03-13-61 Council Meeting Minutes

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COMMUNICATIONS PATROL BOAT - ST. JOSEPH RIVER Michiana Watershed, Incorporated 129 North Michigan Street South Bend, 1, Indiana March 10, 1961 RESOLUTION OF THE BOARD OF GOVERNORS OF MICHIANA WATERSHED INC. WHEREAS the increasing use of the St. Joseph River by boaters is creating an increasingly serious hazard to life and limb; and WHEREAS the only effective way to police the boat traffic on any body of water is from a police boat; NOW, THEREFORE, Be it resolved by the Board of Governors of MICHIANA WATERSHED, INC., that the appropriate governmental bodies of St. Joseph County, Indiana be, and they are hereby urged to provide their police with the equipment necessary adequately to patrol the St. Joseph River and to police the boat traffic thereon. By Order of Board of Governors MICHIANA WATERSHED, INC. /s/ Leona Quade Leona Quade, Secretary Councilman Glass made a motion that the communication be accepted and placed on file. Councilman Lehman seconded the motion. Motion carried. 12626 E. Jefferson Road City Council Mishawaka, Indiana City Hall March 10, 1961 South Bend, Indiana Gentlemen: Speaking for hundreds of river front residents we feel some additional comments are necessary with reference to the subject of boating on the St. Joseph River. On Monday, March 6th the South Bend Tribune had an editorial entitled "River Patrol Question" and another article "Patrol Boat Plan Wins 2 -Way O.K. ". People who are running boats on the river are making life miserable for the river -front residents - washing out shore- lines, driving away wildlife, washing waves over piers so many cannot use their waterfronts anymore, etc. The wild boaters are violating the good state boating law that we have, also the county ordinances, and federal laws pertaining to wild life. The law states: "All peace officers shall enforce this law ". City and county law enforcing officers should enforce this present law. The editorial in the Tribune asks whether a patrol is actually needed. They state that two studies were made last summer with the conclusion that a patrol is not needed. We wonder how often and at what time of day and day of the week the studies were made. Any summer evening (given enough time for the people to get home from work, eat supper and into their boat).we can show you a quite narrow place in the river where "smarties" congregate with their high powered boats and circle and churn the water so there is so much motor buzzing and churning waves that it is impossib to sit within five feet of one's own shoreline without getting wet. If the Common Council wants a "convincing bill of barticulars ",,there are enoughh residents along the river, and enough organizations and conservation clubs who will be glad to speak out. If South Bend now has a patrol Boat ordered, Mishawaka and the County should also have a boat available at all times (in the water). A few arrests with heavy fines would show all the boaters that the law will be enforced. A license plate similar to car plates (short numbers printed large) would make it easy to report a boat and the fee would bring money in to help pay the extra law enforcing officer. We don't think anyone is "rushing whimsically into patroling the river during the boating season ". Instead of a plea- sant body of water where sensible boats ran. up and down the river, some people fished, some rowed quietly around, duc paddled around and people sat on the shore and enjoyed the summer, the river has now become a "roadway" for a bunch of high powered boats flinging skiers close to piers, churning the water in circles and seeing how close to the shore they can go. Highways cannot be used this way for cars, why does the river have to be left for the "lawless ". Sincerely, Fred Carlson Family By: Geraldine Carlson /s/ Geraldine Carlson GC Councilman Ladewski made a motion that the communication be accepted and placed on file. Councilman Allen seconded the motion. Motion carried. ANNUAL REPORT OF CONTROLLER Councilman Muszynski made a motion that the Annual Report of the Controller be accepted and placed on file. Counci Glass seconded the motion. Motion carried. REPORT OF CONTROLLER FOR THE MONTH OF FEBRUARY, 1961 Balanceon hand first of month ---------------------------------------------------------------------- $3,005,557.20 Receipts during month ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- $1,579,436.03 Disbursements during month -------------------------------------------------------------------------- $1,513,594.16 Balance on hand February 28, 1961 ------------------------------------------------------------------- $3,071,399.07 Councilman Muszynski made a motion that the report be accepted and placed on file. Councilman Krueper seconded the motion. Motion carried.