May 6. By Dave Yochum. After 65 years of promoting safe boating and public recreation on Lake Norman, the Lake Norman Marine Commission will be dissolved. Lincoln County commissioners voted unanimously to leave the LNMC last night, and legislation requires the Marine Commission to be dissolved if one county leaves.

“No good will come of this,” said LNMC Chair John Johnson, a Cornelius resident.

John Johnson

The LNMC had a goal of zero fatalities for the 2025 season, after only one boating-related fatality in 2024.

“Safety will suffer and deaths will go up,” he said.

Quotable

“Lincoln County and the supporting “back room” group that began and encouraged the dissolution of the Marine Commission are like the dog that finally catches the car – now what are they going to do with it?” Johnson said.

What’s next

Jeff Tarte, former Cornelius mayor and state senator, is mediating the various parties involved in the the Lake Norman Marine Commission dispute which will dissolve at the end of June.

That said, Lincoln County may come back—to a newly constituted marine commission.

Jeff Tarte

“If the LNMC goes away by action of Lincoln County, it is not going away permanently, merely taking a brief staycation,” Tarte said.

He was asked to bring the parties together by NC Sen. Vickie Sawyer, chair of the Senate Transportation Committee.

Tarte, who previously said police services on the lake would not be affected, could not be reached for comment.