Beach on track for re-opening

The Fairfield Public Safety and Transportation Committee approved a list of guidelines for re-opening Bonnifield Lake to swimmers Tuesday afternoon.

The reservoir and beach will remain closed, however, until the entire council votes on the committee?s recommendation Monday evening.

The recommendation calls for re-opening the beach and lake to swimming with no advance testing of swim skills, installing buoys and ropes to confine swimming, removing the dock and roping off and identifying underwater hazards.

?Anyone that chooses to swim in the reservoir could do so with no specific rules but with the understanding there?s no lifeguard available, and you?re swimming at your own risk,? said city administrator Jeff Clawson.

He further explained the dock is ?where we have the largest percentage of our problem with enforcement? because it?s almost impossible to catch people in the act of diving from it.

?Injury is the big issue. We don?t want to see anyone hurt,? Clawson said.

The addition of rescue equipment and swimming outside of the confined area, such as whether it will be entirely prohibited in specific areas or allowed only in swim lanes, are issues yet to be resolved.

Frank Wintroub, who has lead the charge in demanding the reservoir?s re-opening, was generally pleased with the committee?s recommendation, but questioned the impact removal of the dock would have on fishermen and boaters. Maharishi University of Management professor Ken Daley said the university frequently uses the dock for boats.

The committee agreed boaters? needs will be addressed in the future once the swimming issue is resolved.

Wintroub said he has thoroughly explored underwater around the dock and he doesn?t believe riprap ? a concern raised by the Fairfield Water Department ? poses a danger.

Wintroub suggested the riprap could be removed, but water superintendent Carl Chandler said it was installed to prevent erosion. That particular spot near the dock also has been used as a dumping location for excess rock by the treatment plant.

Chandler said removing the riprap would ?compromise the integrity of the dam.? Wintroub said ScourStop could be used as an alternative and there?s funding available from a budget for the lakes.

?Everybody says they are swimming at their own risk ? Once there is an issue in the water or somebody starts to drown, I don?t think anybody realizes the lack of equipment ? we have absolutely no equipment whatsoever,? said Lt. David Thomas. ?The second someone does start having a problem, they are going to call 911, and they?re going to expect a response. ? The nearest [water rescue] team that I know of is hours away.?

Thomas said each police car is equipped with a rescue throw disk, but the disks are extremely ineffectual and rely on the person being able to grab hold and essentially ?save himself.?

In terms of liability, Thomas said the city?s departmental safety committee acknowledged the city could win a lawsuit, but not without incurring expensive legal fees at the cost of taxpayers.

?We love the idea of swimming,? Thomas said, but ?we are not prepared for it. Unfortunately, a small percentage are abusing the rules and causing issues.?

Park and rec director Derik Wulfekuhle had noted two signs forbidding diving from the dock had been ripped out of the ground last summer. Additionally, when only 40 people were authorized to swim outside the ropes last year, more than that swam in the open on a daily basis, he said.

Park superintendent Pam Craff said her department doesn?t have the right people ? strong swimmers ? or a boat to set out the heavy buoys and ropes each season.

?We?ll get people to do it,? councilman Ron Adam said, asking for volunteers from the crowd of about 50 beach supporters in attendance at Tuesday?s meeting.

City attorney John Morrissey advised the committee on liability and said there?s always a risk of lawsuit. He said the city needs to avoid becoming too great an insurance risk through increased exposures, so Fairfield can remain in the Iowa Communities Assurance Pool.