|
Some Aquia Harbour residents aren't happy with the marina's condition and are looking for a source of funding for repairs. |
Some of Aquia Harbour's 35-to 40-year-old amenities are now being repaired or replaced, but the work isn't happening as fast as neighborhood residents and officials would like.
The swimming pool, marina, business office, police station and stables already were falling apart two summers ago when a consultant estimated total fixes at $3.1 million.
Property Owners Association leaders wanted to address the issues in one swoop, and asked the 2,320 homeowners to pay a one-time $1,400 fee. But residents rejected that plan, saying they couldn't afford additional charges on top of their $1,024 annual dues.
Community directors have since been trying to complete projects as money is available in the yearly budget and reserve.
"I have to work with what I have," said Chuck Halt, Aquia Harbour general manager. "It's over a $400 million a year business."
Homeowners, however, are squabbling with his office about which work should be done first.
Prioritizing the problemsJoseph Howard, who lives in the Harbour, docks his boat, the Fortunato II, at the community's 150-slip Marina.
Last November the section his boat was attached to broke off from the main dock. He's since considered relocating the more than $20,000 vessel because he doesn't think the facility is safe anymore.
"The reality is, this has to be fixed. This is a wonderful thing about this community," he said. "I don't believe anywhere near enough money has gone into this. I don't think we can afford the engineering if we wait another year."
But community officials say they must balance issues at the marina with more dangerous amenities that get heavier usage, such as the leaking and cracked pool. There are just enough funds to complete its $900,000 replacement this year.
Some of those dollars already paid for a new pump house, which was installed before this swimming season. Work on the pool will begin after Labor Day and be complete between November and early spring.
Temporary fixes will bide time on the other amenities until money becomes available for more intense repairs.
Area experts are working at the marina this month, stabilizing the docks, repairing concrete and addressing other safety issues. Halt estimates that will cost $10,000 to $15,000. The marina's deteriorating underground fuel system, which was prone to spilling, was replaced last year at a cost of about $90,000.
Halt's office also is working with state and local agencies to get a dredging permit, which will be necessary to adequately replace the docks. The permitting process can take more than a year.
"We're putting Band-Aids on the marina until we can go in and replace or renovate it," Halt said. "We're going to keep after it until we make it safe."
A new hay barn for the stables will be constructed for about $15,000 in the next year, as well. Right now, hay is stored above the horse stalls, which is a fire hazard. Some paddock, fencing and electrical work still needs to be done at that site.
The business office and police station, which are both dealing with termite, electrical and dry-rotting issues, will see just enough work to keep them standing for the next few years. Halt said major renovations could cost $40,000 to $50,000. Replacing the buildings with a 6,000-square-foot joint business office/police station could cost $500,000 to $600,000.
Some plumbing and greens repair is also needed at the golf course. Since those needs are not health or safety issues, there are no immediate plans for that work. Small fixes have been administered there in the last year.
It could take five to six years or more before all of the amenities are completely repaired, Halt said.
Costs will continue to increase the longer it takes. He estimates the price of the repairs is already 10 percent to 15 percent more than it was a year ago.
David Humphrey, president of the neighborhood board of directors, said his group is looking into additional revenue options that could expedite the work. But officials aren't yet ready to discuss details publicly.
"There's lots of demands on different kinds of issues and obviously we can't address everything at once," he said. "Sure, there's lots of people who don't have a boat and don't use the marina and would like to see us put money into something else. But we can't do away with one to add to another."
Limited dollars, many projectsBy law, all Harbour amenities, including ball fields and a golf course, must be maintained until 2039. Halt said the developer agreed to that requirement when the community was built in 1969.
Each facility competes with other operational expenses, such as salaries, overhead, road upkeep and waterway care. The roads alone need about $200,000 of work each year. Halt said he'll soon have to spend about $300,000 to replace equipment for such maintenance.
Meanwhile, dues and user fee increases have been minimal and few compared to the rising maintenance costs, he said. Dues were last raised two years ago by a little more than $100. And only the marina has seen user fee increases in the last year.
"Unfortunately the Harbour ignored assessing people enough through the years to maintain facilities the way they should," Halt said. "It has to all fit together and fit in the budget. You have to pay for what you get."
To reach MEGHANN COTTER:
Email: mcotter@freelancestar.com
