaters away and hurt businesses.
"It's like people moving next to an airport, then asking the airplanes to quiet down," he said. "They bought their homes on the lakes and knew about the noise issues. They should live with them."
Fox Waterway Chairman Howard "Bud" Scott said he's all for trying to reduce noise and making the lakes and river safe, but said the speed limit proposal won't get his support.
"I can see why they are looking at all kinds of things, and noise is a big issue for people, but they'll have to wait until I leave to put a speed limit on there," he said. "I'm all for safe boating, but we have enough laws in place right now. Besides, I think the guys with the fast boats know when to drive fast and when to take it easy."
Scott said the owners of faster boats are pretty good at policing themselves.
"We should just wait and see what comes of it," he said. "Right now, there's only a minority of people asking for a speed limit, but there are a lot of boaters out there who we haven't heard from."
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This same thing happened over here in Rockford about 5 years ago. Long story short..The home owners won the battle. Once they get the local politicians on there side its over. Now we have a Speed limit of 45 and heavy enforcement. Turned the Rock River into a ghost town for a few of years. Now its mainly pontoons and 16-18ft runabouts. All the hot boaters trailer elsewhere. I wish you luck.
Man I hope you guys can beat this! Sounds like you've got a least ONE supporter in govt. I would see if you could get local businesses and marinas involved as well...it's the money that does the talking.
Went through the same type of thing a number of years ago with mountain biking of all things! Forest Preserve District tried to ban us, we organized and won out.
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Warming the globe 16 cylinders at a time.
Man I hope you guys can beat this! Sounds like you've got a least ONE supporter in govt. I would see if you could get local businesses and marinas involved as well...it's the money that does the talking.
Went through the same type of thing a number of years ago with mountain biking of all things! Forest Preserve District tried to ban us, we organized and won out.
Need to get your county board members,aldermen, mayor, etc. on your side quick. They will tend to side with the homeowners as they feel hot boaters are a nuisance. Power in numbers and you will need a LOT of boaters. More important than the boaters is you need every homeowner and buisness owner you can get.
If you lose expect sherriff and DNR heavy enforcement.( They get sneaky. Sitting on the shore pretending to be fishing with a radar gun, hiding under bridges, off private docks, etc.) They do random river blocks checking every boat that passes through. Sometimes stopping you several times the same day!
It sucks.
Get organized now!
I'm a waterfront home owner on the Chain, with a loud go-fast ( top speed 50 mph ) so I will be there even though I didnt boat on the Chain at all this year lol
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I'm a crackwhore for being 4 miles offshore
I'm a waterfront home owner on the Chain, with a loud go-fast ( top speed 50 mph ) so I will be there even though I didnt boat on the Chain at all this year lol
Quit rounding up....you know you only saw 47.8 mph.
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Warming the globe 16 cylinders at a time.
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Attn Chain O' Lakes IL.boaters, need to go to this meeting !!!
) so I will be there even though I didnt boat on the Chain at all this year lol
