March 2, 2009

Boat lift fee exemption bill dies in fiscal committee

Thirteenth district state representatives Judy Warnick and Bill Hinkle today said the bill to remove fees for boat lifts was killed at the deadline for House bills to be heard in House committees.

House Bill 1750 would have would have allowed citizens to install and maintain boat lifts or docks, if they are used for purely recreational purposes, without being charged a fee.

The bill received approval in the House Ecology and Parks Committee, but after a hearing in the General Government Appropriations Committee did not receive a vote before the deadline.

"When the bill was first heard in Ecology and Parks, it sailed out with nine 'yes' votes, but when it came to General Government Appropriations, we could not get eight people to vote for it. I was dumbfounded," said Hinkle, R-Cle Elum. "This is what our constituents want, and I will continue to request that they not be charged a fee for boat lifts on their own docks."

In June 2008, dozens of residents contacted the 13th District legislators with concerns about being charged fees for having boat lifts on Moses Lake. Warnick and Hinkle worked with then-Commissioner of Public Lands and head of the Department of Natural Resources, Doug Sutherland, to hold off on the fee until they could work on the issue in the Legislature. 

"I'm really disappointed this bill was killed," said Warnick, R-Moses Lake. "The legislative process is more transparent with more opportunity for public input than there might be if the agency makes the decision. However, I look forward to working with the agency and the new Commissioner of Public Lands to remove the current fee. The people have clearly asked for this, and I hope the agency will follow their will."

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