Milton’s next big project: marina repair

Milton officials are laying the groundwork for the town’s next major capital improvement project: repairing the marina and boat slips at the Chandler Street docks.

At its Oct. 4 meeting, Town Council unanimously approved authorizing Town Manager Kristy Rogers to seek funds for conducting planning of an upgrade that calls for increasing the current number of boat slips from six to 12.

Mayor Ted Kanakos has been a proponent of rebuilding the marina. He said his ideal vision of the project would be building a ramp with a 40-foot floating dock. Kanakos said doing such a project would also probably require that part of the marina to be dredged. He does not think the project will come to fruition for another three years, but said he was looking forward to discussing the best path forward with committee members.

Jack Bushey, chairman of the Streets, Sidewalks and Parks Committee, which has been holding early discussions on renovations to the marina, told council Oct. 4 that the committee recommended council seeks funds to begin planning for a marina repair. Bushey agreed that some dredging would probably be needed for an extended marina.

At its Sept. 21 meeting, the committee agreed that the town should pursue a marina with more boat slips with wider access to the slips that the current 18-inch walkways at the marina now.

Public Works Director Greg Wingo said while no planning or design has been done yet, he envisioned the new dock having additional water hookups and possibly electric hookups for each boat slip. He said he also liked the idea of a personal watercraft area at the marina.

Committee Chair Jack Bushey said members have discussed having a kayak launch at the marina, but dredging the marina would be a separate discussion, as the town would have to work with the state and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. 

Wingo said of dredging, “This has been discussed since I’ve been here over the last 10 years. The problem is funding for that. We’ve even brought state representatives for that. But we’re not Lewes or Rehoboth.”

Bushey added, “It’s not going to happen very quickly. It takes time: drawings, planning, getting the money.” He said the last time the marina was worked on was around 20 years ago, and at that time, there wasn’t as much demand for boat slips as there is now.

Wingo said in addition to a wider dock, he suggested using stronger building materials to require less town maintenance. 

“It’s a wish of ours, but I think it’s a long way off,” Kanakos said.