Fairhope, Alabama
Update: During this evenings council meeting (June 12) Harbor Board Chairman Riggs told the Times it is his understanding the current lessee does not have first right of acceptance/refusal of any new contract, as was previously announced. No decision was made about the boatyard or marina.
ON MONDAY'S WORKSESSION AGENDA
The city council will have to decide soon whether to renew its lease of two parcels of city property at the end of Sea Cliff Drive, put out the leases for bid, or take back posession itself.
Both are currently leased by Eastern Shore Marine, Inc: the southern-most parcel is being used as a repair yard -- and the other on the west side as a marina, with a small park.
(The city's "shrimp boat" marina and '17 Turtles' (aka Ice House) building to the northeast are not involved.)
The council may also decide what changes to make to new leases -- such as duration, increasing rent, maintenance responsibilities, etc.
Since the cleanliness/tidiness of the area has long been criticized, a 'Clean Marina' policy (click) has been recommended to be included by the city's Environmental Committee. (As lease expirations neared, the facilities were cleaned-up considerably.)
LEASES UP IN OCTOBER
The two current 15-year leases expire in October; but the current lessee has first right of acceptance/refusal of any new proposals before they could be put out for bids to other interested parties.
Ed Wall, longtime owner/operator of Eastern Shore Marine, has decided not to continue there but his daughter Catherine wants to continue to operate the family business. She addressed the city's Environmental Committee during its June meeting about their concerns; the committee decided not to take an official position on the leases.
The council would have to reimburse Wall for improvements he made there, if it decided not to continue leasing out the property; an assessment was to be prepared and presented to the council by this time.
The city's Harbor Board was to make recommendations for modifying the leases, notably to increase revenue to the city so the area can be properly maintained (such as help with channel dredging), but the terms have not-yet been made public. (The current leases have been criticized as "sweetheart deals")
Also, some members of the board have expressed dis-satisfaction in recent years with how the facilities have been maintained and operated, but decided not to make any more specific recommendation as a body because of lack of consensus -- but scenarios discussed include:
* City taking over operation of both the boatyard and marina.
* City taking over marina operations only.
* Renewing both leases to Eastern Shore Marine (with modification of terms)
* Putting both leases out to the highest bidder together
* Splitting the leases (marina and boat repair yard); put each out for bids separately.
* Eliminating the boat repair facility altogether
MAYOR'S RECOMMENDATION
Although she does not have a vote in the matter, mayor Wilson is recommending (click) the council let the city assume responsibility for the marina only -- and put out the boatyard lease to the highest bidder.
Councilman Boone has indicated he prefers to continue the current arrangement; Burrell has favored private management as well. Sentiments of the others are not known.
Harbor Board chairman Riggs has strongly-advocated for city control too -- but as an individual only, not on behalf of the board. Former chairman Tom Yeager advocates equally as strongly for the status quo; their disagreement centers on whether the area should be kept primarily as traditional "working docks" or more for recreational boaters and visitors ("Loopers" -- click).
Residents along Sea Cliff Drive worry about increased traffic, in any scenario. Installing a sidewalk there is problematic since half is in the county, half in the city -- and right of way limited.
(The Harbor "Board" was once a separate legal entity, but was changed to an advisory committee to the city council in 2013 It has been criticized itself from time to time for secrecy: lack of adherence to state open meeting laws.)
Update: During this evenings council meeting (June 12) Harbor Board Chairman Riggs told the Times it is his understanding the current lessee does not have first right of acceptance/refusal of any new contract, as was previously announced. No decision was made about the boatyard or marina.
 |
| "Boatyard" parcel |
ON MONDAY'S WORKSESSION AGENDA
The city council will have to decide soon whether to renew its lease of two parcels of city property at the end of Sea Cliff Drive, put out the leases for bid, or take back posession itself.
Both are currently leased by Eastern Shore Marine, Inc: the southern-most parcel is being used as a repair yard -- and the other on the west side as a marina, with a small park.
(The city's "shrimp boat" marina and '17 Turtles' (aka Ice House) building to the northeast are not involved.)
The council may also decide what changes to make to new leases -- such as duration, increasing rent, maintenance responsibilities, etc.
Since the cleanliness/tidiness of the area has long been criticized, a 'Clean Marina' policy (click) has been recommended to be included by the city's Environmental Committee. (As lease expirations neared, the facilities were cleaned-up considerably.)
 |
| "Marina" parcel |
LEASES UP IN OCTOBER
The two current 15-year leases expire in October; but the current lessee has first right of acceptance/refusal of any new proposals before they could be put out for bids to other interested parties.
Ed Wall, longtime owner/operator of Eastern Shore Marine, has decided not to continue there but his daughter Catherine wants to continue to operate the family business. She addressed the city's Environmental Committee during its June meeting about their concerns; the committee decided not to take an official position on the leases.
 |
| Catherine Wall, center |
The city's Harbor Board was to make recommendations for modifying the leases, notably to increase revenue to the city so the area can be properly maintained (such as help with channel dredging), but the terms have not-yet been made public. (The current leases have been criticized as "sweetheart deals")
Also, some members of the board have expressed dis-satisfaction in recent years with how the facilities have been maintained and operated, but decided not to make any more specific recommendation as a body because of lack of consensus -- but scenarios discussed include:
* City taking over operation of both the boatyard and marina.
* City taking over marina operations only.
* Renewing both leases to Eastern Shore Marine (with modification of terms)
* Putting both leases out to the highest bidder together
* Splitting the leases (marina and boat repair yard); put each out for bids separately.
* Eliminating the boat repair facility altogether
MAYOR'S RECOMMENDATION
Although she does not have a vote in the matter, mayor Wilson is recommending (click) the council let the city assume responsibility for the marina only -- and put out the boatyard lease to the highest bidder.
Councilman Boone has indicated he prefers to continue the current arrangement; Burrell has favored private management as well. Sentiments of the others are not known.
 |
| park area (on west side) |
Residents along Sea Cliff Drive worry about increased traffic, in any scenario. Installing a sidewalk there is problematic since half is in the county, half in the city -- and right of way limited.
(The Harbor "Board" was once a separate legal entity, but was changed to an advisory committee to the city council in 2013 It has been criticized itself from time to time for secrecy: lack of adherence to state open meeting laws.)
 |
| Mayor Wilson and Yeager debating at the March Harbor Board meeting (far end of table) |
Comments
My family has lived in Fairhope for over 80 years and none of them remember a boat ramp at that location.
During the same period take a look at the city owned and operated docks adjacent to the Eastern Shore Marine. They have not changed and are in a state of disrepair. The city approved repairs 2 years ago that still have not happened.
Has anyone ever known a government to run things efficiently?
Thanks for listening
Karen Skelly