MILTON — The Milton City Council will proceed with a plan to improve the marina off Quinn Street.
The council voted in favoring of allowing Watkins to sign $84,200 to Ken Horne and Associates.
“For that (budgeted) $84,200, we would get the construction drawings, all of the plans … for a new marina,” City Manager Brian Watkins said.
While adding more boat docking, plans include a boat repair facility along with a structure for offices and retail space.
The marina project is part of the city’s Riverfront Master Plan, which aims to boost north county economic and tourism activity, particularly along the Blackwater River, while showcasing the area’s environment and historical value.
In addition to upgrading the marina, Ken Horn and Associates would create a conceptual drawing for an RV park in the marina area.
Watkins said the RV park could aid tourism by allowing visitors to bring RVs and perhaps go fishing or sightseeing along the river or explore Blackwater Hertitage Trail.
However, conceptual plans may reveal the RV park may not be worth pursuing, he said.
With plans for the marina and a potential RV park, Watkins said construction could cost around $1 million. City staffers have begun working on how to pay for building such a project.
“We have submitted the project to the local RESTORE council for the BP money for $536,000…the request was approved,” Watkins said.
As for the other half, Watkins said the city would need to find funding elsewhere, even potentially using a debt service. To pay off the debt, Watkins suggested using funds from marina slip rentals and possible RV park utility fees.
Currently, the marina makes between $1,200 and $1,500 on slip rentals a month, Watkins said. Once completed, the goal is to have services available through the marina earn money for the city.
This article originally appeared on Santa Rosa Press Gazette: Milton Council OKs marina improvement plans