Public pressure cools ballast proposal
Staff writer
A packed public forum Monday prompted Marion County commissioners to step back from a proposed ban on ballast systems and wake-enhanced boating, citing uncertainty and a need for better understanding before taking action.
“The facts just don’t support a total ban,” lake resident Staci Janzen said.
Wake impact depends on depth, distance, and operation, not simply ballast systems, Janzen said.
“I have not seen any uptick in dock maintenance,” she said. “There’s no evidence that the wakes alone are causing this.”
Residents urged enforcement instead of restriction.
“If someone’s driving their boat irresponsibly, please kick them off the water,” Travis Tannahill said. “If they do it again, don’t let them come back.”
Wake energy “drops significantly with distance,” Tannahill said,.
He pointed to wind as a more likely cause of shoreline damage. Others echoed that position.
“There’s no sense in a ban because I don’t think it’s causing the issues that are being talked about,” Mitch Guetterman said.
Kevin Burkholder added: “I’ve never had any damage to my dock due to any type of a wake,”
Debra Kaufman said: “I’ve never had any damage to my dock except from wind and the elements,”
Commissioners admitted there were gaps in their understanding.
“After the conversations I’ve had recently, I found that I don’t know near as much as I thought I would know,” commissioner Jonah Gehring said. “I don’t think it’s right to just go saying ‘no’ to something that we don’t fully understand.
“I just think I’m not ready to move forward with this, because I need to be more educated.”
Commissioner Mike Beneke preferred targeting unsafe behavior rather than restricting all users.
“It’s the one or two percent that starts this issue,” he said. “I would rather leave it alone, and if it’s multiple, we call their lake permit and their boat cannot ever be on the water again.”
No formal vote was taken, but discussion made clear the board was stepping back from a ban and considering enforcement or narrower regulation of ballast system use.
Hillsboro City Council member Ronald Wilkins also was present at the meeting and asked commissioners to address a stalled container housing project.
The project is at 1803 Indigo St. Wilkins cited lack of progress and condition of the property.
Materials presented to commissioners indicate that the project, approved in 2023, has seen no meaningful development and is not in compliance with its permit.
The site has accumulated containers, vehicles, tires, and debris, and the property owner has not responded to communication from the city or county, according to Wilkins’ presentation.
Commissioners took no action.
Commissioners later voted 4-1 to keep employee health insurance contribution dollars at 2025 levels for a 2026-27 Blue Cross Blue Shield plan and keep deductibles unchanged.
Commissioner Clarke Dirks cast the lone dissenting vote.
The decision keeps employee premium flat, meaning the county will absorb any increases in overall plan costs.