TBO.com - TBO is Tampa Bay Online

Highlands Today

Reasonable Solution Needed For Lake Denton

ADVERTISEMENT

Dianne Holcombe

Published: January 17, 2008

I am amazed at the number of people who write letters to the editor regarding the Lake Denton situation. The majority of the writers are critical and derogatory. We are called "selfish" for wanting to keep our lake safe and clean, and the area suitable for our children and grandchildren.

We are not "the lucky few who can afford to own a home" on the lake, nor are we the "pampered and elite." The majority of us are two income middle class people trying to bring some resolution to a problem that has been going on for a long time, and has escalated to major proportions over the past three to four years.

How can someone who lives in Lake Placid, Sebring and even in some areas of Avon Park feel so strongly about a lake that I am sure the majority have never visited, let alone ever used for recreational purposes. If they have, they would know that there is no "beach" when the lake water is at a normal level. Usually the only place to sit is on the shell surface.

As residents of Lake Denton Road, our main areas of concern have been to get the area patrolled, to keep the diver parking situation under control and put an end to the activities of the public who use this lake and surrounding property as their personal dump, bar, motel and trafficking area.

One solution was to install "No Parking" signs. I counted approximately 25-30 signs placed on both sides of the roadway. It was reported that the cost for these signs was in the area of $150-$250 each. It was later stated that these signs were improperly placed and no tickets would be written. What a good use of taxpayers money.

Another suggestion was to pave and extend the "parking area" and install restrooms. A few years ago, the county exercised their governmental right of eminent domain to obtain a strip of land approximately a quarter of a mile in length and 130 feet in width, that runs parallel with the southeastern portion of Lake Denton Road.

It was suggested that the parking lot and restrooms be built on a section of this property. It was obvious not much thought was put into this suggestion. This area has well and septic. I am sure it would be possible to connect to the city water and sewer system, but at what cost? Who would be responsible for cleaning and maintaining these bathrooms?

However, the biggest obstacle is the fact that this land has been slated for use in the future Phase III parkway expansion project. Seems to me this would be a huge waste of taxpayer money to do these renovations only to tear them down.

It has also been suggested that a guard be hired for weekends only. This person would be responsible for limiting the number of vehicles to no more than eight at any given time, collect $25 per vehicle user fee, and to open and close a roadway gate at set hours of operation.

The proposed salary for this individual is $12 hourly. I cannot imagine that someone would want to take this potentially hazardous position for that amount of money. This brings up several questions. If this person ran into some uncooperative customers, would the sheriff's department respond to call for assistance? Would this person be licensed to carry a weapon for protection? How can one person control the constant influx of both desirable and undesirable lake users without some type of legal authority?

The latest suggestion is for Crews to swap the piece of property adjacent to the lake access road for a section of property on Lake Bonnett. This would allow the county (at taxpayers expense) to clean up and refurbish the area mentioned, making it into a beach and re-open Lake Denton to the public, while at the same time privatizing Lake Bonnett, thus limiting public access to that lake area.

How can it be illegal to restrict or limit access to one specific lake in Highlands County, yet not illegal to restrict or limit access to another? There have been several other lakes in Avon Park that have either been considering or have been designated off-limits to the divers and public swimmers, for the same reasons we have been stating. Why is Lake Denton singled out and causing such an outcry?

I have no fool-proof solution to this problem. I can only suggest that maybe the situation can be rectified if the area is patrolled regularly and frequently, no alcoholic beverages allowed, uphold a posted curfew and issue citations for parking violations. This may also assist in putting an end to the illicit and morally unacceptable behavior that goes on not only on the weekends but every day of the week.

I certainly hope the commissioners, committee members and others will sit down together and have a sensible, productive discussion. Stop with the knee-jerk reaction to the complaints from the local scuba businesses and opinionated citizens. Give this situation some serious consideration and come up with a workable and suitable solution.

Dianne Holcombe is a Lake Denton resident.

Share this:

Loading Comments...

Email Print

ADVERTISEMENT