State to postpone lake access repairs
|
|
Judy Potter (front) of Poultney and Lisa Potter of Albany, N.Y., walk down the boat access ramp at Lake St. Catherine in Wells. The ramp was scheduled to close Aug. 1 for repairs, but the work has been postponed. Albert J. Marro / Rutland Herald |
Toolbox
By Gordon Dritschilo STAFF WRITER - Published: August 5, 2009
WELLS — A public outcry convinced the state to push back repairs to the Lake St. Catherine boat access, officials said Tuesday.
"It was pretty strong, I guess," said Michael Wichrowski, lands and facilities coordinator for the Vermont Department of Fish & Wildlife. "We initially did some informal questioning of different folks, talking to anglers and someone from the lake association. We felt pretty confident we'd go ahead and do it."
The department announced last month that it would close the access Monday to repair a 2-foot wash hole undercutting the ramp. The work was expected to take two weeks to a month. Last week, the department sent out a notice it would delay the project until April.
The initial announcement had recommended boaters use the access at Lake St. Catherine State Park in Poultney — which is made for smaller boats and would have required a day-use fee — or go to other lakes.
"I sent a kind of sarcastic e-mail wondering why it had to be done now," said Rep. Andy Donaghy, R-Poultney. "One of the people who lives down in Wells, in that area, called me and asked me what was going on."
Donaghy said he got an e-mail back from Fish & Wildlife explaining that the timing was an element of getting a contractor for the project, and that he did not pursue the matter further.
In addition to the e-mail from Donaghy, Wichrowski said he got a "heavy" response saying August was a bad time to close the ramp. He said he heard from a number of out-of-state anglers who rent from local property owners and shop at local businesses while visiting the lake.
"It had this trickle-down effect we didn't anticipate," Wichrowski said.
Wichrowski said the department originally put the project out to bid in 2003 and got no proposals. He said the more recent proposal left the timing up to the contractor and they got two bids. The lower bidder wanted to do the project in August.
Wichrowski said the locally based contractor, Jim Sheldon, agreed to the April change, though the different timing means a complication that could increase the $39,000 cost.
"The big thing is the cold weather," Wichrowski said. "He'll be dealing with potentially 30-degree water."
Wichrowski said state engineers will make sure any cost increases are legitimate.
"The hazards are still there regarding the ramp," he said. "It's important for people to know there's a drop-off there and to be conscious. … It's not super dangerous, but it could affect someone's trailer if they're backing down it."
gordon.dritschilo@rutlandherald.com
40