GAINESVILLE – Hall County Commissioners agreed Monday afternoon with the Sheriff’s Office, having the right boat for Lake Lanier is important.
“Several weeks ago we began the process of preparing our patrol boat for going back out on the water for summertime operations,” Sheriff’s Lt. Bonner Burton began. “And we learned of some really serious repairs that were going to be required of it…estimated at $8000.”
That estimate was more than the boat’s value. “So the Sheriff directed me to start looking for a replacement,” Burton continued.
Burton said after conferring with the Forsyth County Sheriff’s Office, the Department of Natural Resources and others versed in on-water police needs, he began his search.
Burton said he knew time was not on his side as Memorial Day weekend is days away. Finding a boat that was immediately available became priority number one, “because right now we just do not have a presence out on the lake for the Sheriff’s Office,” Burton said.
After getting prices and checking inventories at three local boat dealerships, Burton said he feels he has found the right vessel. “It exceeds what our specifications were but not by an extraordinary amount.”
She comes equipped with GPS, side and down imaging sonar, a 300HP outboard engine, and a feature Burton says others advised him to seek. “It has a door on the side of it that they call a ‘tuna door’. It allows us to recover people off the lake at water level, as opposed to having to drag somebody over the wall that is perhaps already injured,” Burton added.
Cost: $66,280 and in stock at Grass Shack on Lanier Islands Parkway.
Commissioner Scott Gibbs said, “I wish we had two of these because that lake is a big area north to south…that’s a large lake to patrol.”
The craft will be kept at Gainesville Marina off Dawsonville Highway according to Burton; in the water from May to October and in dry storage the remainder of the year.
Burton said one of the boats he looked at was only available in powder-blue. “Selling that to the public as a law enforcement vehicle was going to be a bit on the complicated side even with the blue lights and siren.”
He said the gray color scheme of the boat from Grass Shack would be less confusing to the public.
Funding is provided by Equitable Sharing Funds administered by the U.S. Department of Justice, a resource that distributes confiscated assets among agencies involved in property seizures.
Commissioners will vote on the purchase at their voting session, Thursday, 6 p.m. at the Hall County Government Center.
WIDER PATHWAY PLANNED BETWEEN LAKEVIEW ACADEMY & GAINESVILLE MIDDLE
When students return to class at Lakeview Academy and Gainesville Middle School this fall they will be greeted by a much improved footpath connecting the two schools.
Commissioners will vote Thursday evening on a plan to widen the shoulders on both sides of Quarry Street and Lakeview Drive, a total distance of 1425 feet.
Planners say the widening will improve pedestrian safety and allow for increased use.
Cost of the $65,000 project will be split evenly among the county, Gainesville Park and Recreation, Gainesville City Schools and Lakeview Academy.
