Complaints over noise and heavy traffic on the Fox River have dried up in the almost two years since the city imposed a fee for using the public boat launch ramp.
The annual launch fees-$20 for Geneva residents and $40 for everyone else-have not kept people from using their boats on the river between the St. Charles and Geneva dams.
But officials said the concerns mainly from residents living along the river appear to have been addressed for now.
“It’s been fairly successful,” said City Administrator Phil Page. “You don’t hear many people talking about it, and that gives you some indication it’s not an issue.”
Police Lt. David Burton, who administers the fee program, said the city sold 24 boat launch permits in 1994 and 17 so far this year.
The police department had no statistics on how many boaters were launching their crafts at the Stevens Street ramp on the river’s west bank before the imposition of the fees. But Burton estimated use of the river has dropped since August 1993.
“All other factors being equal, if a person can launch the boat elsewhere for free or pay Geneva to do it here, more than likely they’re going to go where it’s free,” Burton said.
There have been other factors that may affect the numbers, he said. Last summer was dry and the river level was generally low. This spring’s rains have caused the river to rise and flow faster, which may be keeping boaters away.