Councilors delay decision on sale of marinas, ask Norfolk staff for more information

People passionate about Norfolk’s waterfront urged Norfolk County not to sell its marinas in Port Dover and Port Rowan.

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At a council-in-committee meeting on Tuesday, they asked councilors to reject a report from county staff recommending the sale of the marinas, which staff say will require capital improvements costing $21.1 million over the next 10 years.

“The sale of these assets is the most straightforward and cost-effective option available to council,” said a detailed report prepared by Stephanie Potter, manager of corporate initiatives. “Continuing to allocate capital financing to the marinas will divert resources away from other services, which is difficult to justify when weighed against the broader interest and needs of our community, particularly given that the marinas are not considered to be ‘core’ municipal services, compete with the private sector, restrict full access to members, and are often used by 50 per cent non-residents.”

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The report said the sale of the marinas would bring the county financial relief, mitigate risks and bring the potential for improved marina services through private sector investment.

Lisa Marr, volunteer program coordinator and co-founder of the Port Dover Yacht Club Sailing School, said the sale of the Port Dover Harbor Marina would put the future of the school in doubt.

Marr said there is “enormous potential” for economic development and growth at both marinas, and asked councilors to look at successful waterfront developments in cities such as Cleveland and Erie.

Marr also called into question the estimated capital cost of repairs to the marinas.

“The report needs further balloting with stakeholders as many regard this report as utter nonsense,” she said.

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Margaret Creighton of the Port Dover Waterfront Preservation Association said the county has done little to improve its waterfront property beyond just a marina.

Creighton said many of the upgrades cited by county staff as necessary to the marinas are a “wish list.”

“Staff have presented a false narrative of doom and gloom with respect to the marina. A vision for the entire waterfront is the critical first step.”

The Port Dover marina has 458 slips for seasonal dockage and 11 transient slips for visitors, daily ramps, hydro and water slips and generates an annual surplus of about $434,000.

The Port Rowan marina, which has 40 slips including hydro, 38 water lot leases for boat owners, two transient docks and a public launching ramp, is operating at a deficit of about $131,000.

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In making its recommendation, county staff considered nine options for the marinas related to public ownership and operation; public ownership and private operation; and private ownership and operation.

The cash-strapped county has been using some of the revenue generated by the Port Dover marina to offset tax increases, putting about $250,000 annually into the marina reserves. County treasurer Amy Fanning said cost escalations for construction and inflation mean there will be about a $300,000 deficit, that will increase each year, if capital repairs on the marinas go ahead and user fees aren’t increased. In order to keep up with costs, staff estimate marina user fees would more than double in five years.

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“We didn’t make investments in the marinas because we were concerned about keeping property taxes low,” said Mayor Amy Martin. “That’s not sustainable. This has to end.”

Martin said the county needs a policy on making investments into assets owned by the municipality.

Marshall Collins, owner of Collins Harbor Marina Resort just outside of Port Rowan, said he is in direct competition with the Port Rowan marina operated by the municipality. He said the county undercuts his prices by 60 per cent.

“I would love to own one of those (county-owned) marinas and I wouldn’t change a thing,” he told councilors on Tuesday. “You wouldn’t lose control of development. You don’t have to sell to a developer. You can sell it as a marina.”

Councilors delayed making a decision on the matter, asking staff to come back with additional information for a meeting in October.

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