Non-lake residents may be able to place docks in lake

Some Mitchell and area residents who don’t live along the shores of Lake Mitchell may be allowed to place docks in the lake.

The Lake Mitchell Advisory Committee discussed the proposal at a meeting Tuesday at City Hall. The nine docks that would be allowed would be allocated on a first-come, first-serve basis.

“It’s about increasing access to the lake for everybody,” said committee chairman Greg McCurry. “Not just those who live by the lake.”

The owners of the docks will have to have liability insurance and must be in good standing with the city, with no taxes or fees owed.

The proposal will be sent to City Attorney Randy Stiles for review before the committee takes it to the Mitchell City Council.

The committee members have been preparing the plan for six months, McCurry said, and have studied other cities’ policies on docks.

Anyone who lives in the city would be eligible, as would people who live within 30 miles of the city limits. There would be a $200 fee for city residents and $300 for area residents.

The plan calls for creating two dock zones, one adjacent to South Harmon Drive with up to four docks, the other by North Harmon Drive, with up to five docks.

In other news from the meeting:

• A new dock for the Sportsman’s Boat Ramp area has been purchased and will soon be placed in the lake.

The old dock is more than 20 years old and in poor shape, according to committee member Bob Sebert.

• The SolarBee, an antialgae device that was placed in Lake Mitchell last summer, will be put back into the lake in mid-May.

Last year was so rainy, it was difficult to get accurate information on the effectiveness of the device, committee members said.

Committee member Troy Helleloid will put the SolarBee in the lake.

• Committee member Joe Kippes is leading a study on the use of algaecide in the lake. It may be placed in the lake this summer.

“I’m going to target a mid-July application,” Kippes said. “Things should be good and soupy by that time.”

• Signs for the Adopt an Access Area program will be redesigned since they came back at a higher cost than the committee wanted.

The signs, including the posts, would have cost $75. People, companies or groups that adopt an access area and promise to care for it are asked to donate $50.

“I’ve got to go back to the drawing board,” said committee member Mark Puetz.

“The Adopt an Access Area program is going well,” McCurry said. “It has been well received.”

• Trees that were placed on ice on the lake will form more habitat for fish this summer, the committee was told.

The city obtained a permit to place the trees in the lake.

• The city and Chamber Beautification Committee will be asked for more trees to place by the lake, especially near access areas and parks.

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