Water Authority Board to Start Writing Regulations, Permit for Short-Term Rental Properties

(FROM LEFT: WATER AUTHORITY TRUSTEE CHRIS KABBES, OFFICE MANAGER SUE VERDEYEN, WATER AUTHORITY CHAIRMAN ROB BROWN, WATER AUTHORITY TRUSTEE JIM BOOS, WATER AUTHORITY ATTORNEY TONY SIEMER, LAKE SUPERINTENDENT MIKE DIRKS)

The dozen or so properties along Lake Sara that are rented on a short-term basis will soon operate under regulations to be developed by the Effingham Water Authority Board, and a permit to use the properties in that manner will also be developed.

Water Authority Chairman Rob Brown said they have taken testimony for the past few months; now, it's time to develop the regulations on how the properties should be used.

Some properties have been the subject of concerns by neighbors, who say the noise, the outdoor activity at all hours, and even the presence of renters on the neighbors' property needs to end.

The Board is open to talking with property management entities to get some insight into what the regulations should contain.

The Board also Monday passed a resolution regarding subdivision names, to insure that a property in a subdivision will be listed as a replat of that subdivision, rather than the property getting a new subdivision name. 

There was also discussion of the lease of a two-acre tract of property along South Circle Drive. Someone was interested in purchasing the land, but the Water Authority only leases the property at the lake.