The Marquette County Board of Commissioners voted to support a grant application for the Big Bay Harbor of Refuge expansion project after a public hearing was held at the board’s regular meeting Tuesday night. If received, the grant would support the addition of a floating dock to the harbor, which would roughly double the number of slips available. (Journal photo by Cecilia Brown)

MARQUETTE — The Marquette County Board of Commissioners unanimously approved a resolution supporting a grant application for the Big Bay Harbor Expansion project after a public hearing was held in regard to the grant application.

The Michigan Department of Natural Resources Land and Water Conservation Fund grant, if received, would support the addition of a floating dock system to the Big Bay Harbor of Refuge, which is located on Lake Superior, a half-mile north of Big Bay.

“We’re proposing to install a floating dock system, it will approximately double the number of slips that we have at the harbor currently. Right now, we have 14, maybe 15 people on our waiting list. Staff does receive phone calls, people asking if there’s any availability at the harbor, so we think that it’s a very timely project,” said Thyra Karlstrom, senior planner at Marquette County’s Resource Management and Development Department, during the public comment session.

No other individuals made comment during the public hearing portion of the meeting.

The total cost of the project is $242,000, with the grant providing 50 percent of the funds and the county providing the other 50 percent. Officials said the Forest Recreation Fund could be used for the $121,000 local match portion of the grant, as it currently has the funds to do so.

“I think this is the right use of our Forest Fund … using that money to increase our water recreation, I think it’s a really appropriate use,” commissioner Joe Derocha said.

With the approval of the board, staff from the Resource Management and Development department will submit the grant application by the April 1 deadline.

However, it will take some time until they know if they have received the grant.

“We won’t know until later this year, (or) early next year whether or not we were successful in receiving the grant. Hopefully, 2019 or by 2020 we could go forward with dock installation,” Karlstrom said.

According to county officials, the new floating dock system, if installed will not impact existing slips located on the bulkhead. The installation of the new dock will be carefully designed to allow for future dock expansion if warranted. The floating dock will also accomodate changes in harbor water levels.

Chairperson Gerald Corkin noted his support for the project and thanked the planning commissioner, Karlstrom and staff for their hard work on the project.

The board also voted unanimously to approve 2018 fee rates and rules for the Big Bay Harbor of Refuge, as well as Perkins Park and Campground. The board reviews and approves fee rates and rules for the two recreational areas annually.

According to county officials, the State Waterways Commission sets both seasonal and transient rates for harbors, such as the Big Bay Harbor, but the county has historically requested reduced rates for its harbors.

However, due to increased interest in local slips, the county began a “phased approach” with the aim of reducing the gap between the state and county rates in 2016.

Based on this approach, staff recommended that the board approve the seasonal rates for the Big Bay Harbor of Refuge at $31.50 per foot of boat for the 2018 boating season. This rate is 10 percent below the state rate of $35, but is an increase of $3.50 per foot from the 2017 boating season.

There were no changes to camping fees at Perkins Park and Campground, but the board approved staff recommendations to increase the cost of the seasonal park pass to $20, from $18, as well as allowing households to purchase up to two additional vehicle passes for the park at the cost of $5 each.

Cecilia Brown can be reached at 906-228-2500, ext. 248.