Saxon Harbor slip rates increase

By RICHARD JENKINS

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Hurley - It is going to cost a bit more to dock at Saxon Harbor next year after the Iron County Forestry and Parks Committee approved increasing the slip rates Tuesday.

Those with boats on the north side of the north basin will be charged $23 per foot for county residents and $27 per foot for non-residents. Docks throughout the remainder of the harbor, due to the installation of new docks throughout, will have a fee of $27 a foot for county residents and $32 a foot for non-residents.

Forest Administrator Eric Peterson told the committee these increases were approximately a 10 percent increase across the board.

Peterson said Saxon Harbor remained as the third-cheapest harbor in the region, even with the increases.

"Ashland charges $50 a foot ... Ontonagon is at $35 a foot ... so we'd be at $27 for residents, $32 for non (residents) and that's on new docks," said Peterson. "I did look at Black River Harbor - Black River Harbor is substantially cheaper at $16 a foot for pleasure boats and $17 a foot for commercial - however, given all the improvements they're currently working on - some they've done, (some are) planned improvements - I wouldn't be surprised if in the next year or so they are going to have rate increases too."

Joe Maslanka, president of the Saxon Boating Club, cautioned the committee about increasing the rates. While he made clear he didn't necessarily oppose the idea of an increase, Maslanka noted the change could drive some boaters away.

"Let's just say you increase 10 percent, what do you lose because of 10 percent," Maslanka asked.

Several board members noted the county has invested quite a bit of money into renovating the harbor and the costs needed to be partially recouped.

While reiterating that he didn't necessarily oppose the increase, he cautioned that the area's fishery wasn't the strongest at the moment and there some who were considering whether to continue docking at the harbor.

"I'm just saying be cautious guys, I don't want you to raise it too high that we lose too many slips, that's all I'm saying," Maslanka said.

The average harbor user will see a $56 increase, according to information presented to the board.

Peterson argued that even setting aside the improvements, the slip rates haven't been examined in several years and it made sense to raise the rates while improvements were stilling being made.

He also clarified that those who docked in the section of the harbor under construction would pay a prorated rate, to ensure they wouldn't be paying the price of a new dock while having to use the old docks.

In other business:

- The committee received an update on the improvements to the Lake of the Falls Campground. A precast concrete structure was installed as a shower facility in the campground last week, according to Peterson.

It was delivered completely finished and furnished with toilets, shower, sink, hot water heater, plumbing and electrical systems all installed, Peterson told the Daily Globe after the meeting. The initial site prep and footings were completed by forestry employees Peterson said.

It was one part of the $104,000 renovation being completed in the park. Peterson said the improvements also include a RV Sanitary Dump Station being installed this fall.

He said future plans for the park include the addition of a drain field for the RV Dump station and shower building in 2017 and a new floating dock at the boat landing in the fall of 2016.

- The committee also heard a report from three area students regarding the ongoing Marten project the are participating in along with the county's Land and Water Conservation Department. The students explained they work to capture marten and radio tag them. Students then track the marten, recording information about the county's marten population and habitat.