Locking the Gate
5 April 2005
Everyone who visits the park needs to know the correct method of locking the gate. There are two locks on the gate. One belongs to the LFA, the other belongs to OWASA. OWASA will cut our lock if they cannot get into the park using their lock.
The photo at right shows the gate locked correctly. Notice that the two padlocks are locked together, so that either one can be used to unlock the gate. If our lock is not locked in this way, we will lose our lock. We have already had a number of them cut.
Please help us by locking the gate in this manner.
04.05.05 by webmaster @ 11:25 am
Filed under: Park Comments:
Is this brand new OWASA policy, or have we been losing locks for years?
This is an ongoing problem. That’s why we’ve posted articles and photos on the website for the past few years.
Give OWASA our combination and demand they get their lock off our gate. They don’t have access to my basement, what are they doing for us that qualifies them for keeping their lock on our gate? We let them have that convenience when they were letting us use their lab for water analysis.
At that time we were cutting off the water and removing their meter to prevent off-season vandalism. They have since demanded that we no longer touch their stuff. So I say give them the combination to come and read the meter, and send them on their bureaucratic way!
OWASA needs to check flow conditions etc and maybe resolve problems in the very major trunk sewer line parallel to the lake and the line from S.Lakeshore Drive. 24/7 access is required. Meter reading is not an issue. Double-locking is a standard way to get access to private lands. Sometimes 3 locks are used if Duke Power is also involved.
Another consideration: if we gave OWASA the combination, that could be passed around from person to person. The OWASA lock requires a key, which provides more control.
The lock has been incorrectly attached everytime I have been to the lake recently. It’s partly because the OWASA lock is no longer attached to the end link on the OWASA side of the chain.
We need a more foolproof method. One idea: put tape over all but the end links in the chain. Another idea: add a small chain between the two locks, so you’re always locking two chains together rather than a chain and a lock, which is less natural.
It the OWASA lock gone for a reason? Will it be returning in the near future? If so, I vote for putting tape on all but the 2 parts that need to be locked together (the OWASA lock and the end link across from it) The idea of a 3rd chain is good, except that it could fall off and get lost. I definitely think there needs to be an easier way to lock the gate so that OWASA can unlock their lock and we can unlock our lock without having to think too much!! Gracia Barry
The original system of locking the gate really does not appear too complicated. The communication of how to properly lock the gate could be changed. Have any directions on how to properly lock the gate, as noted above, ever been posted at the gate itself? What % of LFA members read postings or articles on this site? If the number is low, which I am guessing that it is, then it is pretty clear why the gate is not locked properly most of the time. Any new system will again likely fail if the instructions are not communicated effectively to all members, including those that do not read posts/articles on this website. Just my $0.02.
Seth, we have in the past, and we’ve emailed a link to this article to most of our members. But your point is still well-taken. Not all family members are going to see the email, much less follow the link. Perhaps a small laminated photo attached to the chain would help.
Has there been an answer to where the OWASA lock has gone?
Having just read these comments, as new Yachting Commissioner, I learned from Chuck Henage(who put in many, many hours on behalf of LFA, esp dealing with that quasi-public utility),that we no longer have access to their labs for H20 quality. Who does it now?