Published: September 2, 2025
Bartow, Fla. (Sept. 2, 2025) – More than a dozen residents attended the Polk County Commission meeting today, several were vocal in letting the Board know how they felt about safety hazards along with excessively loud music and disrespectful boaters on Lake Winterset.
Following public comments, Commissioners voted unanimously to approve two ordinances – one to establish safe swim areas and a second to regulate loud music and noise coming from water vessels.
The first ordinance establishes Vessel Exclusion Zones and Designated Swim Areas on Lake Winterset in Winter Haven and Lakes Clinch and Ariana in Auburndale. By separating swimmers from motorized vessels, the ordinance aims to reduce accidents and create safer recreation areas. The second ordinance repeals and replaces the county’s Noise Control Ordinance and provides a stronger framework to address noise disturbances coming from vessels, helping residents and waterway users enjoy their surroundings without excessive disruption.
While several residents told Commissioners the loud music had caused their windows to vibrate, a Little Lake Winterset resident, Ed Phillip, who previously served as a Lake Officer in Indiana, drew on his water safety expertise, sharing a personal experience that took place as he was idling from Lake Winterset to Little Lake Winterset in his ski boat, when a swimmer snorkeling surfaced out of nowhere. Phillips said, “She popped up right in the canal and I was fifty feet from killing her…”. He went on to say, “the safe swim zones have to be established or someone is going to get killed…”.
“The swim zone is a win-win for everybody it’s going to provide a buffered area for safe swimming for the swimmers and it’s going to improve a more pleasant lake environment for the lake residents,” Phillip said.
Both ordinances are expected to go into effect within 10 days.
Increased activity on the three county lakes has raised the potential for conflicts between boaters and swimmers. The new vessel exclusion zones will be clearly marked to separate boating areas from designated swimming areas.
The updated noise ordinance replaces the county’s 2014 ordinance, providing the county with more effective tools to respond to resident concerns and allow Polk County Sheriff’s Office Deputies to arrest violators.