Jeff Tarte

May 1. Jeff Tarte, former Cornelius mayor and state senator, is mediating the various parties involved in the the Lake Norman Marine Commission dispute which could result in its dissolution at the end of June. Lincoln County Commissioners will vote May 5 on whether to withdraw from the commission, the lake’s governing body since 1969.

That said, Lincoln County is not going away for good.

“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 groups together by NC Sen. Vickie Sawyer, chair of the Senate Transportation Committee.

NC Sen. Vickie Sawyer

Tarte said progress has been made since the dispute began last year, but more work remains.

Quotable

“Optimistically I’d like to see this legislation wrapped up by July 1, but it could linger into next year’s short session” said Tarte. In either case, it will have no negative impact on lake safety nor on how the various law enforcement agencies will continue to patrol the lake. “Everybody will be as safe as they were before,” he said.

That’s because the session law governing the lake will remain in force, even if Lincoln County follows through with their intention of pulling out of the current LNMC.

Members of the LNMC are not necessarily pleased. In a letter, LNMC Commissioner John Johnson said that a “back room” group involving legislative efforts to replace the Lake Norman Marine Commission would result in less safety on the lake.

A proposal that would double the size of the commission is questionable, Johnson said.

“This will only add confusion, and looks to be a ploy for a select few and their buddies to politicize and take control of the Marine Commission,” he stated.

John Johnson

“Bottom line, 2024 was the safest year on the lake in quite a while,” Johnson, a Cornelius resident, said.

Background

What this legislation will ultimately do, according to Tarte, is define the true authority of LNMC which was never clarified in the original 1969 documents. “This is our best chance to refine what they can and cannot do.”

Input and suggestions are coming from the current LNMC, as well as the LKN senate workgroup group along with representatives from the impacted counties, municipalities, state, Duke Energy, Charlotte Water, and the State Wildlife commission.

Once approved, the new law will also codify the language into state General Statute.

The membership of the commission is currently comprised of representatives from four counties: Mecklenburg, Iredell, Lincoln and Catawba Counties. Under the revised agreement being discussed, each county will have two or possibly three representatives on the new commission.

Tarte said he hopes to have a draft LKN Marine Commission bill for senators and staff to review in about a week.