UPDATE: Mayor Dize told the Mirror that Council approved the lighting and work to be done at the parking lot near the Shanty, which is to be done with the funds already set aside for the harbor. Council did not approve the work to be done for the inner harbor boardwalk, so no funds have been transferred from the library. They wanted to see more information before they made that decision. They will get that on January 16th.
Aspects of the harbor, especially on the boardwalk near the Shanty have fallen into disrepair. The funds for the project will encompass electrical work, lighting, water, improvements to the turn at the Shanty parking lot, and replacement of the wooden walkway at the inner harbor.
The amount transferred for the work is $100,000.
Council had already approved $125k for work on the harbor.
There are three major components to the work originally envisioned: 1. Replace the deteriorated wood walkway around the inner harbor. This work would include the renovation of the electric and water systems, adding light poles and new benches.
High priority items include adding a floating dock on the south side of the fixed pier to provide more desirable slips, six boat lifts on the north side of the fixed pier to provide out-of-water docking. According to Harbor Master Charlie Farlow, the highest priority is to rehabilitate the wood walkway around the inner harbor.
Phases 1 – 3 are estimated to be completed before the spring crabbing season.
About the Author
I read two articles in the 12/29/19 Cape Charles Mirror concerning harbor improvements and management. I have the following suggestions:
1) This year, only repair or replace the boardwalk, or deteriorated sections, as the budget allows. The articles say nothing about what the proposed transfer of $100,000 from the library to the harbor means for library services. If that $100,000 dollars is coming from maintenance or operations, I suggest replacing only deteriorated boardwalk decking this year. If the money transfer from the library is from development plans then it may well make sense to transfer some or all of the planned amount.
2) Do not continue discussion on leasing the harbor. Two reasons: a) one bidder is insufficient, 2) I suspect you have only the slimiest idea of harbor finances and potential. That gets us to my third and most important suggestion.
3) Establish a proper stand-alone chart of accounts for the harbor and run it in a wholly owned enterprise like manner. Until there is a proper balance sheet and income statement, you are in a terrible negotiation position and likely to take a bath hidden in unrecognized capital depreciation charges and mis-allocated expenses. From a budget and accounting perspective employees would continue to be city employees on city payroll and benefit plans; the harbor would simply make appropriate payments to the city to cover employee costs.
Opps – I proof read carelessly; in the paragraph beginning “2)”, the second time that expression occurs, the expression should be changed to “b)”.