Polk County, FWC closer to finalizing swim area in party-prone portion of Lake Winterset

POLK COUNTY, Fla. (WFLA) — Polk County leaders said Tuesday they are closer to getting a swim area/vessel exclusion zone approved by the state of Florida.

The plan aims to prevent partying, loud music and trespassing in an area of Lake Winterset, which has been a popular spot for, sometimes unruly, boaters for years.

“You’re going to go and horseplay and be violent, there’s no place for that at all in the county,” said commissioner Michael Scott during Tuesday’s county commission meeting.

“We are going to ensure that we have safety for our swimmers and families, that we are not going to have people that make bad choices and then get into a boat that could possibly go into a swim area,” said commissioner Becky Troutman during the meeting.

Last week, a video went viral showing a fight between boaters in what’s referred to as “The Point” on Lake Winterset.

Several of the people in the video were arrested.

“This sign says ‘by order of the sheriff.’ This is not a suggestion,” said Sheriff Grady Judd during a news conference Aug. 12.

After a stern warning from Sheriff Judd, his office reports just one person was arrested this past weekend for trespassing. That suspect, the office said, tied his boat to the sheriff’s “no trespassing” sign.

“People just get drunk and get stupid. They fight. They’re having sex on people’s backyards. They’re using their backyards as toilets,” said county commissioner Bill Braswell.

Commissioner Braswell said it’s been a problem for years.

In May, the county commission passed a resolution to set up a swim area/vessel exclusion zone for areas of Lakes Winterset, Ariana and Clinch, which would prohibit boats.

“It’s one of those things – nip it in the bud before it becomes that,” said commissioner Bill Braswell about why the other lakes were included. “They’re just going to move to a different lake if they think they can get away with it.”

Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission had “concerns” about the county’s resolution designating the boundaries, instead wanting an ordinance, according to county leaders.

“I don’t know why they want it set by ordinance. That’s, I guess you would say, a more official way of doing it. We did it by resolution which is a quicker way to do it,” said Braswell. “Ordinances take multi steps. Then it goes to Tallahassee. Then it comes back. Resolutions we can just do Johnny-on-the-spot. That’s what we did because it’s been a problem for a long time.”

The county commission will be holding a vote in September on the ordinance instead of a resolution to address FWC’s concerns.

“Polk County’s public hearing to adopt the ordinance is scheduled for September 2. Once the ordinance is adopted, we will issue a permit for the markers,” read a statement from a FWC spokesperson.

Commissioners also intend to update the county’s noise ordinance.

“Our noise ordinance does not apply to lakes, which seems crazy,” said Braswell. “So the same people that are being obnoxious and doing all this other stuff back their boats up to these people’s backyard and crank their music up.”

There will be public hearings on both the swim area/vessel exclusion zones as well as the noise ordinance at the Sept. 2 county commission meeting at 9 a.m., with a vote to follow.