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sure whether this fell through the cracks or if they are not <br />enforcing their rules correctly. What we are presenting to the <br />Board today reflects current rules regarding unwalled boat <br />shelters in aquatic preserves. <br />Commissioner Scurlock understood that as proposed, Mr. <br />McDowell still doesn't comply. <br />Commissioner Bowman suggested the following change in <br />wording in Item (5) on the bottom of page 10 of the proposed <br />ordinance: "such structure shall be constructed a minimum of <br />five (5) feet above the mean high water level "where if <br />conditions are right, aquatic vegetation may occur". That means <br />the whole river. Grass beds are essential for the health and <br />production of fish and shellfish in the river. <br />Mr. McDowell stated that he really wasn't asking for <br />anything that all the other people don't have already. <br />Commissioner Bowman pointed out that Linda Farrell of the <br />Corps of Engineers will tell you that there are more violations <br />than she could possibly list. Right now, the Corps does no <br />enforcement, and they quite frankly admit that they do not have <br />the manpower to do the enforcement. Commissioner Bowman stressed <br />that is why she would like to see the County take over the <br />enforcement. <br />Vice Chairman Wheeler noted that 160 sq. ft. is not a lot of <br />area since most boats start at 16 feet, and it seems only <br />reasonable for somebody to want to cover all of their boat. That <br />is one thing, but requiring people to build their docks higher is <br />another matter. <br />Commissioner Eggert felt that if it ends up that the County <br />is going to be the ones to watch over this, maybe we should have <br />something practical. <br />Director Keating advised that in our ordinance we could be <br />more restrictive than the DER, but he is willing to go with <br />whatever they set because they have more expertise than us. <br />Commissioner Scurlock felt the 160 sq. ft. limitation is a <br />lot of baloney and not based on anything as far as he could see, <br />and Mr. McDowell felt that is why they are changing it. <br />Commissioner Eggert suggested that we find out before the <br />next meeting on May 15th exactly what the State is planning to do <br />on the square footage requirement. <br />Commissioner Wheeler didn't have a problem with the 5 -ft. <br />docks if we grandfather in the existing ones where there are no <br />seagrass beds or vegetation, but in that we should require those <br />docks to be raised to 5 feet over mean high water level at such <br />MAY 11991 <br />9 <br />