Alright folks, especially those from the Charlotte area, time to get busy to protect Mountain Island Lake from becoming a private lake (no comments needed, just signatures, and make your email address private):


http://www.petitiononline.com/050410/petition.html


To: Mountain Island Lake Marine Commission

The United Communities of Mountain Island Lake (UCMIL) petition against the Motor Vessel Managed Access Regulations being proposed by the Mountain Island Lake Marine Commission. As users of Mountain Island Lake (MIL) we reject the proposed “Usage Fee” which is described as a permit to operate a power boat on MIL. This un-disclosed fee is in addition to the normal Wildlife Registration and is being collected by the Marine Commission. We also reject the proposed restrictions on the length of boat allowed on MIL.

In addition to the rejection of such proposed regulations, the UCMIL is petitioning for adequate time to review all available information and impact studies which support the Marine Commission’s decisions for proposing such restrictions. The intent of the United Communities of Mountain Island Lake is to help users of MIL understand the changing needs of our lake and to serve as one voice in communicating with the Mountain Island Lake Marine Commission.

5/11/2010 8:04:13 AM

how dare the government interfere w/ your god given right to use a motor boat on a lake that the government itself created.

5/11/2010 8:24:11 AM

nobody cares about the Charlotte area.

5/11/2010 8:26:29 AM

Do online petitions actually work? Make a good argument for me signing the petition and I'll do it.

5/11/2010 8:28:01 AM

^^^The government did not create the lake, nor does the government manage the lake

[Edited on May 11, 2010 at 8:31 AM. Reason : lol...]

5/11/2010 8:29:52 AM

LOL it's even worse then. hold on, let me revise:

how dare the government company duke energy interfere w/ your god given right to use a motor boat on a lake that the government itself they themselves created.

5/11/2010 8:32:05 AM

First World Problems.

5/11/2010 8:34:03 AM

What kind of fees are we talking about here? Are they the same as I pay to launch on Jordan, wheeler, or falls? And are the time the same as we have there? If so, then I just say get over it- sure some money will go to the company, but more will ultimately go towards the upkeep of the lake.

5/11/2010 8:37:16 AM

bummer, i always enjoyed Mountain Island Lake when we used to go a few years back. Quiet, loved the sandbar and playing volleyball out there, and the hidden rope swing was so much fun.

that being said, i'm on HRL 99% of the time these days.

5/11/2010 8:38:45 AM

Still off a bit...

Duke Energy created the lake, manages the lake, and is fighting to keep the lake open and free to the public (along with the NCWRC and otheres). The marine commission is quasi policy making body that has influence on how the lake policies are created. Their influence exists because the waters of the lake are public domain.

Your attempt to sound smart, is just that - an attempt.

5/11/2010 8:40:09 AM

* Sign this petition - keep our lake free*

5/11/2010 8:43:16 AM

^^Burn

Signed...

[Edited on May 11, 2010 at 8:44 AM. Reason : ^]

5/11/2010 8:43:44 AM

it's not an attempt to sound smart, it's an attempt to help you realize that filling a lake w/ pollution for free is not a right you should be protesting for.

Quote :

"Your attempt to sound smart, is just that - an attempt."

that's super clever, however.

[Edited on May 11, 2010 at 8:47 AM. Reason : such command of the language.]

5/11/2010 8:46:03 AM

give us free

5/11/2010 8:52:03 AM

yea, looking on their website the Marine Commission doesn't really even give an explanation on what the new rules are supposed to accomplish.

Is limiting the boat length supposed to reduce wake (and erosion) or something? Or are they trying to kick houseboats off?
The permit is just a way to ensure everyone is following the rules and the fee is just administration costs?

they dont really explain anything.

[Edited on May 11, 2010 at 8:55 AM. Reason : which is reason enough to sign the petition IMO]

5/11/2010 8:53:28 AM

Their goal is to reduce the amount of boats so that the perception of the aesthetic value is increased for the folks living on the lake. Thus, creating a private lake. The funds raised (the permit would be about $255+ annually, or $35 a day) are proposed to go to funding a private police department for the homeowners around the lake. The lake is currently in Charlotte proper and Mount Holly ETJ.

Duke has developed access points and public fishing areas around the lake for the public to recreate (fishing, boating, etc) freely on the lake. They are opposed to the proposed regulations as well. Duke collects no moneys from the public whatsoever. All boating licenses/registrations go to the NC Wildlife Resource Commission and the funds are used for lake patrols (law enforcement) and no wake buoys and similar.

5/11/2010 9:00:14 AM

Quote :

"Their goal is to reduce the amount of boats so that the perception of the aesthetic value is increased for the folks living on the lake. Thus, creating a private lake. The funds raised (the permit would be about $255+ annually, or $35 a day) are proposed to go to funding a private police department for the homeowners around the lake. The lake is currently in Charlotte proper and Mount Holly ETJ. Duke has developed access points and public fishing areas around the lake for the public to recreate (fishing, boating, etc) freely on the lake. They are opposed to the proposed regulations as well. Duke collects no moneys from the public whatsoever. All boating licenses/registrations go to the NC Wildlife Resource Commission and the funds are used for lake patrols (law enforcement) and no wake buoys and similar."

You've made a good argument to NOT sign the petition.

5/11/2010 9:03:24 AM

^if you want to pay an extra tax to fish, boat or ski...thats your business

5/11/2010 9:04:43 AM

It will be your business more than mine when your petition fails.

5/11/2010 9:10:11 AM

go comeback there chief

5/11/2010 9:12:57 AM

go?

also, its master chief, kthx.

[Edited on May 11, 2010 at 9:15 AM. Reason : .]

5/11/2010 9:14:39 AM

either find a new lake or deal with it... no one said owning a boat was a cheap thing to do


if you have a big enough boat, just bring 5 people out and ask them to contribute to the daily fee if you are that worried about it (but being that gas for a big boat is gonna run +100 bucks, and then upkeep and what not, it really is just a drop in the bucket)

5/11/2010 9:18:01 AM

Quote :

"Their goal is to reduce the amount of boats so that the perception of the aesthetic value is increased for the folks living on the lake."

What I see this as:

A bunch of folks got tired of their boats being banged around their docks due to wave action. They figured their solutions were to 1) Buy a boat lift 2)Take their boats out of the water when not in use 3)Limit boat traffic/wave action.

People tried to pull that shit back on the coast. They bought a huge house on the ICW and put up "No Wake Signs" expecting people to listen.

I say fuck 'em, I'll sign.

5/11/2010 9:21:57 AM

^people like you are why we have to have so many rules and regulations. If you can't respect other peoples property, you have no business owning a boat.

I guess I could have also just said "People like you are why we can't have nice things"

[Edited on May 11, 2010 at 9:26 AM. Reason : .]

5/11/2010 9:25:45 AM

i'm trying to care, but i can't seem to get myself to

5/11/2010 9:28:38 AM

^^dude, if you went around "respecting other people's property" at every house/dock you passed by on the lake you'd spend your entire day going 10mph.


wake, dock's rocking, etc. are all part of being a lake home owner. if you can't live with that then either move back into neck of a cove with no view or move off the water. Plus, you are talking about something that occurs at the most maybe 3 days a week during the summer. If you live on the lake, those other 4 days you pretty have the entire place to yourself and as much serenity as you could ask for.

get real man

[Edited on May 11, 2010 at 9:32 AM. Reason : l]

5/11/2010 9:30:15 AM

Damn those greedy bourgeois lake-front property owners! Always coming down on the average working folk who own power boats.

5/11/2010 9:31:15 AM

nobody forced these people to buy a house on this particular lake and I'm sure they were aware that it was a public lake when they purchased said houses

uppity sumbitches

5/11/2010 9:31:57 AM

^ This.

Also

Quote :

"Thus, creating a private lake."

Not hardly.

Pay for access != access unavailable.

When I saw you had made this thread, I'd hoped maybe you'd finally redeemed yourself and not been a blathering idiot. I'll keep waiting.

5/11/2010 9:36:00 AM

Quote :

"^^dude, if you went around "respecting other people's property" at every house/dock you passed by on the lake you'd spend your entire day going 10mph. wake, dock's rocking, etc. are all part of being a lake home owner. if you can't live with that then either move back into neck of a cove with no view or move off the water. Plus, you are talking about something that occurs at the most maybe 3 days a week during the summer. If you live on the lake, those other 4 days you pretty have the entire place to yourself and as much serenity as you could ask for. get real man"

How about YOU get real. There are reasons why there are 'no wake zones' and you should respect them. Stop being a tool

If you don't want to spend your day going 10mph then don't boat on a lake. Its really that simple. Take that shit out to sea.

5/11/2010 9:38:00 AM

Signed it.

5/11/2010 9:43:22 AM

Quote :

"How about YOU get real. There are reasons why there are 'no wake zones' and you should respect them. Stop being a tool "

yes, and no wake zones are put in areas that require them. Shallows, bridges, nesting/breeding grounds, public swim areas, and landings to name a few.

not around Susie Homeowner's dock because she complained about boat traffic.

[Edited on May 11, 2010 at 9:55 AM. Reason : .]

5/11/2010 9:55:29 AM

Quote :

"There are reasons why there are 'no wake zones' and you should respect them. Stop being a tool"

Your ignorance, it burns.

Quote :

" North Carolina No Wake Zones No Wake Zones that have been promulgated by rulemaking may be found in the North Carolina Administrative Code [NCAC] under Title 15A, Subchapter 10F.0300 (Motorboats and Water Safety). Rules are listed by county and occasionally by municipality. A No Wake Zone that has been established by rulemaking but is not properly marked is not enforceable. Enforcement of No Wake Zones is limited to those areas that have been established by federal and state rulemaking or legislation and that are properly marked. No Wake Zones must display regulatory signs or buoys that conform to the standards of the U.S. Aids to Navigation (USATONS). Any county or municipality may, after public notice and hearing, make formal application to the WRC for a No Wake Zone rule on waters within its territorial jurisdiction. While the Wildlife Resources Commission does not purchase or maintain No Wake markers, we are available to provide technical assistance about marker purchase and placement after the No Wake rule is adopted. Please see "Designating Local Water Safety Zones by Rule" for details on how a county or municipality may apply for establishment of a No Wake Zone."

Quote :

"not around Susie Homeowner's dock because she complained about boat traffic."

Exactly

5/11/2010 9:59:08 AM

Quote :

"Your ignorance, it burns"

lol? Ignorance? Are you saying there are no valid reasons for No Wake zones?

Quote :

"yes, and no wake zones are put in areas that require them. Shallows, bridges, nesting/breeding grounds, public swim areas, and landings to name a few."

whine whine whine

[Edited on May 11, 2010 at 10:03 AM. Reason : .]

5/11/2010 10:02:38 AM

5/11/2010 10:06:29 AM

^yeah, I was wondering about those... if the bouncing boats were a problem, why not just get those?

5/11/2010 10:08:23 AM

Quote :

"Ignorance? Are you saying there are no valid reasons for No Wake zones?"

I never said that.

Here is my statement: Private citizens who put up No Wake Zone signs on the ICW (the I-95 of boat traffic) and expect boaters to abide, are dumb.

Here is my next statement: Boaters who don't slow down in State/Federal No Wake Zones should be fined.

[Edited on May 11, 2010 at 10:10 AM. Reason : -]

5/11/2010 10:08:25 AM

but the thing is...i'm not whining. Those no wake zones are very important.

5/11/2010 10:09:17 AM

ITT, Golovko shows us how little he knows about boating.

5/11/2010 10:11:20 AM

Wait, wait.

So Duke Energy created the lake and owns the land, right? no?
Duke Energy wants the lake/land to be public, right? no?
The lake is used by both people who own land adjacent to the lake, as well as the public in general, right? no?
This is because Duke Energy allows them to do so, right? no?
Couldn't Duke Energy, since it's theirs, both either allow only private neighbors, or only public visitors, or a mix of their choice, right? no?


Let's stop arguing over whether we should sign, and figure out what the fuck we'd be signing for.
Is it for the right of a private entity to do as they please with their land?
Is it for the right of private entities to restrict what another private entity can allow on its neighboring land?
Is it for the "right" of regulatory entities to make rules despite whatever private players are involved?

Answers, please.
Thanks.

[Edited on May 11, 2010 at 10:12 AM. Reason : ]

5/11/2010 10:11:50 AM

^^Ok, so when I said there are reasons for no wake zones, how is that ignorance. Or are you saying YOU are ignorant and can't read?

^^Have you even been on a boat? All signs point to NO.

[Edited on May 11, 2010 at 10:12 AM. Reason : .]

5/11/2010 10:11:52 AM

OK, I support the idea of adding fees to the lake for boating if it will increase the care of the lake


I could care less about the wake zones (commissions have set up where those need to be in order to protect people, property, and the wildlife)- they make things to keep your boat from bouncing against the dock, and like it has been mentioned- you chose to live on a lake. the wake argument for this is like people bitching about getting golf balls in their yard when they move onto a golf course (or hell, their house getting hit). I mean, what do you expect to happen?

5/11/2010 10:13:34 AM

Quote :

"I could care less about the wake zones (commissions have set up where those need to be in order to protect people, property, and the wildlife)- they make things to keep your boat from bouncing against the dock, and like it has been mentioned- you chose to live on a lake. the wake argument for this is like people bitching about getting golf balls in their yard when they move onto a golf course (or hell, their house getting hit). I mean, what do you expect to happen?"

Exactly. No Wake Zones have been designated in certain areas for good reason.

5/11/2010 10:14:22 AM

Quote :

"^^Have you even been on a boat? All signs point to NO."

From my photo gallery:



OWNED GTFO, n00b.

5/11/2010 10:15:07 AM

Two douche bags on a boat. Am I to assume you are one of the two?

5/11/2010 10:15:44 AM

Quote :

"Exactly. No Wake Zones have been designated in certain areas for good reason."

Everyone here agrees with that statement. Why you brought it up in the first place is still beyond me.


^I'm captain, and my younger bro is hanging out.

[Edited on May 11, 2010 at 10:17 AM. Reason : -]

5/11/2010 10:16:38 AM

Quote :

"OK, I support the idea of adding fees to the lake for boating if it will increase the care of the lake"

as was stated, the fees will not be used for increasing the care of the lake. But for a privatized police force for the homeowners. so yeah...why pay for something you as a public water boater will never get the benefit of?

5/11/2010 10:17:21 AM

Because someone wants us to sign a petition for all the wrong reasons.

5/11/2010 10:17:39 AM

Quote :

"wake, dock's rocking, etc. are all part of being a lake home owner. if you can't live with that then either move back into neck of a cove with no view or move off the water. Plus, you are talking about something that occurs at the most maybe 3 days a week during the summer. If you live on the lake, those other 4 days you pretty have the entire place to yourself and as much serenity as you could ask for."

Agreed 100%. My area on Lake Gaston is termed "I-95" due to the amount of boat traffic. I put $100 worth of bumpers on my pier and have never had a problem. Even with holiday traffic and boats wake surfing right off my pier I've never seen any damage.

Besides, it only takes one wake to damage your boat if it's not properly secured. Wakes don't amplify when there are more boats. They simply increase in quantity. This proposed change isn't going to stop boat wakes; it'll simply decrease the quantity. You'll still have to safeguard your property.

Sounds like a bunch of snobs who want the place to themselves to me. My money is on it being retired yankees.

[Edited on May 11, 2010 at 10:19 AM. Reason : l]

5/11/2010 10:17:45 AM

Quote :

"Sounds like a bunch of snobs who want the place to themselves to me. My money is on it being a bunch of retired yankees."

Ding ding ding

5/11/2010 10:18:46 AM