Mayor's compromise may bring calm to Lake Lucille situation

Frontiersman editorial board

Mayor Dianne Keller and the city of Wasilla are moving in a positive direction in an effort to solve problems at Lake Lucille in a way that benefits everyone.

In recent years, the single public access launch on the lake has become an increasing nuisance to homeowners around the lake. Some boaters and recreationalists have used the launch with little regard for the people who live on the lake every day. Vehicles have been parked on private property, trash has been left behind, and some of the weekend boaters have made a great deal of noise and disruption in the neighborhood.

Some thought was given to actually closing the access, but that would have eventually privatized the lake -- not a viable solution in the minds of many. Keller has proposed a compromise that limits access to the launch and increases regulation (or at least enforcement) in that area.

The mayor's plan will include a tall wooden fence, signs listing pertinent ordinances and agencies with jurisdiction on the lake and a locking gate that will be closed between the hours of 11 p.m. and 8 a.m. A parking lot will also be added on nearby city land. That should greatly reduce the traffic and parking burden in lakeside communities. City police and other enforcement agencies will also patrol the area to help enforce regulations that have been in place, but not well enforced, for years.

All-in-all, it is a move in the right direction for the city, and for the lake. Better control and enforcement of the Lake Lucille area will clearly improve the quality of life for people living there and make recreation easier and safer. At an estimated price of around $26,000, it's also a relative bargain considering the benefits. This is a good decision by Keller, and the city deserves credit for finding a reasonable compromise that keeps a popular recreation site available while improving life for people who live near it.

A common theme emerges from this challenge, however, and it warrants some serious consideration. One of the contributing factors to the Lake Lucille problem was a lack of enforcement. Most people at public hearings agreed that the challenge at Lake Lucille did not stem from a lack of regulations, but rather from a lack of serious enforcement. Many felt that a stronger official presence and harsher punishments for infractions of existing codes would greatly improve the situation.

That is almost certainly true, but it speaks loudly to a shortage of law enforcement officials in the Valley. Nearly every agency, from police to emergency response to the DA's office is stretched to the limit. We'll all be well-served if we begin to pay closer attention to that shortage. Challenges like the one at Lake Lucille will only increase as the Valley continues to grow. Agency resources will need to keep pace.