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Village of Balsam Lake, WI
Polk County
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[HISTORY: Adopted by the Village Board of the Village of Balsam Lake 11-5-1990 as Ch. 20 of the 1990 Code; amended in its entirety at time of adoption of Code (see Ch. 1, General Provisions, Art. II). Subsequent amendments noted where applicable.]
The intent of this chapter is to provide safe and healthful conditions for the enjoyment of aquatic recreation consistent with public rights and interest and the capability of the water resource.
A. 
The provisions of this chapter shall apply to the navigable waters of Balsam Lake.
B. 
This chapter shall be enforced by the Water Safety Patrol officers of the Balsam Lake Village Water Safety Patrol in agreement with the Village and the Towns of Apple River, Balsam Lake, Georgetown and Milltown, as outlined in § 30.79, Wis. Stats.
State boating laws as found in §§ 30.50 to 30.99, Wis. Stats., are adopted by reference.
The Municipal Water Safety Patrol receives state aid for the local enforcement of §§ 30.50 through 30.80, Wis. Stats., and ordinances enacted under such sections and for conducting search and rescue operations. These aids are available and granted under these sections to those municipalities which establish, maintain and operate water safety patrols in accordance with Ch. 30, Wis. Stats.
The Village, in conjunction with the towns riparian to the waters of Balsam Lake having jurisdiction, adopted an ordinance regulating boating speed to slow-no-wake, as defined in § 30.50, Wis. Stats., in the following areas:
A. 
The channel connecting Balsam Lake and East Balsam Lake.
B. 
The channel connecting Balsam Lake and Little Balsam Lake.
C. 
The channel south of the first island approaching the Balsam Lake public boat landing and swimming beach.
This chapter is in compliance with § 30.77(3), Wis. Stats., and has been approved by the Department of Natural Resources.
Except as otherwise provided, any person who shall violate any provisions of this chapter shall be subject to a penalty as provided in Chapter 1, § 1-4, of this Code.
[Added 6-2-2014 by Ord. No. 2014-05]
A. 
Definitions. As used in this section, the following terms shall have the meanings indicated:
POWER LOADING
The practice of putting on, or taking off, from a trailer, carriage or device, a watercraft while under motor power, whether by main, auxiliary or trolling power devices.
WATERCRAFT
Shall include all motorized and nonmotorized boats, personal watercraft, hydroplanes, amphibious vehicles, jet skis, sailboats, hovercraft, or any other craft or vehicle used upon the water.
B. 
Power loading prohibited. Watercraft must be loaded and unloaded from the watercraft trailer, or carriage or other device used to transport said watercraft without the use of the watercraft’s main, auxiliary or trolling power devices. A rope, strap or similar device is to be used. It shall be unlawful to otherwise launch or trailer a watercraft.
C. 
This section shall be effective at all public boat landings within the Village of Balsam Lake.