New Marina Discussions

Bobbie Bicknell Coray, Reporter
Rich Civic Times

RANDOLPH, Utah.  February 4, 2015.  Zan Murray, JUB  Engineering, gave a report on the progress of the proposed Bear Lake marina expansion.  They had meetings in Garden City to discuss ideas brought forth in 2007.  The main idea was to make it fit the needs of many agencies, so that all could participate financially.  It was suggested that the entrance south to build a queing lane off of Harbor Village and get cars off the highway.  There is a need to increase the number of boat slips as there is a waiting list of 200 people who want to lease slips.  The new marina will include a new seven lane boat ramp and the expansion will double the amount of boat parking.

One of the main reasons to update marina is to lower the floor for sailboats on the new ramps. Currently boaters have to pull sailboats out before the season is over since the water level gets too low.  There is also a proposal to add utilities to the north slips and create a beach area on the south east of the marina.  

It will cost about $31 million to build a new marina.  Half of the cost is the materials,  350,000 cubic yards of dirt and riffraff are needed. 

Where do the funds come from?  This information is going to go before the legislature.  UDOT, DWR and State Parks could all be involved.  This year they will make a request to State Parks to build a programing and planning document to tighten the request and do geo technical work to look at local materials used for fill as that will be cheaper.

Tom Weston said there seems to be some excitement.  Economically, it will draw more people and boost taxes.   There may be a need for a material processor to move into the area for the time of building the marina and that would create some new jobs. 

The planning costs would be just under $100,000.   If the state would fund this, there would be a lot more information to go after funding.  “Quickly get the proposal to me,” said Cox as he would be going to the appropriations committee next week.   The old marina was built in 1960s and then expanded in 2000.