PELL CITY — At a Thursday night called Logan Martin Lake Protection Association meeting, there was overwhelming opposition to proposed legislation that would ban big boats on 11 Alabama lakes.Randy Smith, a boathouse owner on Logan Martin who also owns a farm, said all the people wanted was a chance to have their voices heard.
"All I simply ask is for us to sit down with our legislators (at a public hearing) and talk," Smith said. "We aren’t trying to run something down someone’s throat, and we sure don’t want something run down our throats."
Sen. Gerald Dial, D-Lineville, and Rep. Richard Laird, D-Roanoke, are sponsoring a bill that would ban houseboats longer than 30 feet, 6 inches, and other boats longer than 26 feet, 11 inches that are capable of speeds in excess of 60 mph.
The bills could surface on the Senate or House floor next week for a vote, said Rep. Jim McClendon, R-Springville.
"This lake has made Pell City," said Dick Whatley, a Pell City Realtor.
He said the lake has helped recruit industries and economic development.
"When we bring these people in, we take them out on the water on a houseboat," he said.
Whatley said banning houseboats on Logan Martin Lake will hurt the local economy.
Former St. Clair County District Attorney Van Davis, who was representing the local bass club, said the club opposes the legislation.
He said the group is concerned about how this legislation surfaced without anyone knowing about it.
"The way it came about, it looks almost like they tried to sneak it in," he said. "We’re concerned because what will be next?"
He said bass fishermen co-exist with houseboat people.
"We’re opposed to this bill," Davis told more than 200 people in attendance at Thursday night’s meeting.
Donn Brascho, LMLPA president, also opposes the bill, although the LMLPA directors have not been able to meet for an official vote on the matter and may not have time before the bill is voted on in the House or Senate.
"Personally, I don’t like the way it was pushed through legislation," Brascho said of the bill.
The public was unaware the bill existed until media reports and the bills were set to make their way to the House and Senate floors.
Don Greer was the only person at the LMLPA meeting who spoke in favor of the bill, saying it could stop Logan Martin from becoming overcrowded like Lake Lanier.
"There’s a lot more people that’s going to be affected by this bill than just houseboat owners," said Joe Wilkerson, owner of a local marina.
The pending legislation was characterized as "stealth legislation."
Patt High, who lives in Dial’s and Laird’s district, said people were in the dark there too.
A proposed plush resort community development along Lake Harris in Wedowee sparked legislation to ban big boats on 11 Alabama lakes. Georgia developers wanted assurances that houseboats were banned on Lake Harris (Lake Wedowee) before committing to the multi-million dollar development.
Alabama Power Company, which owns about 10,000 acres along Lake Harris, has been involved in talks about the proposed development. It also supports the proposed legislation banning big boats on 11 Alabama lakes.
"It has been stealth legislation," said Pell City Mayor Adam Stocks. "Money is going to buy this bill."
He said the bill will affect the economy of Pell City and St. Clair County.
"This is absolutely an absurd bill, in my opinion," he said.
St. Clair County Commission Chairman Stan Batemon said there is room for everyone on Logan Martin Lake.
"This looks like something more about economic development somewhere else than houseboats," Batemon said.
He said Alabama Power is not the complete enemy.
"They make a bad move sometimes, and this is one of them," he said.
Local opponents of the bill were encouraged by local and state officials to contact senators, representatives and even the governor about their concerns in an effort to stop the legislation from moving forward.
"(Rep.) Randy (Wood, Anniston) and I are going to do everything we can," McClendon told those at Thursday night’s meeting. "We may be run down in the process, but we are going to put up a fight. … This may be your problem, but it’s my problem too."
