Nautibynature

I forgot to post what I said at the last meeting. Board members, I am here once again to speak against a county ordinance that prohibits water skiing on Chickahominy Lake. An ordinance that was brought forth by a member of the Board of Supervisors that had a business operating on the lake. An ordinance that would have never been enacted had he not been a Supervisor. A conflict of interest by definition is: A situation in which someone who has to make a decision in an official capacity stands to profit personally from the decision. Another definition is: a conflict between the private interests and the official responsibilities of a person in a position of trusts. This is a clear violation of the Virginia Conflict of Interests Act. I would like to point out that as recently as September 14 of this year this very topic came up when Mr. Stiers disqualified himself from participating and voting on a New Kent Chamber of Commerce Lease Agreement. This was the right thing to do in 2015, and I would like to think we would all agree it was also the right thing to do in 1979. You have an opportunity to correct this error in judgement that ocurred many years ago. Last month we heard complaints about the placement of a duck blind in a marsh from some homeowners on the Chickahominy River. It should come as no surprise that someone would suggest an ordinance be enacted to prevent this perfectly legal activity, afterall this county seems to support an ordinance that prevents water skiing in a public lake? Why wouldn’t it support preventing duck hunting in the river? After the October work session The Chronicle story reported that Mr. Hathaway advised board members there were two ways to resolve the issue. However, those resolutions have major drawbacks and were more than likely impossible to consider. In the article he was quoted as saying, “The first thing we can do is enact an ordinance that prevents discharging a weapon within a certain distance of a home, But you can’t limit that to just this one area. This would have to be enacted for the entire county. “The second thing you can do is make it a no hunting zone,” But if you do that, the landowner can say he is in compliance with state law. Under those conditions, he could legally challenge us because the state law would trump our local law." I maintain my position that state law regarding skiing would also trump this local law. I would also like to remind the Board of an ordinance that you changed in January, 2014. The ordinance was 46-221 Discharge of firearms in residential subdivisions. The Board found that it is in the interests of the County and it's citizens to amend the county code to reflect the Code of Virginia. It was an easy decision for you to remove a law that prevented people from shooting guns in neighborhoods. Why is it so difficult to change a law that prevents people from waterskiing on a public lake? We have come before you 4 times now. We have given you 24 minutes of content with hardly a minute of discussion or feedback from you. All we are asking is a vote from you to put this to a public hearing. I would like to hear what the citizens that support keeping this ordinance in place have to say. When you consider the entire content of what we have said, Is a public hearing an unreasonable requests? I have brought some examples of recent actions taken by the current board that set a clear standard. I ask this board to be consistent with your decisions and vote to bring this to a public hearing. Thank you once again for your consideration to this matter.

Finally got this to a public hearing, it will be interesting to see how many people show up. http://nkccnews.com/local-news/2015/12/15/new-kent-water-skiing-issue-returns-heads-to-february-public-hearing/

Finally got this to a public hearing, it will be interesting to see how many people show up. http://nkccnews.com/local-news/2015/12/15/new-kent-water-skiing-issue-returns-heads-to-february-public-hearing/

I'm 6'3" 200lbs and promise you the 69" CX Superlite will not feel like an aircraft carrier. My previous ski was a 69" Connelly F1X.

@Glydon where are you?

We got a few too!

I went last year this time, as a result of a winning bid at a Delta Waterfowl auction. Hunting was phenomenal. We fly into Edmonton and drive to Fairview. Really interesting how much different it is than where I live.

It seems every time I go out of town there is abnormal weather at my house. Looks like we may get the brunt of this hurricane on Sunday. My day was spent removing dock furniture and getting boats off lifts just in case we get the storm surge.

@jlittle yes sir

Just curious, I'll be up in Fairview 10/1 -10/6.

What happened to the engine in the 94?

He really does think the lake belongs to him.

@BlueSki we equate Ed Allen to Boss Hogg...

scroll down to page 5 and 6. The link is to the minutes from the last meeting we spoke on this. http://www.co.new-kent.va.us/Archive/ViewFile/Item/3449

I don't think Virginia has an association. @rodb may know the answer to that. How would AWSA be willing to help? I am of the opinion that New Kent County overstepped it's bounds when it enacted this ordinance on a lake it does not own, would they offer legal assistance to challenge this in court? @MattP We have skiied in the lake several times since the July work session when the county attorney said it was legal to ski in the lake as long as we do not cross into New Kent waters. The lake is a boundary between New Kent and Charles City County. Back in 1979 Ed Allen Jr. (owner of Ed Allen's Boats and Baits on the lake)was on the Board of Supervisors and got this ordinance passed. He rents fishing boats on the lake and doesn't think skiers belong in "his lake" It's basically small town politics I'm going up against on this. The funny thing is someone has called the law every time we have been skiing, state game wardens say it's a county ordinance and they aren't going to enforce it. County Sherriff says the state owns the water and they aren't going to enforce it either.

The proponents of keeping this ordinance in place are hiding behind safety as the reason. We posted this video to show just how safe the lake really is.

Here is a video of the lake that is too dangerous to ski in. Please excuse the wind noise and length. We wanted to get a long pull in to show the amount of skiable water.

I started skiing with one of these and stretching before and after skiing. So far I haven't had any more low back pain. The belt is very comfortable, unlike some I've worn in the past for work. http://www.sportbelt.com/

@Mick04 that's a good looking MC! Post it on Team Talk and it should sell quick.

No LT1 @kpickett I have the TBI 350 with perfect pass. Thanks @Bill22

@kpickett I haven't seen any 94's I like better than mine...until I saw yours.

@Commuterfisher too much of Coni's Mezcal? Lol