(a) General rules and regulations for Howard City Lake (formerly Polk Daniels Lake).
(1) Fishing from a boat or the bank is free. State fishing license is required, and state laws apply.
(2) There are no lifeguards. Swimmers and boaters enter the water at their own risk.
(3) No fishing or swimming off the dam, nor off the water intake tower near the dam, nor off the fish feeder.
(4) It shall be unlawful for any person under 16 years of age to be on said lake property or go on or near the water edge of said lake unless accompanied by an adult person who is responsible for the minor's presence, safety, and actions.
(b) Fees.
(1) (A) The fees for camping, swimming, and pleasure boating at Howard City Lake shall be set by the Council from time to time.
(B) Permits shall be available at the office of the City Clerk, and at such other locations in the city as may be designated from time to time by the City Council.
(C) Persons convicted of violations of any provision of this city regulating the use of Howard City Lake shall be subject to a fine of $50 per violation, plus court costs.
(c) Rules for fishing.
(1) (A) Fishing from a boat or from the bank is free. Persons fishing who are over the age of 16 are required to have a current Kansas State fishing license and follow all Kansas State fishing and boating regulations.
(B) All fishing license holders shall carry their Kansas State licenses upon their person when upon the lake; and shall display them to any person appointed by the city, or to any law enforcement officer upon demand.
(C) It shall be unlawful to fish in said lake except with a pole or rod and line. It shall be unlawful for any person to use, operate or have set at any one time more than two poles or rods and lines or to have more than two hooks on any line. It shall be unlawful to have set, use, or operate or have set any trot line, float line, limb line or bank line. Fishing from the dam is prohibited. When fishing from the shore, it shall be unlawful to propel fishing tackle, bait, lures, or other fishing equipment into the lake by use of boat, raft, vessel, swimmer, or any mechanical device other than a casting rod or fishing pole.
(2) The size limit and creel limit of fish that may be caught and removed from the lake in any one day shall conform to state law or regulations adopted by the Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks.
(3) The dumping of minnows or any other kind of bait in the lake is prohibited.
(4) The governing body of the city shall have power to make other rules and regulations governing the fishing in said lake as may be necessary and proper from time to time. Persons designated by the city or Kansas law enforcement officers are hereby vested with full power and authority to enforce all such rules and regulations.
(d) Watercraft rules and regulations. All license holders shall operate their craft in accordance with the following rules and regulations.
(1) All vessels powered by motor (gasoline, diesel, or electric), or sail, must be registered and numbered through the State of Kansas.
(2) Rowboats shall always have the right-of-way. Outboard motorboats, without limitation on size or motor, may be used for fishing, pleasure riding, skiing, surfboard riding or similar activities. When overtaking or passing rowboats at a distance of less than 150 feet, the maximum speed shall be five mph.
(3) It shall be unlawful to use any motor to propel any craft unless said motor is equipped with an underwater exhaust.
(4) Owners of a craft shall be responsible for all damages to the person or property of others.
(5) No person shall enter any boat to go upon said lake, or enter said lake, without being equipped with a life preserver.
(6) (A) Between the hours from one hour after sunset to one hour before sunrise, no person shall operate a vessel on the Howard City Lake towing a person or persons on water skis, surfboard or similar device; nor shall any person engage in water skiing, surfboarding or similar activity during these times.
(B) No person shall operate or manipulate any vessel, tow rope or other device by which the direction or location of water skis, a surfboard or similar device may be affected or controlled in such a way as to cause the water skis, surfboard or similar device, or any person thereon to collide with or strike against any object or person.
(C) No person shall operate a motorboat on the Howard City Lake for towing a person or persons on water skis, a surfboard or similar device, unless the boat is equipped with a wide-angle rear-view mirror properly placed to provide a maximum vision of the person or persons being towed, or if there is an observer in the boat in addition to the operator. The observer must be a responsible person of at least 12 years of age.
(e) Penalty. It shall be unlawful for any person to violate any of the provisions of this section, or to fail, neglect or refuse to comply with any of the rules and regulations herein established, and any person who shall violate any of the provisions of this section or shall fail and neglect or refuse to comply with any of the rules and regulations shall be guilty of a misdemeanor and upon conviction thereof, shall be fined a sum not exceeding $3,000 plus restitution for actual damage, or be imprisoned for a period not exceeding 30 days or by both such fine and imprisonment.
(Ord. 459, passed 11-16-1959; Ord. 485-A, passed 4-18-1966; Ord. 577, passed 5-18-1987; Ord. 590, passed 2-3-1992; Ord. 597, passed 4-1-1996; Ord. 689, passed 8-1-2022)