Port 1 commission reviews dredge costs

Commissioners held a special Port District 1 meeting last Wednesday, June 22, to discuss the dredge.

Because the dredging of the marina and the nearby channel can only be done between November and February, the port wants to be ready if all the proper permits come through.

The commissioners began by authorizing Port Manager Jackie Lea to ask a certified diesel mechanic to look over the dredge and give a quote on the work that needs to be done.

The ins and outs of hiring a crew and creating a contract were discussed at length before Commissioner Brett Deaton brought up one of his biggest concerns.

“I’m hung up on the boat,” Deaton said. “If that dredge and pipeline have to be moved quick, we’re going to need decent boats. I’m afraid we’re going to have to spend some money on a boat if we’re going to be in the dredging business.”

“You don’t think the contractor could provide it?” Counsel Tim Hanigan asked.

“Not to confuse the situation,” Lea said, “but I think we’re going to need a boat anyway. What if we have to move the dredge? Eventually we are going to have to manage the dredge, somehow or another.”

“You’re exactly right,” Deaton said.

They also talked about anchors, buoys, lighting for the pipes and dredge, day shapes, a VHF radio, turbidity testing, whether to use metal or plastic pipes, and more.

“Do we want metal pipe or plastic?” Lea asked. “The metal is so heavy. Even if you get the plastic, it weighs 110 pounds for 24 feet.”

That doesn’t include the water and dredge spoils that will be coursing through them while in use.

“We’re probably going to do 40 to 50 foot sections,” Lea said. “Then we are looking at a lot more weight. We’re going to need to find a way to move it unless we put that on the contractor too. I think you need a small tractor or something.”

“A tractor with a bucket,” Deaton said, “you could use it for a lot of things around here.” Commissioner Scott Anderson agreed.

“We could also look at leasing one for the operation window,” Anderson suggested.

Lea was asked to look into the cost for a new tractor.

“Dredges cost a lot of money,” Deaton said.