Leesburg Commissioner Mike Pederson this week raised the issue of a no wake zone for that portion of Lake Harris near Ski Beach Bar and Grill.
He said that he had been contacted by residents who were concerned about the wakes caused by speeding boats in the basin formed by Monkey Island and Ski Beach. He also told of watching restaurant patrons getting up from the table and running out to the dock to check on their boats when a fast-moving boat generated a wave which rocked the dock area.
City Manager Al Minner explained that the ordinance banning boats from generating wakes in that area was still in effect. Previous commissioners had passed yearly resolutions five or six years ago to allow wakes as an experiment. Minner said the last resolution had expired a couple of years ago and therefore the no wake ordinance was in effect. The Florida Fish & Wildlife Conservation Commission still has the area designated on their maps as a no wake zone, Minner told the commissioners.
Commissioner Alan Reisman asked how that would impact special events like ski shows. Minner said that could be addressed as events are scheduled. The commissioners asked that the area be posted as a no wake zone as the ordinance was still in effect.
