Submitted by Suanne Z. Thamm
Reporter – News Analyst
October 4, 2017 8:05 p.m.
At the October 3, 2017 Regular Meeting of the Fernandina Beach City Commission, commissioners approved two bid awards totaling nearly $100K for construction to repair north sections of city marina from damage caused by Hurricane Matthew in October 2016. The city is on the hook for less than $6,000, since the remainder of the cost will be paid from grant funds.
City Manager Dale Martin also anticipates receiving final, formal FEMA approval by the end of the week that will enable the city to move on repairs to the attenuator dock (breakwater). With receipt of FEMA’s formal approval, the city will secure a line of credit to ramp up work at the south end of the marina. The city must first spend the money to carry out the FEMA approved repairs. Upon completion of the work FEMA will reimburse 75 percent, provided that the work meets their prior approval. In a phone conversation, Martin said his goal is to have the attenuator functional in time for Shrimp Festival 2018, “if not before.”
Mayor Robin Lentz, in response to concerns raised by the public, asked Martin to use social media and issue press releases to let the public stay abreast of marina developments.
Actions approved
Commissioners approved two separate bids: the first to Kellerman Construction in the amount of $34K for the safety improvements and enhancements to the timber walkway that is located to the north and west of Brett’s Restaurant, and the second to Custom Marine Construction in the amount not to exceed $63,120 for safety improvements and enhancements to the Breakwater Fuel Dock.
While both items were approved unanimously, Vice Mayor Len Kreger raised strong objections to the manner that costs were presented in the agenda summary. Kreger wanted the costs broken down so that the public would understand where the money was coming from to fund the repairs. The two projects are being funded from grants with the Florida Fish and Wildlife Commission (FWC) in the amount of $100,000, the Florida Inland Navigational District (FIND) in the amount of $89,306 and by the City of Fernandina Beach in the amount of $6,000 (included in the FY 2017/18 Budget). One additional project will ultimately be funded from this $195K combined amount of grant and budgeted funds: installation of a new fuel system.
There has been discussion among commissioners in past meetings about seeking approval to repurpose various grant monies from their original to help with marina repairs.
Marina Manager Joe Springer explained that these first two bid awards were necessary to make the marina safe and usable once more. The first contract, repairing the walk around Brett’s, is essential because all the infrastructure runs through that area: water, sewer, communications lines. “When that is done,” Springer said, “we will be able to pick everything up and have it reestablished to the breakwater dock.” Once that becomes safe and usable, the second contract will kick in enabling the city to bring fuel to the dock.
Springer said that he anticipates contracting will be done by the end of October and there is a 90 day completion timeframe for the walkway construction work. By the end of January work can begin on restoring, testing and certifying the fuel lines as safe. He anticipates a spring completion date for that contract.
Springer explained the reasons for some of the confusion surrounding funding sources. The FIND and FWC grants had been secured prior to Hurricane Matthew’s impact on the marina. Need for repairs overcame other priorities. Since Matthew, the city has been working with the granting agencies to obtain permission to repurpose the original grants to repair infrastructure. He emphasized that there will still be $90K of this grant money left, but that until the first two projects can be completed to make the docks safe and usable, other work is on hold.
Mayor Lentz asked Martin to have Springer work with Public Information Officer Mary Hamburg to issue press releases on progress at the marina. She said the public needs to be able to understand what is happening and understand a time frame for progress.
Commissioner Roy Smith asked Springer to clarify that the city would be fixing the entire breakwater (attenuator), but that the two contracts approved during the meeting only applied to the existing north dock. Springer agreed.
Editor’s Note: Suanne Z. Thamm is a native of Chautauqua County, NY, who moved to Fernandina Beach from Alexandria,VA, in 1994. As a long time city resident and city watcher, she provides interesting insight into the many issues that impact our city. We are grateful for Suanne’s many contributions to the Fernandina Observer.