SOME BIG DOCK ENFORCEMENT BUT NOT TOO MUCH

Department of Natural Resources Pulic Water Hydrologist Tom Hovey said the dock size permit announced last week is meant to fine-tune the rules about lake shore dock walkways and platforms that have been on the books for decades. And because the rules are not new, didn't require public hearings. Hovey also said lake home owners should expect Conservation Officers targeting larger docks, primarily because there won't be any new personnel. CO's will still be the same people assigned last year and they still have the same priorities and workloads. Hovey said much will depend upon which county they're in and how County Attorneys want to react to this. Hovey added that if someone has as oversized dock platform and if a neighbor complains about nother neighbor who has a dock that's too large, "I suppose they are susceptible." Hovey said he doesn't expect "loads and loads of citations will be written" but large docks are more noticeable now. The dock size rules went into effect last week and restrict docks and platforms to be no larger than 120 feet square, 170 feet square including a walkway no more than five feet wide.