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Pewaukee panel weighs rules, fees and enforcement for commercial boat launches at Lehman Park
Summary
The Parks Commission discussed widespread nonpayment by commercial boat-delivery firms at Lehman Park and debated enforcement options — from a targeted flat fee for big operators to license-plate systems — but agreed to seek DNR guidance and return with data in August.
Speaker 4 (role not specified) told commissioners the village is encountering recurring nonpayment by commercial operators who launch boats at Lehman Park and proposed options including a per-business annual fee pending Department of Natural Resources (DNR) guidance. “Technically, boat is being launched. It should be paid,” Speaker 4 said, noting staff added a QR code to the launch box but companies still sometimes leave without paying.
The commission’s discussion focused on two problems: (1) collecting fees from companies that deliver boats and then leave, and (2) how to enforce any new requirement. Speaker 4 estimated “at least 5, maybe 7 or 8” commercial operators may be involved and said roughly $8,000 exists in the outfield-banner fund for other projects, illustrating that unpaid launches represent lost revenue for taxpayers. Commissioners debated price points for a commercial-season pass (current statutory guidance caps an annual launch at 10× the daily fee, which at $7 yields $70) and sketched alternatives: a modest seasonal fee ($100–$150), a per-launch charge collected via QR code, a flat annual payment for large operators (examples raised included a $3,000 flat fee), or targeting the largest offenders rather than broad, costly technology upgrades.
Several members urged pragmatism. “Let’s find out who they are. Let’s let them know, hey, you did this. You gotta pay from now on,” Speaker 7 said, favoring targeted outreach. Others warned that enforcement is the linchpin. “If the DNR says we can’t do it, we have to get approval,” Speaker 1 said. Commissioners discussed technical options: the village’s new camera system records activity but was not purchased with license-plate-recognition (LPR) capability; upgrading to LPR would require new cameras, software and staff to process alerts, increasing cost and complexity.
Commissioners also flagged data gaps. Speaker 4 reported year-to-date launch fees for 2025 at about $4,083.14 (one commissioner cited $3,754.14 for a June snapshot) and asked staff to reconcile discrepancies in monthly and year-to-date figures before adopting a pricing or enforcement regime. The body agreed to seek clarification from the DNR, consult neighboring jurisdictions (Oconomowoc and Waukesha County were mentioned) and gather better counts of launches this season. Staff will return with findings and recommended language at the August meeting.
The commission did not adopt a new fee or ordinance at this meeting. The next procedural step is staff research and a DNR response that will determine what enforcement options are legally permissible.
