Lake Winnebago buoy light back on

OSHKOSH - The light is shining once again on a buoy many snowmobilers use to navigate a risky part of Lake Winnebago. Initially, Winnebago County officials said they wouldn't make repairs on the light, known as Buoy 100, until spring. Crews finished work Monday.

The buoy is located near Menasha's Jefferson Park. Some say it contributed to vehicles crashing through the ice and the deaths of two Appleton snowmobilers.

"If I would have seen that I would have known to stay away and I believe right now that they are taking the right steps," snowmobiler Brian Asendorf said. "At least it is lit."

Last month, Asendorf crashed into open water on his snowmobile. He says the buoy wasn't working that night and has now joined a growing number of people who want Winnebago County to maintain it year round.

The county had said it was not planning to make winter repairs. That all changed at a Monday County Parks meeting.

The committee had planned to discuss whether repairs should be made, but County Executive Mark Harris told the group he had already ordered the fix.

"I felt like the light should be on in the interim, until a decision was made," Harris told the committee.

But some are against the idea. They worry the light will draw more snowmobilers and drivers to the open water.

"Buoy 100, one more light out there is going to be more of an attraction than a warning," fishing club member Dale Frank said.

The parks committee plans to create a subcommittee to look for a long term solution to winter navigation on Lake Winnebago. The solar technology that powers the light's battery doesn't work well in cold weather.

"We cannot say with certainty that that's going to be lit everyday in the winter because again the winter conditions make it more likely to fail," Harris said.

Whether it is increased education or more maintenance, committee members don't want to rush the decision, but say in the meantime the light stays on.

County leaders say the buoy is designed for spring, summer and fall use. It is the only county buoy that stays in the water year long. County leaders say no other municipalities maintain buoys in the winter.