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Pewaukee Lake Patrol reports safe season, approves budget with wage and training increases
Summary
At a Pewaukee meeting, Lake Patrol said there were no boat‑crash injuries beyond first aid this season, announced DNR‑reimbursed training and an RBF buoy grant, and the board approved a budget raising hourly pay from $27 to $30 and adding $2,000 for training.
Lake Patrol officials told the Pewaukee lake board on Sept. 15, 2025, that the boating season had no reported injuries beyond first aid and that new training and equipment investments are aimed at sustaining safety and staffing. “We did not have any injuries beyond first aid, for the boating season regarding boat crashes,” the Lake Patrol presenter said.
The presenter outlined a four‑day practical training course the patrol ran this spring — two days covering communication and basic boat‑stop procedures and two days focused on close‑quarters maneuvering and handling. He said the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources agreed to reimburse the training, which the patrol will include in audit and grant paperwork.
The patrol purchased 40 additional buoys this spring, funded in part by a Recreational Boating (RBF) grant that covered 50% of the cost; the presenter said the department received $5,319.60 for that reimbursement. He also said the patrol distributed about 300 life jackets donated through the National Marine Manufacturers Association at a beach giveaway.
The board discussed staffing needs: four officers have left the unit for other jobs or retirement, creating four openings next season. To help recruitment and retention, the board voted to raise patrol wages from $27 an hour to $30 an hour (sergeants to receive a larger bump). The presenter said the change keeps the unit competitive with neighboring jurisdictions and will be accommodated within the current municipal budgets.
The board approved the patrol’s proposed budget by voice vote after brief discussion. Speaker 4 moved to approve the budget as presented and Speaker 3 seconded; members answered “aye.” The presentation noted a modest $2,000 increase to the training line to cover onboarding and state‑mandated certification for new hires.
Equipment updates included scheduled winterization work, impeller replacements and routine maintenance for two patrol boats; the presenter said no major boat purchases are anticipated in the near term. He also announced an AED donation procured after a conversation with Tim Frank of Butler Company and said the AEDs match units used by the police department, which simplifies joint response.
Next steps identified at the meeting include advertising the higher wage for recruitment, completing planned training, finishing buoy removal by mid‑October and continuing community outreach in next season’s education campaign.
