PARCnassau

Park Advocacy & Recreation Council of Nassau. A coalition of 150 park advocacy and/or user groups with a combined membership of over 250,000 county residents.

Wednesday, January 11, 2012

2012 Wantagh Park Marina Follies

Once again the gross incompetence of Nassau County Government and it's "Public be damned" attitude has marred the new year for county resident boaters.
As of last fall, boaters were advised they would have to renew the summer dockage during the month of January, 2012 only (formerly, they had from January 2nd thru the first Saturday in March to do this). The rate was $65 per foot for slips with electricity & water and a few dollars less for slips with common water only.
On January 2nd Wantagh Park Administration began renewing slips in accordance with this policy. The week wasn't out, when Eisenhower instructed Wantagh Park to begin charging boaters $85 a foot for all slips, a whopping 23% increase and an additional $100 fee for those with electricity,.
It appears that the county administration submitted a 2012 Parks Department Budget with major increases in most fees. This was done with no public warning or input. This is the same stupidity that excessively raised the cabana fees at Nickerson Beach last year.
To make matters worse, our county legislators, you know the ones supposedly protecting our interests, failed to stop this or even notify their constituents of what was happening. Instead they passed the new budget with its outrageous fee increases.
The reaction of the boaters was quick and loud. They called and emailed the county administration and legislature. The result: Existing slip holders will pay the old rates, allegedly because the computer system will not process two different rates?????. However winners of the 2012 lottery in March will pay the increased fees for 2012. Absolutely absurd and very unfair.
Wait until residents se all the other fees that have been raised. Will they know enough to band together and demand county government rescind or modify the increases? Sadly, probably not

3 Comments:

At 9:13 PM, Blogger AlexO said...

Why should I as a county taxpayer subsidize your slip at Wantagh Park instead of paying market price which is closer to the $80 rate?

 
At 11:51 PM, Blogger Bruce Piel said...

Dear Alex,

First, south shore marinas are much closer to the $65 rate than the $80 one. Second Wantagh is not a full service marina. Its has no travel lift, on site mechanics, fiberglass repair.fuel dock, etc, etc
Thirdly boaters there cannot bring those servcies into the park and must take their boats or have them towed to a full service marina.

All we get is a space, electricity and water. - Bruce

 
At 2:00 PM, Blogger AlexO said...

Bruce,
South Shore Marinas in Nassau County average $85. Every place I looked was over $80. Wantagh is a nice facility that was redone. Please tell me where I can find a facility as nice for $65?

Second, I pay extra for travelift hauls, mechanics, repair, fuel, etc. No different. None of those services are included in my dockage rate.

Third, you have a choice - an advantage. I cant take my boat to any mechanic. I have to use the marina I am at. You can bring it anywhere and not beholden to one place.

All I get is space and water - I pay extra for electric.

 

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