Those who enter the water or walk out on to the pier during dangerous conditions in Lake Michigan will soon be looking at fines in the city of South Haven. The city council voted this past week to impose a $1,000 fine for violating its new ordinance shutting down swimming and the pier in dangerous conditions. City Manager Kate Hosier told the council more than just wave height can be taken into consideration when closing swimming.
“The city manager, the police chief, the harbor master, and the director of South Haven Area Emergency Services Authority, i.e. the fire chief, shall each independently have the authority to close or partially close a public beach due to a human health or safety risk,” Hosier said.
By closing the beach, they mean entering the water. Hosier said a lot of work has gone into this issue.
“What we have here is the result of almost two years of work, about a year and a half of work, between city staff and safety surveys and the ad hoc safety committee for setting up criteria for closing the beaches, the nature of prohibited conduct, what does it mean to have an extreme sport.”
That’s because certain sports enthusiasts, like surfers, will still be allowed in the water. Hosier says that exception is in line with rules from the Michigan Department of Natural Resources. The city will now purchase barriers and other equipment to inform people when swimming and pier walking is off limits. Enforcement will start with warnings and not fines.
