3 Items: received and posted 3/2, 3/3 and 3/12/2009
March 12, 2009
I wanted to give a brief update on the Lottery and a
couple of other points for this springs.
Lottery: An
Update for those that have been following this program
We had 35 applications received by the deadline
of February 25, 2009, 5:00PM at the Catawba State Park Office. We have
a total of 70 slips that were set aside for the seasonal dock lottery.
The drawing was conducted at the Catawba State
Park office on March 5, 2009, 6:00 PM. 34 docks were assigned through
the seasonal dock lottery. One of the 35 applications was a
duplication, hence 34 docks were assigned out of the 35 applications
received.
Karen Beckman has been contacting those dock
holders to work out the details.
Operational Changes:
It is with mixed feelings I share the following
information.
Another wonderful opportunity awaits as I fondly reflect on one still being
enjoyed. I have been asked to accept the Regional Manager Position at
Maumee Bay and Harrison Lake Region State Parks. This is currently in the
planning stages to take effect the beginning of April.
When I was given the opportunity to become the
regional manager of our Lake Erie Island State Parks 10 years ago it
consisted of 3 parks, Catawba Island, Kelleys Island and South Bass Island.
The Marblehead Lighthouse was on the radar screen to be added and I was
looking forward to the opportunity to work with the community to keep the
lighthouse a shinning light in the community. Then Middle Bass Island and
North Bass Islands were added to our Ohio State Park system, making this one
of great opportunity for the public, for our Ohio State Parks and our Lake
Erie Shores & Islands travel & tourism partners. I have enjoyed the
opportunity to work with the communities of Marblehead, Catawba, and the
islands. As the Regional Manager of our Lake Erie Island State Parks I can
share it has been a demanding, but very rewarding experience. Working with
people to provide exceptional recreational opportunities within the balance
of protecting & preserving our natural resources is a job worth having. I
encourage our communities to continue their support of our Ohio State Parks
as we embark on developing these special places. It is what we do today
that will allow our children to enjoy the wonders of the outdoors tomorrow.
Thank you to all who have stepped up to involve themselves in this
endeavor.
Ina Brolis, Regional Park Manager of East Harbor
will assume the regional responsibilities over Lake Erie Islands. Karen
Beckman, the Assistant Manager for Middle Bass Island, will continue with
this project.. She has been working with this project since the beginning.
She can be reached at Catawba State Park, 419-797-4530.
Spring 2009 Construction Plans:
The current Miller Ferry schedule has boats running
the beginning of April. Our contractors are getting ready to begin the
various projects as we have outlined.
Construction on the Water Tower and lines will
continue
The Electric infrastructure will be built out.
New Roadways will be further planned and
temporary roads will be used.
There are to be some finishing touches to the
marina basin, including 2 pipe piles and some rock in the channel to be
cleared out.
Docks are currently scheduled to be completed
for public use the beginning of June.
SAFETY
In regards to the General Public Docks - We are
asking your help again to help us communicate to the boaters that may be
wanting to come to Middle Bass - We want to let everyone know even
though a dock may be in the water they will not be available for use
until they are certified by the contractors & engineers for pubic use.
Contractors working on the docks this spring
have asked we try to let boaters know they will have fingers in the
hinge points and other areas that wave action in the marina would be a
concern. Excessive boat traffic could slow their progress. Please
don't encourage boat traffic into the marina while the docks are being
finished "on-site".
Thank you,
Scott Doty
Regional Manager
Lake Erie Islands state Park
March 3, 2009
On March 2, a reader posted the following question:
If
all 35 applicants are going to get a slip, how will the staggered lease
expirations be handled? The logical thing would be for ODNR to give
everyone 3, 4 or 5-year leases, since those who apply later can be given
the shorter-term 1 and 2-year leases. This would also help the islanders
who make up most of the current applicants by far.
ODNR's staggering requirements can be met best by giving the first
applicants all the longer leases. But is this what they are going to do?
ODNR's response on March 3 is the following:
A percentage of the varying sizes of
docks will be in the rotation every year. This means that we always have
some docks opening up in years ahead, of the various sizes. We will fill
the longest term docks of the requested sized docks first and as we draw
additional applications we will fill the shorter term limits until all the
lottery applications are awarded for the sizes requested. I believe this is
the same thing you are stating.
March 2, 2009
I wanted to give a brief update on the Lottery and a
couple of points on spring construction start-up.
Lottery: An
Update for those that have been following this program
We had 35 applications received by the deadline
of February 25, 2009, 5:00PM at the Catawba State Park Office. We have
a total of 70 slips that were set aside for the seasonal dock lottery.
The drawing will be conducted at the Catawba
State Park office on March 5, 2009, 6:00 PM
Spring 2009 Construction Plans:
It is hoped that by the end of March we will again
be on the island with construction continuing.
Construction on the Water Tower and lines will
continue
The Electric infrastructure will be built out.
New Roadways will be further planned and
temporary roads will be used.
There are to be some finishing touches to the
marina basin, including 2 pipe piles and some rock in the channel to be
cleared out.
Docks are currently scheduled to be completed
for public use the beginning of June.
SAFETY
In regards to the General Public Docks - We are
asking your help again to help us communicate to the boaters that may be
wanting to come to Middle Bass - We want to let everyone know even
though a dock may be in the water they will not be available for use
until they are certified by the contractors & engineers for pubic use.
Contractors working on the docks this early
spring have asked we try to let boaters know they will have fingers in
the hinge points and other areas that wave action in the marina would be
a concern. Excessive boat traffic could slow their progress. Please
don't encourage boat traffic into the marina while the docks are being
finished "on-site".
Thank you,
Scott Doty
Regional Manager
Lake Erie Islands state Park
