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No boat launch fees for LeClaire residents, but others may be asked to pay

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By Mary Louise Speer | Friday, April 04, 2008 |

LeCLAIRE, Iowa — Boating season is almost here, and LeClaire officials are trying to pin down ways to handle crowded parking conditions on the city’s riverfront levee.

The City Council is discussing how the city will handle having too many weekend boaters and boat trailers while guaranteeing trailer parking for residents. Currently, the levee has space for about 70 vehicles and trailers on the north end.

“As everyone knows, there have been periods where the levee is completely inundated with vehicles and boat trailers in an unorganized manner,” Police Chief James Pfeiffer said. “By the time the police are called to try to correct the problem, it is too late. The boats have been launched and the vehicle owners are on the river.”

Possible options are to reserve an overflow lot for LeClaire residents, restripe the parking lot or hire a part-time person to guide and police parking.

“LeClaire residents will be allowed to launch boats and park for free. (Other) Iowa residents will have to pay a fee, as will out-of-state residents,” Pfeiffer suggested.

City officials agreed LeClaire residents should not be charged for using the municipal launching facility.

“One thing we have to remember, it is the LeClaire levee. I see a problem of LeClaire residents being able to use the levee. I think they should have some sort of guaranteed use of that levee for their boats,” Councilman Ron Leiby said.

“I definitely want you to understand, LeClaire citizens will be free,” Mayor Robert Scannell said.

But that leaves the challenges of deciding what fees to charge and how to identify out-of-towners who prefer launching their boats from LeClaire. They also will decide if the city should charge only for weekend use or issue permits that cover launching any day of the week.

“I’m a fisherman, and I’d charge whether it was the week or weekend. No overnights,” resident Mike Goetsch said.

Council members will continue discussing the issue at the April 14 committee-of-the-whole meeting at LeClaire Council Chambers, 325 Wisconsin St.

The city desk can be contacted at (563) 383-2450 or newsroom@qctimes.com.