After meeting in executive session Thursday night, city council members voted to approve a proposal submitted by Mayor Bob Cleary on the Storms Creek boat dock.

Friday, April 13, 2001

After meeting in executive session Thursday night, city council members voted to approve a proposal submitted by Mayor Bob Cleary on the Storms Creek boat dock.

The proposal would enter the city into an agreement with Jack and Jenny Hagar. Under the terms of the agreement, the Hagars would leave selected docks in place at the marina in the Storms Creek Basin for the city to use.

The agreement states the city will be responsible for the docks while in its possession. The agreement also stipulates past boaters that were patrons of the marina in 2000 will be able to keep their docking space at a fee set by the city.

The agreement also permits the Hagars to vacate the premises and remove other docks, the house and "other investments made into what was known as the Ironton Boat Dock." The Hagars are required to be off the property by Aug. 1 of this year. The Hagars will also be responsible for removing the sunken barge in the waterway. The contract states the barge must be removed by April 1, 2002.

This agreement is an extension of the plans the city holds to develop the marina.

Recently, council passed a resolution allowing the mayor to seek grant funding to develop the area into a marina and park. Cleary said the total cost of the project will be more than $1 million. Plans have been outlined to break the project into three phases.

The first phase will be to dredge the waterway to make the channel deeper and to add some docking. He said this part of the project is estimated to cost around $300,000.

The second phase of the project will be to develop more docking, construct restroom facilities and to develop access roads to the site.

The final phase of construction will develop parking, camp sites, picnic areas, other recreational areas and complete the docks.