COLDWATER, MI (WTVB) – A Branch County Marine Patrol Program that’s been absent for a while is back this summer. Free boat inspections are happening including at today’s 11am to 3 pm Boater’s Appreciation Day at the Sheriff’s Department. Sheriff John Pollack this week brought County Commissioners up to date on the effort which has Marine Patrol officers inspect your boat and then you receive a sticker from the Sheriff’s Department so that when you are out on the water, the Patrols can see the inspection sticker and know that those boats don’t have to be checked out as such. Pollack said this year’s initial inspection happened on June 6th at the Narrows Road public access site with 15 boats inspected and only two had to be called back for a re-inspection. The next inspection will be August First, again at the Narrows Road site.
Meanwhile, the opening boater safety class was held on June 13th with the second one coming up August 8th, again at the 911 Center. In addition, the Coldwater Lake Association conducts their own safety classes and they will be held on June 27th and July 11th. According to Pollack, the Sheriff’s Department doesn’t provide as many boaters safety classes these days because the State now allows those courses to be taken on-line.
