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Parks commission sets rules for fishing, boating at the Salem Lake

SALEM — The Salem Parks Commission voted Wednesday to establish rules for the fishing and boating program at the Salem Lake, known as the East Cold Run Reservoir, but now they need approval from the Salem Utilities Commission before any canoes or kayaks can enter the water.

The issue of canoes and kayaks being prohibited came up a couple years ago when members of the parks commission questioned why they couldn’t be permitted and sought out permission to allow them, thinking that could be another draw for the lake off of Gamble Road. The reservoir is controlled by the utilities commission and serves as a source of the city’s drinking water.

The parks commission only controls the recreation part of it and had to approach the utilities commission about the canoes and kayaks. Everyone had been under the assumption that they weren’t permitted due to an ordinance from 1962 which prohibited canoes, but then it was discovered the prohibition against canoes had been rescinded by 1965.

The two commissions met on the issue with the understanding that rules were going to be established, but then nothing apparently happened. Parks commission members thought the situation had been settled and the canoes and kayaks were allowed, but then the question came up again this spring. Utilities Superintendent Don Weingart said the parks commission never established the rules, which had to be approved by the utilities commission, so that meant canoes and kayaks still weren’t permitted.

Now that the parks commission has taken action, the rules will come before the Utilities Commission, which doesn’t meet again until next month.

Parks Director Steve Faber said he looked at rules that had been written in 1965 and revised them, with some parts removed since they were out of date. Parks Commission Chairman John Panezott said he was adament about requiring life preservers and said some of the rules listed from 1965 still apply, such as no gasoline motors permitted and no alcoholic beverages.

Canoe and kayak operators must wear life preservers and no standing will be permitted in canoes or kayaks. Canoes and kayaks must have state registration. No sail boats will be permitted.

Parks Commission Vice Chairman Terry Hoopes said he thought they should charge users to launch their canoes or kayaks and learned that the parks department already charges $2.50 to launch a boat. He thought it should be raised to $5, but said that could be something they look at for next year.

In other business, the parks commission approved the purchase of two Steiner mowers with 72-inch decks from Homer Unkefer Inc. for $32,800, or $16,400 each. Faber said Unkefer’s price was better and they had the two mowers in stock. A bid from Hilltop Lawn & Garden totaled $18,454 for each mower and the mowers would have to be ordered because they were not in stock. The money to pay for the mowers had already been set aside in the budget by city council.

The commission also reviewed the status of the splash pad project and a project to resurface and make improvements at the Waterworth Memorial Park tennis courts. A construction permit is still needed from the Ohio Department of Commerce and a plumbing permit will be needed from the Columbiana County General Health District for the splash pad project at Centennial Park near the pool. Another fence estimate was requested for the fencing for the tennis courts for the proposal being sent to the Salem Community Foundation.

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