2010-05-20 Geneva Lake West

Geneva Lake Law Agency upgrades patrol boat

Lake safety for users, officers should increase

Tips for National Safe Boating Week In honor of National Safe Boating Week, Geneva Lake Law Enforcement Manager Tom Hausner gives his top tips to lake users: - "Before you bring out your boat, especially for the first time of the boating season, always make sure your boat is in good, running condition. Most importantly, that includes no leaks." - "For every person in the boat, there should be a life jacket. Also make sure those flotation devices are not ripped, rooted, cracked or have holes so they work in an emergency." - "Make sure to leave enough space between your boat and oncoming boats and we need people to slow down as well." - "And of course, don't drink and drive under any circumstance."

May 19, 2010 | 08:42 AM
Williams Bay — With the recent addition of a custom-made patrol boat, Geneva Lake Law Enforcement officials believe safety on the lake will increase this summer.

The replacement of a six-year-old GLLEA boat comes just in time for National Safe Boating Week.

The new boat will specifically meet the needs of the police officers on Geneva Lake, GLLEA Manager Tom Hausner said.

"It's a completely different design then what we had," he said. "It was designed and selected for us. I actually went to the factory in the state of Washington to help ensure the boat would meet our needs for what we're doing. This was made specifically as a police boat, not a recreation, fire or rescue boat. It is meant for police work."

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He said the previous boat was built more for recreation. This boat has features such as a deeper hull and a quarter-inch aluminum bottom that is expected to make a difference in how officers respond on the lake.

"This will allow us to respond more rapidly and a more effective manner because of the design," Hausner said. "It will allow us to handle the waters of Geneva Lake much better than we currently have been."

He said the deeper hull makes it easier ans safer to maneuver the boat in rougher water, which creates more safety for the officers. Plus, he said the new Boston Whaler will create more comfort for officers on duty as well, which will increase their efficiency and awareness.

"Some of the guys spend eight hours straight in the water and so fatigue does come in to play sometimes," Hausner said. "This boat was designed with longevity in mind."

The boat cost $77,000, but Hausner said there was money left over from past budgets, which was set aside in a boat replacement fund. Also, the agency saves money when there is rain or storms — if there are no people on the lake, then there isn't as much staff, maintenance or boats going out.

Hausner believes the boat came at a relatively good deal. The previous boat cost $65,000 six years ago. The new boat includes a trailer.

Feedback

You are kidding me!!!!!
May 19, 2010 | 11:36 AM

You could of bought the titanic for that price. What does the siren play in stereo.

Joe
Williams Bay
How many years do they plan on keeping it?
May 19, 2010 | 11:48 AM

How many years has the safety patrol gotten out of each boat before replacing it with a new one? At $77,000.00 and a special design this boat should last at least 10 to 15 years. So, What is the length of service the builder feels is expected of this boat?

Local Citizen
Hey Joe
May 19, 2010 | 12:39 PM

I have know Tom Hausner since he was a rookie and if he says they need the boat they need the boat. He is not going to piss away taxpayers money if it was not necessary. I got an idea for you, keep off the lake.

Veteran law man
Hey Joe
May 19, 2010 | 01:11 PM

Those are some nice squads that the Bay cops drive, I bet that SUV cost $35,000 or so. About half what the boat cost. I would suspect they trade them in every 3-4 years also. Have you discussed your feelings with Chief Pruesing on his spending such huge amounts on a squad when he could buy Chev Aveo's for squads and save alot of money.

Veteran lawman.
Speaking of the bay cops,
May 20, 2010 | 11:49 AM

They just bought a new squad SUV, so that's like a new car every 2 years. On the other hand you can use them 365 days a year... I've seen this boat and honestly it doesn't look like its worth anywhere near $77k. If they say it'll do them well, then I trust it will. I guess we'll know once we see it in action.

resident
WB
WHY?
May 21, 2010 | 10:28 AM

IS THERE ANYONE WHO CAN TELL ME WHEN AND WHY OUR LAKE BECAME 'GENEVA LAKE' ? Should we now call our eastern border MICHIGAN LAKE ? Or how about SUPERIOR LAKE to our north. Who decided this and who does it benefit? Sorry but every beautiful blue drop of that lake is LAKE GENEVA......AS IT HAS ALWAYS BEEN

N.Gudgeon
Lake Geneva
I always learned...
May 21, 2010 | 11:00 AM

That the lake is Geneva lake and the town is Lake Geneva...from Wikipedia "Lake Geneva is a city in Walworth County, Wisconsin, United States. The population was 7,148 at the 2000 census. A resort city located on Geneva Lake"

B...
Como
Patrol Boat cost
May 21, 2010 | 12:49 PM

Can someone tell me if the safety patrol on Lake Geneva is paid for by all the municipalities surrounding the lake or just Lake Geneva itself? Because if it is paid for by all municipalities then the $77,000.00 should be split between all of them and not just Lake Geneva.

Local Citizen
Geneva Lake name and the that safety patrol and police boat are
May 21, 2010 | 01:37 PM

John Brink, a government surveyor, laid claim to the waterfall power and adjacent land at the White River outlet to the lake in 1835. He named the lake after the lake in his home in Geneva, New York. The Indians had called it Kish-Way-Kee-Tow, meaning clear water.

The city is Lake Geneva, the lake is Geneva Lake.

http://www.walworthcogetaway.com/walworth-county-fast-facts/

The lake and in fact most all the lakes in Walworth county are name first then lake. Always have been. Look at the town charters from around the lake, they say Geneva Lake.

As for the safety patrol which is not the police boat...safety patrol charges each municipality for life guard services. They hold a fund raiser for other expenses and get most of their boats donated. The law enforcement agency collects budgeted monies from each of the municipalities on the lake. Fines collected for violations goes back to the different municipalities to help off set costs just like the local police depts do.

Been here a long time
Geneva Lake area
The Police patrol boat is funded and employees are
May 21, 2010 | 04:14 PM

"deputized" by each Municipality around the lake. The headquarters of the Police boat are located in Williams Bay, but all Municipalities around the lake chip in for the budget and expenses based on the amount of lake frontage I believe. The Water Safety Patrol is a non-profit independent entity that recieves some funding for operations such as lifeguards etc. from the Municipalities that surround the lake, but most of it's costs are covered through donations and fundraisers. Both are well run, and necessary for the safety on our lake. Lake Geneva is on Geneva Lake, just like Fontana, WIlliams Bay, Linn are on Geneva Lake, it's that simple. It seems easier to say Lake Michigan, Lake Superior, and Lake Geneva rather than Michigan Lake, Superior Lake, Geneva Lake I guess.

Local Yokel
Dear Gudgeon
May 24, 2010 | 11:18 AM

Six or seven years ago the County Board passed legislation changing the name of the lake to GENEVA LAKE from LAKE GENEVA. the only municiplality not to join in was the City of Lake Geneva. So to answer your question it has been changed for less than 7 years.

Informed Voter
Lake Geneva
Informed voter check your facts
May 24, 2010 | 04:20 PM

It has been Geneva lake for a lot longer then 7 years. Look at old maps of the lake and village charters. I have lived here 45+ years and it has always been Geneva Lake.

Been here a long time
Geneva Lake
May 25, 2010 | 04:05 PM

Setting the record straight. The lake and the Town were originally named after the town of Geneva, New York. John Brink (a government surveyor and early settler) thought it resembled Seneca Lake in Geneva. Later on, in order to avoid confusion with the near by town of Geneva, Illinois the town was renamed Lake Geneva and the lake (later) renamed Geneva Lake. This dates to about 1834-1897
Currently the Lake is called "Geneva Lake". The town is called "Lake Geneva"

Lake Geneva Lake
japanese power
May 26, 2010 | 05:15 PM

Why is the new boat powered by a yamaha? The old boats were powered by mercury's, which are made in wisconsin. On top of that the american flag is flying proudly atop the japanese made engine? Huh!

jon
fontana
Low bid
May 26, 2010 | 05:35 PM

Public service is often forced into buying the "low-bid" so that the cities, villages and towns can save money. It's possible that I'm wrong, but odds are, that Yamaha was probably cheaper than the Mercury. Often, this strategy ends up costing a LOT more. When it comes to your protection, whether it comes from the Police Department / Fire Department / or EMT's, do you really want them using the lowest bidder?

T
Probably
May 26, 2010 | 08:02 PM

because Yamaha Blows Mercury out of the water....Pun intended

B...
Como
New Boat
May 27, 2010 | 05:23 AM

Good luck with that boat if they are laker fishing. They will need their barf bags when the motor boat is a rocking. Poor choice of boat, how do you tie up to another boat at the front 1/4 of the boat? how do you work off the bow?
The police need to be there for rescue, enforcement, and scoff law violations. The lake police have failed miserably on the rescue aspect for years.
By the choice of this style of boat it trully shows they are clueless

lake user
Walworth Township
Hey lake user
May 27, 2010 | 07:24 AM

I know you probably think you are smarter than the guys who have worked on the police boat for many years, but you aren't.
The police boat is just that, a boat used on the lake to ensure people are behaving properly and to cite them for violations if they are not. The police boat is not used for rescues ... that's what the Water Safety Patrol is for.
By the way, both the police boat and the Water Safety Patrol do a pretty darn good job on the lake if you ask me.

Really
lake area
Set the record straight
June 02, 2010 | 08:06 PM

I hear some people are upset about the Yamaha motor on the new police boat. The USA (Wisconsin) made Mercury motors did not hold up. The police boat went through three motors then still had one on each of the Whalers so that is a total of five motors. I heard Mercury said the motors could not handle the slow speeds the police boat mostly drives at. The Yamahas can not be any worse. The Regional News was wrong about the brand of the new Police boat. It is NOT a Whaler, I believe it said Weld Craft (when I saw it in Lake Geneva this past weekend) and appears to be an all alluminum build. I hear the Whalers did not hold up very well and could not handle the type of water Geneva has.
Who ever thinks the Police boat does rescuse should know there facts before they spout off. Every one who is an avid boater knows the Water Safety Patrol does all the rescues, EMS, towing of boats and providing basic needs like a tow company on Geneva Lake. The Police boat does Police duties like issuing citations to all the inept boat drivers out there. Geneva Lake is a dangerous lake for its size because of the high volume of boats and for everyone who is out there "thinking" they can "drive" a boat. A boat is not a car and can not be driven like a car. One major diffrence NO brakes. I think the Police Boat does a very good job for what they have. I use to be a hater of the Police Boat but in the past several years they have better managment. I think the Sgt there, does not get enough credit for what he does. In most good running businesses there is a person in the back ground doing a lot of work for the good of the business and a person in the front who likes being in the spot light and does very well there. I hope the Police boat has a safe and fun season.

Avid Geneva Lake Boater
To set the record straight
June 04, 2010 | 06:40 PM

"Who ever thinks the Police boat does rescuse should know there facts before they spout off. Every one who is an avid boater knows the Water Safety Patrol does all the rescues, EMS," your quote

Maybe you should know your facts. Water Safety does not provide all the rescue and EMS. The provide very little since they are only out during the summer days. The 4 Fire / EMS departments around the lake provide fire, rescue, and EMS coverage 24 hours a day 365 days a year. I have never seen water safety preforming an ice rescue or where were they for the drowning incidents off of Linn pier the past couple of years. That's right it wasn't a warm summer day.

Thank you to all the fire and EMS that really pr
Geneva Lake

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