New ski club wants exception to wake rules

By Jennifer Eisenbart

Editor

A new waterskiing club, unrelated to the Aquaducks, wants approval for a special practice time on Browns Lake.

Unfortunately – at least from the viewpoint of the Burlington Town Board – it’s not within their purview to grant it.

Exactly what could be granted within the town’s ordinances was in question June 11 as the group that wants to start a waterski club on the lake asked for an exception to the slow, no-wake rules between 7 and 11 a.m.

Town Board members argued the board can’t grant an exception to the ordinance that defines those hours, as did Police Chief Mike Sevick.

The motion was tabled after a half hour of vigorous discussion, which had Sevick saying that phones would be “ringing off the hook” if waterskiers were on the lake at 7 a.m., while the proponents for the club said the Browns Lake Advisory board had sent the group to the Town Board for approval.

Jack Daams, in attendance with Eric Weis and another man representing the ski club, said the group wanted a trial period only, and wanted to go earlier in the day to take advantage of lower winds and before traffic got heavy on the lake.

The group would set up temporary buoys and conduct club competitions two days a week, they said.