Damaged dock missed

July 16, 2008 03:49 pm

— By PAUL LORENZ
paul.lorenz@mcleansborotimesleader.com
McLEANSBORO — The city will repair or replace a boat dock at the reservoir lake which city workers recently removed after the dock had been damaged, the mayor said.
As for when the dock will be replaced, Mayor Dick Deitz said Wednesday morning he would have to check with city employees on the status of the project.
Rain and high winds earlier this year basically helped tear the dock — which it's estimated was more than 30 years old — from its pinnings, said the woman who, with her husband, runs a bait shop at the reservoir.
"There's a lot of people wanting this boat dock put back ... we've heard a lot of complaints about that," Mona Gaines of Sam's Bait Shop said.
There are two other boat docks on the reservoir lake, but many boaters — especially out-of-towners — may not realize that, Gaines said. The dock which was damaged was located closest to the bait shop on the side of the reservoir where many motorists turn in off Illinois Route 14, Gaines said.
A second boat dock is located at the far south end of the reservoir, and motorists have to drive "probably two or three miles" on the Fairground Road, off Illinois 14, to reach it, Gaines said. A third dock is located on the north side of the reservoir, across Illinois 14 from the bait shop location, she said.
The city will be checking on the condition of the remaining boat docks "to make sure they're all right," Deitz said.
Boat traffic on the lake varies, but fishing has been "really slow" the last few weeks, Gaines said.
Asked about people offering to volunteer to repair the dock themselves, the mayor said the city has to consider liability issues in such cases.
"I wouldn't have any trouble (with volunteer help) if (someone from the city) were there supervising," he said.
City employees originally put up yellow caution tape in the area of the damaged dock, then later came back, picked up the dock with a backhoe and hauled it away, Gaines said.
Of the dock's removal, Deitz indicated a safety concern, noting, "We don't want anyone to get hurt."
The city is in line to receive funding from the private Dick Weinmann Trust, some of which is earmarked for improvements at the reservoir, but that has no bearing on replacement of the damaged dock, the mayor said.