Water Bugs Come to an Agreement with Park Board

The Parks and Recreation Board met this week to review and approve the agreement they have with the Waterbugs Ski Team to practice and perform from Idle Isle Park.  The relationship between the team and its neighbors in the bay where they operate has often been contentious, and while little will change contractually for the club this year, it was evident that the close scrutiny of the club's activity will remain.

The club will begin the first of 30 practices on May 17 (down from 34 in 2010), with their first show on June 1.  They will also continue their tradition of a July 3 ski show as part of a holiday celebration in the park, which is open to the public and ends with a fireworks display.

However, members of the board were concerned about continued complaints of noise from neighbors, in which they felt they were "jacking up the volume on speakers just to antagonize people."

Board member Jerry Hulbert told Mark Moriarty, President of the club, "Our patience will wear thin and it will come to a point where you'll need to do this without sound."

Moriarty told the board that they have preset levels marked on their sound board, but that during a show it is sometimes difficult to keep the level of the emcee the same.  Rob Lucas has been narrating the club's show Moriarty explained, and sometimes "he gets really excited about a particular stunt, and may raise his voice, or bring the microphone closer."

Moriarty also said that there is a meeting held before any practices that covers the need to comply with the rules, including noise.  

The board also came to an agreement on bouy placement in the bay for the club's boats to stay within, and hours for skiing during practices.

The club will perform for the public in Idle Isle Park every Wednesday at 6:30 p.m. from June 1 to August 31.