Salem to take on water patrol for Silver Lake, Paddock Lake and Lilly Lake

Photo by ajenyon via morgueFile.com

Note: Updated now with comment from Salem Supervisor Dan Campion. — DH

Salem expanded its water patrol obligations beyond its own borders this summer with the approval of three contracts to patrol Silver Lake, Paddock Lake and Lilly Lake in Wheatland.

Separate contracts with the village of Silver Lake, the village of Paddock Lake and Wheatland were approved by the Salem Town Board in a special meeting Monday night. The Silver Lake contract was approved unanimously. The Paddock Lake and Wheatland contracts passed 4-1 with Supervisor Dan Campion voting against.

Campion said in an email message to westofthei.com that he thought perhaps the town was getting ahead of itself in taking on all three lakes this summer:

My vote against the Water Patrol contracts with Town of Wheatland for Lilly Lake and Village of Paddock Lake for Paddock Lake was based upon adding too much to our existing commitments. We added patrolling Silver Lake last year and will again this year. I fully supported adding Silver Lake. We have a number of residences from the Town of Salem on this lake. I wanted to be certain we can accommodate the added responsibility and maintain our high standards. The best way to explain it is ‘let’s walk before we run.’ My colleagues on the Town Board approved all three contracts. I am willing to accept that and fully support the efforts of our Water Patrol.” (Note: Originally this story said Campion did not respond to our email request for a comment, but it turns out he replied in a timely manner, but it was filtered into our spam folder, which we had not checked. I apologize for the error. — DH)

Each contract was similar in many facets, such as the $35 per patrol hour cost to be paid to Salem by the other municipalities, but also had unique aspects such as how much patrol will be delivered.

Both the Paddock Lake and Wheatland contracts have the home municipalities seeking and receiving water patrol reimbursement from the Department of Natural Resources. For Silver Lake, Salem will seek that reimbursement, and what Salem receives will ultimately reduce the village of Silver Lake’s cost as well.

The DNR typically reimburses about 70 percent of water patrol expenses if the municipality can meet certain criteria. Both Paddock Lake and Wheatland were unable to claim reimbursement last year because their programs were not consistent enough.

An exhibit in the contract with Silver Lake estimates a cost of $7,103 to the village after DNR reimbursement and estimated revenue from court violations.

An exhibit in the contract with Paddock Lake estimates a cost of $4,057 to the village after the DNR reimbursement and estimated court violations revenue.

An exhibit in the contract with Wheatland estimates a cost of $ 7,510 to the town, but does not account for possible DNR reimbursement or court revenue.

In addition to the new patrol, Salem public safety staff will continue to patrol the town’s own lakes with no lessening of service, said town administrator Patrick Casey.

Paddock Lake, Silver Lake and Wheatland will all provide a boat or personal water craft for officers to use for patrol on their lakes, saving launching and boat transport time, Casey said. Those craft will be maintained and fueled by the home municipalities.

Asked by board members about the availability of enough personnel to act as water patrol officers, David Shortess, Salem public safety director, said he is confident there will be enough staff available.

Casey admitted that this was new for the town and ultimately might not prove to be feasible for future summers.

“We need to see how it works,” Casey said. “We think we can handle it … we could be totally wrong … we’re not afraid to say hey let’s get out of this business.”

Paddock Lake, Silver Lake and Wheatland will now have to approve the contracts.

Here is the Paddock Lake contract.

Here is the Silver Lake contract.

Here is the Wheatland (Lilly Lake) contract.