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Cordry‑Sweetwater board bans smoking at beaches, expands patrol citation authority and approves employee boat decals
Summary
The Board approved a ban on smoking and vaping at beaches and shelter houses, installed stationary cameras with audio at beach facilities, allowed currently employed boat patrol to maintain ticket‑writing authority when off shift, and approved an employee boat‑decal program for full‑time staff after one year.
The Cordry‑Sweetwater Conservancy District Board on Aug. 20 approved multiple security and beach‑use measures, including a ban on smoking and vaping at the beach and shelter houses, installation of stationary cameras with audio at beach facilities, expanded enforcement authority for boat patrols and a pilot employee boat decal policy.
Security commission chair Jim Maulden summarized security recommendations. The Board voted unanimously to ban smoking and vaping at the beach and shelter houses, requiring signage and designating the beach parking lot as the only smoking area. Legal counsel Roger Young said the District can enforce beach rules on District property through ticketing and loss of beach privileges.
Staff reported that stationary cameras covering both shelter houses and entry/exit walkways at the beach have been installed and that those cameras are the only District cameras equipped with sound. Security reviewed options for different body‑worn cameras or boat‑patrol camera systems for boat patrol staff.
The Board also approved a policy allowing full‑time employees with at least one year of service to purchase one motorized decal or two non‑motorized decals for District lakes, subject to completion of zebra mussel and boat safety training, with decals revocable after one lake violation or upon termination. Board members said the security commission supported the program and that seven full‑time employees are currently on staff.
Finally, the Board amended a July motion to explicitly allow currently employed boat patrol officers to retain ticket‑writing authority even when they are not on shift. The motion passed unanimously; proponents said it preserves enforcement continuity while the Board refines patrol staffing and scheduling.
What happens next: staff will install signage for the smoking ban, review camera and body‑worn hardware options for boat patrol, and implement the employee decal program through Finance and Operations.
