A town-hall meeting to discuss the Lake of the Ozarks' biggest issues packed the Osage Beach City Hall court room last month; the event gave State Representative Lisa Thomas a lot to think about.

On Friday, July 16, the town hall styled meeting brought Rep. Thomas, along with company representatives from Ameren, and a host of Missouri State Highway Patrol Water Patrol officers and vehicle officers. They discussed the most pressing issues and heard concerns from the public: about 70 people attended the meeting.

The main point of discussion during the 1.5-hour forum was wake issues on the waterways. The complaint voiced over and over throughout the session was of large boats creating dangerous wakes that are damaging docks and shorelines, and endangering lives.

A Mystic Bay Condominium resident told the gathering that her grandson almost drowned in a three foot wake that slammed into her dock while he was swimming under the dock earlier this summer. She said this particular boater usually idles in and out of the cove, which does not have any wake restrictions due to a denial by the Missouri State Highway Patrol of the condo association’s request to designate the area No-Wake. 

“We had 100% of residents sign the petition for a no-wake cove, however only 90% of the condo board supported the request, thus we were denied,” the unidentified resident said. “For some reason, this usually cautious boater decided to come in at a high speed in a large boat, and the three to four foot waves swept over my grandson swimming under my dock, and I had to get a noodle to him, he was being swept under and knocked into the dock. It was terrifying, as you can tell, I’m still shaken by the incident. That’s why I came here today to be heard. Be good neighbors, that’s all we ask. Be courteous.”

With each resident speaking their concerns to the panel of Thomas and other concerned Lake representatives, Thomas acknowledged their concerns, and state trooper commanders took notes of issues to research further. Concerned citizens were assured that their problems would be addressed and followed up on. 

Dock cameras that Lakefront homeowners have in place can be used to prosecute wake zone offenders, attendees were told. The resident can call the Highway Patrol Marine Division, and follow-up with a visit is warranted if the boat driver can be seen clearly on the camera footage for identity.

However, many in the room complained that the Camden County Prosecutor was turning away violation reports.

Troop F Marine Division of Missouri Highway Patrol meets in public hearings four times per year. Requests such as no wake, and distance violations are addressed at these meetings. Residents complained of the time to wait to have a complaint or request relating to dock issues heard. One speaker suggested that condo associations take up the task of fining their owners if they violate cove restrictions. “A $500 dollar fine by their COA would help minimize the speeding,” one man offered. Another gentleman suggested bigger No-Wake signs, and Rep. Thomas agreed. “They definitely need to be identified larger and more clearly for cove visitors,” she said.

One man who lives at the 10MM in Frankie and Louie's cove reported a big problem with rental boats and vessels. “They don’t know the rules, and they aren’t given enough instruction. Most of the time, when a boat is barreling through our cove, it has the identification RP for rental on the side.”

Noise and speed violations on large vessels was another concern; Highway Patrol/Water Patrol personnel responded that they have noise meters on the water patrol boats, and may issue warnings or citations if a boat violates the allowable noise threshold.

Anchored coving was discussed, with the panel being satisfied with new laws that Gov. Mike Parson signed into law last month. Most residents stated a preference that “party coves” be contained to one area, such as the 1MM.

The only other discussion regarding Lake area concerns was the presence of VRBO and AirBnB style short-term vacation rentals in majority full-time residential neighborhoods. “The second homeowners are now renting out their homes for nightly or weekend rentals and it’s causing problems for us. Bachelor or Bachelorette parties are staying there, and they are loud, and parking a large number of cars down the street where we live. We need some zoning and restrictions to limit these,” one Osage Beach complained. Some regions of the Lake, however, do have vacation rental restrictions: the City of Lake Ozark prohibits short-term rentals altogether—an ordinance that is popular with some and unpopular with others—and some condo associations also do not allow them.

Rep. Thomas closed the meeting with gratitude to residents for attending, and an offer to meet again for additional issues.

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