POLK COUNTY, Fla. (WFLA) — Polk County commissioners unanimously agreed Tuesday to extend a countywide noise ordinance to include boats and designate a vessel exclusion zone and swim area in portions of Lakes Clinch, Ariana and Winterset.
"[It’s] become a haven for disrespectful behavior, for drugs and alcohol and really, truly, most importantly, extremely dangerous situations,” said Celeste Leonard, who lives along Lake Winterset.
"You have to govern respect at this point, right? I mean, that shouldn't be the case,” said Donald J. Mason, who also lives along Lake Winterset.
Mason's was one voice among roughly a dozen at a public hearing during Tuesday’s county commission in Bartow.
Residents let commissioners know how dire they believe the situation is where they live on Lake Winterse