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Boat launchPermits had been issued a little more than a year ago through Fish &Wildlife for improvements to the 28th Street boat launch. The Port’s goal was to save the facility, ensure its integrity and make it safe for public use.
A bid then was awarded to Quigg Brothers.
Improvements include the replacement of the existing float, replacing the degree barrier and deflector, and repairs to the ramp and the bank line.
But before construction could get underway the permit expired and the Port had to go back to request permitting for the same job, only to find out requirements from Fish &Wildlife were more involved than before.
“The department then proposed additional requirements on the project that had an estimated value of more than $200,000,” said Marc Horton, Port director of environment and engineering services. “This was after the project was awarded to Quigg Brothers.”
Rather than accept the added costs, which Fish &Wildlife attributed to a change in personnel who had made an error in the original permit, the Port sat down to negotiations.
“The changes in the mitigation measures from the Department of Fish &Wildlife were totally unexpected and created an awkward situation, to say the least,” Horton said. “After several months of negotiation, including staff and consultant time spent with the department, a negotiated Hydraulic Project Approval was issued,” Horton said.
The added improvements include wrapping the existing creosote piles with an impermeable liner, using high-density plastic instead of treated wood for the resting system and applying hobble rock to the beach area to improve habitat.
The added improvements will cost more than $67,000, paid for with funds from the Port’s capital budget.
“It’s ridiculous for the Department of Fish &Wildlife to come back with something like this after the permit has already been issued and approval has been made, but there’s nothing we can do about it,” Commissioner Chuck Caldwell said Tuesday.
The negotiation reduced the cost of improvements by about $133,000, but the changes are still more than the Port had bid out.
Port officials were disappointed, but Horton looked at the outcome optimistically.
“There are potentially some advantages to the Port with these improvements,” Horton said. “The plastic resting system may outlast the wood resiting system — we don’t know, it’s unproven — and wrapping creosote piles would make them last just all that much longer.”
Commissioners unanimously approved the changes and additional funding.
The project, while set back early in its trajectory, is expected to be completed on time.
“Currently, the project is about three weeks behind schedule, but it is expected to be completed by the middle of February when the fish window closes,” Horton said.
- See more at:
http://thedailyworld.com/news/local/hang...h.HTE8775u.dpuf