Little Muskego Lake ski jump could be on the move

Muskego - A plan to periodically change the location of the Waterbugs ski team jump on Little Muskego Lake took a little spill at last week's Muskego Public Safety Committee meeting.

The Waterbugs put on weekly ski shows in the summer and also use the jump for practice. The city is exploring having different locations for the jump so that the same homeowners don't have to look at it year after year.

The Parks and Recreation Board suggested moving it near Holtz Island.

But in response, Tom Zagar, city conservation coordinator, said Holtz Island is in an environmentally sensitive area, as designated by the Southeastern Wisconsin Regional Planning Commission.

In addition, $60,000 of lake residents' and city money was spent to restore Holtz Island.

The Public Safety Committee will consult with the Parks Board to see what other possibilities there might be, keeping in mind the environmentally sensitive area.

The Parks Board ruled out bringing the jump back to where it had been before because the shoreline of the nearby island has no rip rap to protect it, said Alderman Kert Harenda, who sits on both the board and the Public Safety Committee.

Alderwoman Tracy Snead, Safety Committee chairwoman, said the city has to be careful about jumping from the frying pan into the fire by moving the jump. At its current location, only one person has complained, she said. But at a previous location about a dozen homeowners lodged objections with the city, she said.

"I'm not saying one person is not valuable," she said, but the city must be careful.