By Marvin G. Cortner
Editor

Commercial airboat operators on Osceola County lakes may have to go through a bidding and proposal process to use county-owned boat ramps in the future.

The Osceola County Commission Monday tentatively supported staff developing an ordinance that would require written proposals whereby commercial airboat operations would offer to pay a fee to use a particular ramp. The fees would be used to build public restrooms, improve parking lots and make other capital improvements at the boat ramps, if needed.

The fees would be based on the improvements needed at a particular ramp, and not all bidders would be successful. Smaller airboat operators also could form partnerships to be more competitive in bidding.

The bid-fee process was referred to as option 1. Commissioners looked at two other options as well:

• Option 2: Require operating permits for airboat activities involving four or more people, with an application similar to a vehicle-for-hire business. This option would allow commercial operations from any public boat ramp. This option is similar to the process the county now uses.

• Option 3: Prohibit all commercial uses of public boat ramps.

Brian Gillis, attorney for Big Toho Airboat Rides, said his client likes either option 1 or option 2.

“My recommendation is to allow some county control and not a disallowance of all activity,” Gillis said. “Big Toho would be able to present any type of proposal or application needed.”

County Commission Chairman Fred Hawkins Jr. said he prefers option 1, adding that successful bidders should be limited to being able to use only two boat ramps.

Commissioner Ken Smith said his first inclination is to prohibit all commercial activity from public boat ramps but that he would support the second option, with a limit on the number of ramps an operator could use.

Smith also said he wanted to make sure that having a commercial operation at a particular boat ramp doesn’t result in an unacceptable amount of traffic or noise in nearby residential areas or a safety issue on the roadway going to the ramp.

“I would not be in favor of opening up all ramps to commercial activity,” Smith said, adding that the Granada ramp off Ridgeway Drive in Kissimmee would not be appropriate for a commercial airboat operation.

Commissioner Michael Harford said he has had concerns about commercial use of public ramps “from the beginning.”

“I’m not excited about option 2 because it doesn’t do anything to help us improve our ramps,” he said. “I’m in favor of option 1.”

Commissioner Brandon Arrington said Partin Triangle Park off Neptune Road would be a good place from which commercial airboaters could launch. He also said he wanted to make sure that airboats launching from particular sites do not create a noise issue for nearby residents.

Dave Tomek, the county’s community development director, said the ordinance relating to the public boat ramps when written would cover both airboat operations – the main issue now – and fishing guide services.