The Columbia press., July 30, 2021, Page 4, Image 4

The Columbia Press
4
July 30, 2021
Pier: New fishing pier and seawall recommended for Hammond Marina
Continued from Page 1
the City Commission. Chief
among the goals is a develop-
ment plan for Hammond Ma-
rina, which the city acquired
from the U.S. Army Corps
of Engineers in September
2019.
At Tuesday night’s City
Commission meeting, May-
or Henry Balensifer asked to
pull the pier idea from the
consent calendar – where
noncontroversial items such
as proclamations and com-
mittee minutes are approved
in one fell swoop without dis-
cussion.
“The reason I like having
this as a business item is be-
cause I don’t like when our
committees are making rec-
ommendations” and they’re
barely acknowledged, Balen-
sifer said. “This is seriously
on the commission’s radar.”
The new seawall will extend
out from the overlook park-
ing lot at Seafarer’s Park –
one of the most romantic and
picturesque views in the city.
It would require infilling an
area that’s slowly being re-
claimed by the tides.
Currently, there is no fund-
ing for the seawall and pier.
However, now that it’s in-
cluded in the city’s Capital
Improvement Plan, the proj-
ect is set up for funding in the
future, whether by the city
or through state or federal
grants.
The Marinas Advisory Com-
mittee has met monthly since
March and is developing a list
of projects for both marinas.
Recommended
improve-
ments at Warrenton Mari-
na include more lighting;
improvements to the work
dock; increased maintenance
to docks, pilings, security
Damage to this dock at Ham-
mond Marina was the result of
storms last winter.
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cameras and equipment; and
parking improvements.
Recommended projects at
Hammond Marina include
dredging docks on the west
side, developing a camping
plan, ramp improvements,
restrooms, a waterfront trail
or boardwalk around the ma-
rina with memorial benches,
hiring a park host, finding a
concession food truck during
salmon season, construction
of a community building or
meeting hall, and encoour-
aging restaurants to locate
there.
The committee also has had
the task of recommending fee
increases for moorage, camp-
ing, hoist rental and other
activities at the marinas. The
increases were approved by
city commissioners and went
into effect July 1. The addi-
tional $67,000 per year is
expected to go toward main-
tenance.
Several people testified at
the July 13 City Commission
meeting or wrote letters ob-
jecting to the increases.
“I have no problem paying
for an increase in rates when
I get something in return. I’m
getting less,” said Gregory
Smith, who leases dock space
in Hammond. “I think this is
bad timing to ask for a rate
increase.”
Tom Shipley, who has been
a customer at Hammond
Marina for three decades,
said he’s become frustrated
with a lack of dredging and
declining maintenance of
gates, portable toilets and
showers.
“You’ve given us less,” Ship-
ley said. “You’ve charged us
more and now you’re want-
ing to charge us a lot more.”