The governing body of the City of Parsons declares that the
primary purpose of Lake Parsons is to provide a municipal water supply
to the water customers of the City of Parsons. Any use of Lake Parsons
that is inconsistent with this primary purpose is prohibited. It is
recognized that Lake Parsons has limited use for recreational purposes.
It is the purpose of this chapter to provide guidelines for the recreational
use so that usage will not be incompatible with the primary purposes
of Lake Parsons. The governing body may from time to time restrict
the recreational uses of Lake Parsons when it is determined that recreational
uses are incompatible or do conflict with the primary purpose of the
establishment of a water supply.
The following words, terms and phrases, when used in this chapter,
shall have the meanings ascribed to them in this section, except where
the context clearly indicates a different meaning:
The permit issued for the term of one year from January 1
to December 31 for the use of a single camping unit.
Any site camouflaged for hunting.
Any waterborne vessel.
The members of one family that all live together or maintain
a residence in a single residence structure.
Lake Parsons.
The entire reservoir and all adjoining land owned by the
City of Parsons.
Any law enforcement officer or other person designated by
the City Manager or the governing body to enforce the provisions of
this chapter.
A.
There is hereby created a Lake Advisory Board which shall consist
of five members appointed by the governing body for terms of four
years.
B.
The Board shall make studies and recommendations to the governing
body pertaining to the need for, and the proper location, construction,
maintenance and repairs of, lake and park facilities for Lake Parsons
and shall devise and recommend to the governing body rules and regulations
governing and controlling the use of the lake, including the leasing
thereof, for the benefit of the inhabitants of the City and the public
generally.
C.
Any changes from the approved policies, rules, regulations, leases
or facilities hereafter recommended by the Board shall be presented
to the governing body for its approval or disapproval.
D.
The Board shall have such other powers and duties as may be conferred
upon it by ordinance.
All Kansas law enforcement officers shall have the power to
enforce the provisions of this chapter. The Lake Supervisor and such
other persons as are appointed by the City Manager shall be in charge
of the administration of this chapter and may request that persons
disobeying this chapter leave the premises but shall not have the
power of arrest.
Any person wishing to use the lake for a profit-making event
or a special event shall request and obtain a permit from the City
Manager at least 60 days in advance of the proposed date. The City
Manager is authorized to publish rules and regulations for the use
of the lake for profit-making events and special events which shall
include liability insurance requirements and other rules deemed necessary
to provide for the public safety during such use. A copy of the rules
and regulations shall be on file with the City Clerk and subject to
public inspection. Any person may apply for a permit. The application
shall be on forms provided by the City Manager, and each applicant
shall provide the following information:
Any person aggrieved by a decision of the City Manager is authorized
by this article to appeal to the governing body. The governing body
shall hear and decide appeals when any person is aggrieved by any
requirement, decision, or determination made by the City Manager in
the enforcement or administration of this article. The appeal shall
be in writing by the aggrieved person and shall be presented to the
governing body at a regular meeting within two weeks of the receipt
of the written appeal by the City Clerk. A decision on the appeal
must be made by the governing body not later than its next regular
meeting after the appeal is heard.
A.
Upon five days' notice the City Manager may revoke or suspend any
license or permit that is granted to any person under this chapter
for any one of the following reasons:
B.
Within 20 days after the order of the City Manager revoking or suspending
any license, the licensee may appeal to the governing body. Any appeal
taken from an order revoking or suspending the license shall not suspend
the order of revocation or suspension during the pendency of any such
appeal.
No person shall empty or throw refuse, garbage, rubbish or waste
of any kind in or on the lake. All refuse, garbage, rubbish and waste
matter shall be placed only in marked containers which are provided
for such purpose or shall be removed by persons in charge thereof.
The animal control ordinances of the City of Parsons shall apply
to Lake Parsons and are adopted by reference.[1] In addition, no person shall allow or permit any dog or
cat owned by him/her or in his/her custody or control run at large
at the lake. Dogs and cats must be on a leash. No person shall allow
or permit any animal owned by him/her or in his/her care, custody
or control to be in the public beach area. Horses shall be permitted
only in designated areas and shall be attended at all times. No person
shall permit any other animal of any kind, wild or domestic, owned
by him/her or in his/her care, custody or control to be on or in Lake
Parsons or surrounding grounds owned by the City of Parsons; provided,
however, that notwithstanding these regulations dogs used by hunters
with valid hunting permits shall be allowed to run at large while
the hunters are engaged in hunting during hunting season in designated
hunting areas.
No person shall build a fire anywhere at the lake, except in
fireplaces, grills or in other places that have received the prior
approval of the Lake Supervisor. No wood, except that which is loose
on the ground, may be used unless the Lake Supervisor's permission
is received in advance.
No person under the age of 12 years shall be admitted to the
lake unless accompanied by an adult.
Bathing and swimming in the lake are hereby prohibited, except
in such areas as are designated and posted by the Lake Advisory Board;
provided, however, that notwithstanding the provisions of this section,
swimming shall be permitted in connection with boating activities
on the lake so long as each person in the water alongside a boat is
wearing a Coast Guard approved personal flotation device at all times.
Use of air mattresses is prohibited outside the designated swimming
area. No glass containers shall be permitted in the designated swimming
area.
No person shall engage in any commercial business on lake property
without having in his/her possession written authorization from the
City Manager.
No person shall post on any City property private notices or
advertisements of a commercial nature without written permission of
the City Manager, except in designated areas.
Only licensed motor vehicles shall be permitted at the lake.
Vehicles shall be operated only on maintained roads. No vehicle shall
be parked or left unattended on any road at the lake. No person shall
permit any object to block or impede traffic on the roadways. All
motor vehicle ordinances of the City of Parsons, including the Standard
Traffic Ordinance of Kansas in the form most recently adopted by the
governing body, shall apply to the roads and grounds of the lake.[1] Golf carts will only be allowed with proof of disability.
The speed limit for all motor vehicles shall be 30 miles per
hour unless otherwise posted. In the event that a roadway is posted,
the maximum speed shall be the speed posted.
A.
No person shall camp at the lake except at those places designated
for camping. Camping areas shall be designated by the City Manager
or their designated agent. No person shall erect or place any tent,
mobile camper or similar device for the purposes of sleeping, cooking
or staying at Lake Parsons without obtaining a camping permit. Such
permit must be visually displayed on the camper unit. Any person may
apply for a permit from the office of the City Clerk, Lake Supervisor,
or a designated agent. The application shall be on forms provided
by the City Manager. Each applicant shall provide the following information:
name of the applicant, address of the applicant, area of the campsite
and length of stay.
B.
No permanent installation shall be made for camping. Camping is prohibited
in the public beach and boat ramp areas.
C.
No person shall camp adjacent to shelter houses or use electricity
from shelter houses for his/her camp or camper.
D.
Camps or camping equipment shall not be abandoned or left unattended
for more than eight hours at any time.
E.
The City Manager or a designated agent may close the camping areas
during conditions of extreme weather or in situations deemed necessary
to protect the City and/or campers.
F.
Campers shall keep their campgrounds clean and dispose of refuse
in containers provided for such purpose.
G.
Camps and camping equipment must be completely removed and sites
cleaned before departure of campers.
H.
No person or member of the same household shall be permitted to occupy
a camping space for more than 12 total days in a calendar month and
not more than 12 consecutive days at any time. Check out time will
be 2:00. Failure to leave by check out time will result in an additional
day being charged and considered used. In the event a holdover day
causes a camper to exceed their twelve- day usage, camping privileges
may be revoked at the discretion of the City. After check-out, there
will be a minimum of 48 hours before re-admittance will be allowed.
[Amended 3-21-2022 by Ord. No. 6516]
I.
It shall be unlawful for any person to use, operate or permit the
use or operation of any electronic device, radio, receiving set, television,
musical instrument, phonograph or other machine or device for the
production or reproduction of sound or create any other sound or noise
that disturbs the peace, quiet or repose of the neighboring campers.
The creation of such sound or the operation of such a set, instrument,
machine or device between the hours of 10:00 p.m. and 6:00 a.m. so
that it is plainly audible at a distance of 50 feet from the building,
structure, vehicle or place where it is located is prima facie evidence
of a violation of this subsection. No person shall participate in
or be in any party or gathering of people from which sound emanates
at a sufficient volume so as to disturb the peace, quiet or repose
of the neighboring inhabitants of ordinary sensitivity. A law enforcement
officer may order all such persons present at any such party or gathering
to immediately disperse from the vicinity of any party or gathering
in lieu of being charged under this subsection. The requirements of
this subsection shall not apply to emergency vehicles; emergency work
necessary to restore property to a safe condition or to protect a
person and property from imminent danger; alarm systems; trash and
waste pickup operations; noise resulting from the activities of a
temporary duration planned by school, governmental or community groups;
aircraft or railroads; air conditioners in proper repair; and lawn
care equipment. This subsection shall not be construed to limit or
abridge the rights of any person to speak, peacefully assemble and
express opinions. It is the purpose of this subsection to protect
individuals from unreasonable intrusions caused by excessive, unnecessary
or unusually loud noises.
Fishing shall be permitted during the seasons established by
the laws of the State of Kansas.
A.
The legal fishing season, the size limit and catch shall be the same
as designated by the state laws and by the Wildlife and Parks Commission.
B.
Fishing with a seine, throwline, trotline, bankline, limblines, spear,
speargun, fish gigging, or snagging or hand fishing is prohibited.
C.
Camping area is closed and opened at the discretion of the Lake Supervisor.
D.
All lines in boat docks and fishing piers shall be attended at all
times.
E.
All stakes used to anchor lines shall be removed when the line is
removed.
F.
Fishing shall be prohibited on boat ramps and in swimming areas and
on swimming beaches.
G.
The cleaning of fish shall occur only at designated fish cleaning
stations or other locations as established by the Lake Advisory Board.
H.
Legal equipment and methods for taking fish are fishing lines with
not more than two baited hooks or artificial lures per line. No person
shall utilize more than two poles and line at one time to take fish,
unless there is a third pole permit with their fishing license.
A.
All hunting rules and regulations provided by the state statute and
by regulations of the Wildlife and Parks Commission shall apply to
all hunting on the lake.
B.
Except as allowed by state and federal law, no person, except for
law enforcement officers, shall possess any firearms at the lake;
provided, however, that notwithstanding the provisions of this subsection,
hunters in possession of a valid City of Parsons hunting permit issued
under this section and a valid state upland game bird license may
possess and use one shotgun while engaged in lawful hunting, provided
that shot only shall be used. The use of slugs shall be prohibited.
C.
No hunting shall be allowed within 50 feet of any road or 500 feet
of any building or shelter house.
D.
The shooting of skeet or clay pigeons shall be prohibited.
E.
Deer may only be hunted by the use of bows and arrows. The use of
the bow and arrow is restricted to hunters in possession of valid
state big game tags. Deer hunting shall only be permitted in areas
designated by the City Manager.
F.
Waterfowl hunting is permitted for those in possession of a state
waterfowl habitat stamp, a federal migratory bird hunting and conservation
stamp and a valid City hunting permit. Waterfowl hunting shall be
permitted north of the boat ramp road (no waterfowl hunting shall
be permitted south of boat ramp road). Waterfowl hunting shall be
permitted from designated water fowl hunting areas only. Blind locations
are selected by public drawing pursuant to rules and deposit established
by the City Manager. Blinds shall be placed by hunters. Blinds must
be removed by April 15 to receive deposit refund. All blinds not removed
become property of the City.
A violation of any of the provisions of this chapter, except
where another penalty is provided, shall be a Class C misdemeanor
and punished according to the Municipal Judge upon conviction.
