ADDISON TWP. ? Paul Tobian wants to ensure Lakeville Lake remains a safe place to boat, fish and swim this summer.
That’s why he’s organized a fund-raiser at The Celtic Knot (1318 Rochester Rd.) to help pay for the Oakland County Sheriff’s Marine Patrol and Water Rescue Unit to maintain a regular presence on the 460-acre lake.
The Celtic Knot has agreed to donate 15 percent of all dine-in food sales on Tuesday, March 31 from 5-9 p.m.
‘Oakland County used to patrol the lake constantly,? explained Tobian, a 1990 Oxford High School graduate. ‘But with funding (cuts), they don’t even patrol the lake anymore (unless property owners pay for the service or donations are collected).?
The Michigan Department of Natural Resources (DNR) used to fund the patrols, but the agency stopped in 2010.
The dedicated millage Addison residents pay for police services from the sheriff’s office does not cover the marine patrol. That tax money pays for substation staffing to patrol the roads and conduct investigations.
Tobian said the township has already collected approximately $2,500 in donations for the marine patrol, so he’s hoping this fund-raiser will generate at least another $2,500.
This way there will be enough money to have the marine patrol spend 16 hours on the lake every weekend from Memorial Day through Labor Day.
‘Eight hours on Saturday. Eight hours on Sunday,? he said.
Last year, only about $1,000 in donations was collected, according to Tobian, and it wasn’t enough to provide adequate coverage.
‘They only came out on holiday weekends,? he said. ‘The lake just got crazy.?
Lakeville Lake is not a private lake.
It has a public access boat launch managed by DNR staff.
Because of this, it receives a high volume of traffic during boating season.
‘We get a lot of people that don’t live on the lake and they don’t know any boating rules. They don’t follow the rules of the lake,? Tobian said. ‘But with the marine patrol out there, people calm down.?
The marine patrol would handle speeders; ensure lake users are respectful to others? property; enforce laws concerning alcohol consumption and operating watercraft; ensure boaters possess proper safety equipment and licensing; and keep an eye on parties to ensure they don’t get out of hand.
Tobian noted his main goal is to prevent boating accidents and deaths. ‘Nobody wants to see that happen,? he said.
Tobian cares so much about Lakeville and protecting its users because he grew up on the lake and lives there now.
‘My parents bought their place in 1978 and then I moved back to the lake about three years ago,? he said.