By Eric Stock

BLOOMINGTON – City officials hope to resolve a long-simmering issue with some residents who have set up boat docks at Lake Bloomington.

Bloomington has determined more than a dozen of the docks don’t have permits even though they’ve been there for years without any formal objection from the city.

Interim City Manager Steve Rasmussen said that has to change.

“Why are we doing it now it should have been dealt with many years ago but it wasn’t and it just is irresponsible to not deal with it now because it is only going to get worse,” Rasmussen said.

“The reason for the lake existing is not so people can have boat docks on it but it is the water supply for 80,000 residents and maintaining the purity of the water is critical.

“What’s one more dock? We are at the limit right now of where we can maintain water purity.”

City staff has been working with property owners on some options over the last year and the city council on Monday night will review three of them. The city could order noncompliant docks be removed, the city could buy the docks from the residents or the city could offer six-month permits to give owners time to remove them at the own expense.

Rasmussen said if the council finds an option favorable, it could be drafted for a vote at its meeting on April 23.

The city council is scheduled to address the matter at a special council meeting at 5:30 p.m. During the regular meeting, the council will vote on the proposed 2018-2019 budget and consider a request from Normal to share the cost of a study on the multi-sports complex in Bloomington-Normal. Bloomington is being asked to pay $17,625 for its share of the cost.

The city council will also host a hearing on a proposed tax increment finance district along East Washington Street. No action is expected.

Eric Stock can be reached at [email protected].