Boat lift, docks need repairs

MONTOUR FALLS—The Montour Falls Marina and Campground is struggling with a camper-boat traffic jam, Montour Falls trustees learned Monday night.
Harold Brown, marina manager, told trustees that because the marina boat lift is broken, campers can’t move into their campground parking spots, currently occupied by stored boats.  The lift has already had about $6,000 worth of repairs this spring and might be working later this week, Mayor John King said. He also said that he had just received bids from two firms to repair docks damaged last winter.
Brown assured the trustees that despite the holdup – and a number of RVs parked in a field waiting to move to their paid-for spots – he’s optimistic.
“Things are not as bad as people think,” he said.
Beside the campers unable to hook up to power, there are issues with non-functioning cable TV in the new section of the campground. The campground now has 116 campsites and 27 transient spots.  Brown asked trustees to look into getting more patrols by Schuyler County Sheriff’s units during busy times.
“We have a small town over there now,” Brown said.
In other business: Trustees unanimously adopted a budget for 2011-12. The appropriations budget – of about $1.3 million - is nearly identical to the budget discussed at a public hearing two weeks ago. It is about $18,000 higher than last year’s appropriations.   Copies of the full budget are available from Clerk Suzanne Casselberry.
• Trustees approved hiring current Code Enforcement Officer Dean Hillyard to add the duties of Superintendent of Public Works to his current workload.
“We need more supervisory hours,” King said. “We need long-term planning on infrastructure, sewer and water.”