Port dealing with launch ramp issues

Commissioners of Port District No. 1 discussed the marina boat launch, dredging and streetlights last Thursday at their June meeting.

Some boaters continue to power on at the marina boat launch, despite several posted signs stating that it is not allowed. Driving boats on to partially submerged trailers is called powering on or power loading. The proper procedure is to float the boat onto the trailer.

In order to power on, boaters must speed up the motor, causing the propellers to spin more forcefully in the water. This motion stirs up the silt or sand at the end of the foundation of the boat ramp, causing a hole and the eventual collapse of the ramp.

Because boaters have ignored the signs and moved them out of their way to power on, Commissioner Brett Deaton made a motion to drill a hole in the middle of the launch and post a sign there. The motion was seconded and passed.

According to Assistant Port Manager Leanne Jacob, some users become compliant after the powering on rule is explained to them, but other boaters don’t care and become abusive when confronted.

Deaton wasn’t having it.

“They shouldn’t have to suffer abuse like that,” Deaton said of the port employees. “I don’t have much patience for that.”

Counsel Tim Hanigan confirmed that the port could kick out a boater for being abusive.

In the future, employees will take license plate numbers, document the incident and notify the Port Manager, Jackie Lea. Lea will ask the boater to leave.

“I don’t want my employees to confront them,” Lea said.

Boaters are also expected to respect a no tie area on docks A and B, located on each side of the boat ramp. On Thursday, the commissioners decided to specify a distance of 100 feet.

Commercial fisherman use the area to load and unload but some tie up their boats and leave.

“They don’t check in, Lea said. “they just leave their boats and go. They fish for hours, they’re tired, I don’t blame them. But the other day you couldn’t even get a boat launched on one side.”

After some discussion, it was decided that the port would send another letter with a copy of the no tie policy. Deaton suggested revisiting the issue after the fall season.

In the future, demerits and charges for infractions may become an option.

Dredge plans continue to move forward. A local resident, Jeff Povelite, offered several boat options to the port to be used to provide locomotion for their dredge. His seine skiff especially caught their attention.

The commissioners will meet with Povelite to look over his boats and ascertain whether any of them would meet their needs.

“It’s all for the cause,” Povelite said when pressed for costs, rental or other. He seemed amenable when Anderson suggested that he come up with some expectations for costs.

Town Councilman Dick Swart was also in attendance. He gave an update on the town’s comprehensive plan and offered the town’s support for the dredging project.

“We really want to see it happen,” Swart said. “If you need any technical or political level support, let me know.”

Lea suggested that he call the Army Corps of Engineers.

Swart spoke about the surplus street lights that the town owns.

“We want to see them deployed in the community, Swart said. “The original idea is that the port and town would have this continuous pattern of lovely light fixtures to draw visitors from the port to the town and visitors from the town to the marina. The grantor is not interested in having us return light fixtures. They want us to find a way to make it fit.”

He asked the port to think about where they would want the streetlights and consider how many they would need.

“Hopefully there are enough to go around,” Swart said.

In other news, cancellation costs rose from $20 to $25.

“It was heavily abused,” Deaton said after explaining that the port manager would receive phone calls canceling two week stays the day before guests were expected to arrive.

The next port meeting is scheduled for July 14 at 5 p.m.