The News Herald (Willoughby, OH)
Committee wades into marina topics
Lagoons group discusses flooding, boater services, protection/improvement projects
Mentor City Council’s Lagoons Committee took stock of the marina at a meeting this week to review water levels and future policies for the property.
Council President and committee Chairman John Krueger acknowledged that not much can be done about the rising lake, but he expressed a commitment to assisting boaters.
The high water has left many docks in the drink — up to 65 percent.
“(It’s) creating a problem for the boaters getting across the standing water onto their dock and, in turn, getting to their boats,” Krueger said. “The administration has accommodated some dockers by moving them to open floating docks and rack storage. However, those options are
now full.”
Twelve floating docks are reserved for boaters during flooding events. There are about 470 docks total and the marina is at 98 percent capacity.
“The administration will continue to work with the dockers if they provide a plan for review in getting across their dock site to the boat, such as raised pathways,” he said. “As to the problem of standing water and mosquitos, the county health department has been to the lagoons twice and will continue to monitor the situation.”
In addition, ongoing conversations are being held with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers concerning the marina channel entrance to Lake Erie. The city is splitting the cost of a study about extending the west end of the channel further into the lake to prevent collapse and add protection from waves.
Other partners in the study are the Lake County Ohio Port & Economic Development Authority and Mentor Harbor Yacht Club.
The city has arranged a meeting with U.S. Rep. Dave Joyce, R-Bainbridge Township, on Aug. 15 that will include a tour of the marina. The hope is to demonstrate the need for federal assistance to address issues such as erosion.
“We know right now there’s no federal funding available for the erosion,” Krueger said. “We’d like to see if there’s a fund sitting there with money in it and if they can move lake erosion into that apparatus.”
The city has spent about $1 million on erosion control projects within the last few years, at the lagoons and Mentor Beach Park.
Another $970,000 is budgeted this year to extend the armor stone revetment along the marina another 600 feet.
The city has lost up to 6 acres of shoreline in the last dozen or so years.
Millions also are needed to replace 90-year-old seawalls, or bulkheads, along the docks.
Krueger noted that a charter amendment on the November ballot would enable the city to proceed with the permitting process for the long-term project.
“We want to keep the marina going down there and make improvements, but our hands are tied by the charter,” he said.
Mentor voters are being asked to approve easing restrictions added by a 1998 amendment placed on the ballot shortly after the city purchased the marina and uplands (now a preserve) from a developer for $13.8 million (including interest).
About 55 percent of boaters at the marina are Mentor residents.
“If the charter amendment gets passed, it allows the city to start doing improvements down there without getting sued,” Krueger said.
Potential amenities that may result include a gas dock, restaurant, mini-mart or mechanics shop.
He urged residents to contact council or the administration for answers rather than vetting the subject on social media. “There are always so many rumors flying around,” he said.