EVANS, NY - The Sturgeon Point Marina is obviously a beautiful lakefront location - but perhaps not so obvious? The burden it may place on the town of Evans and its taxpayers.
Even with the collected fees for boat slips, launching, and gas, the Hamburg Sun publication quotes Evans Town Supervisor Mary Hosler as saying the marina runs at a deficit of up to tens of thousands of dollars. And now it's coming to a head with the key part of its necessary infrastructure.
The Army Corps of Engineers already told the town they're gonna have to fix this deteriorating breakwall. So at their July 18 meeting, the town board approved an application for a just over $1.1 million state grant but that grant includes a $387,000 matching portion for the town and its taxpayers.
For town residents taking in the sunset while enjoying an evening meal, many are on the fence when thinking on the breakwall. Marcella Kron says, "I'm not a boater but we do enjoy looking at the boats. As far as how much it would raise my taxes...I don't know...I'm on the fence there. I don't know if it's worth that much in taxes."
And Jennifer Schratz adds, "It's a lot of money to be in the hole again with taxes in the town of Evans."
Other residents say there were concerns about the cost factor dating back to 1974 when the launch facility was first dedicated. And costs and taxes are always a topic in a town where there was a loan from Erie County and talk of cutting the police department in 2016 when water system costs threatened to financially sink the town.
Some out-of-towners are glad the marina is available - like a launch fee of ten dollars for jet-ski.
Ron Jennings of Lancaster says, "The facility is great. Don't wait long. I'm able to get in and out. The price is right."
But again on the overall costs of the marina one man told us, "There's other things they need in this town. They have drainage issues that they really need to get after."
2 On Your Side could not reach the Evans supervisor or town board members but information is based on the minutes of their July 18 meeting. Other marinas in the area have sometimes turned to private operators which is perhaps an option for the town of Evans as well.