Village of Lewiston to leverage insurance money into long-term solution for damaged docks

Plaza public hearing may move to Lewiston No. 1

By Joshua Maloni

GM/Managing Editor

Trustees in the Village of Lewiston voted Monday to use insurance money from the damaged waterfront docks as a 25% match for additional monies to fund a more-permanent solution.

“We are currently receiving about $200,000 back in insurance funds for the dock repairs,” Mayor Dan Cota said. “The amount to repair the docks and get them in a condition and a place where we want them and need them for long-term maintenance is going to cost significantly more than that.

“We need to amplify that insurance money through the LWRP grant program in order to do that, but it requires a matching fund of 25%.

“We are going to be using that insurance money, using the grant program, magnifying it in order to get the project going. We are working very diligently with the engineers right now.”

The total Local Waterfront Revitalization Grants program project is listed as $800,000, with a required match of at least 25%. Should more of a municipal contribution be required, Cota was authorized to use in-kind services.

In September 2020, the Village of Lewiston debuted a new, multimillion-dollar waterfront that included shoreline stabilization measures and floating docks designed to withstand damaging high-water levels like those seen in 2017 and 2019.

But it was ice and winter weather in recent months that wrecked the dock piles and rendered the fingers unusable this summer. Those who had reserved space were given the option to get their money back or use it for future rentals; plus, they were granted free launch passes for this season.

Trustee Nick Conde asked, “How would we be working on the docks?”

“It has to be a phased approach,” Cota said. “Currently, we enlisted (Department of Public Works) Superintendent (Anthony) Mang and Josh Stack, who currently does our (ice) boom system, to come up with a plan to remove those current fingers. Because, if you do not remove them prior to winter, we’re not going to even have the option to repair them” without destabilizing the docks.

“That’s the first phase is to get all those fingers pulled, and as many of the pylons that are loose, get those pulled before they just lay down and we have to start getting them from under the water.”

“No boom this year?” Conde asked.

“We haven’t decided on a boom at this point,” Cota said. “We will still have the main run of the dock there that will need some sort of protection – if Wahoo Docks, whom we engaged, then determines that that needs to be protected. But the current boom structure may not be the correct structure going forward when we don’t have the fingers.”

The Dahlonega, Georgia-based Wahoo Docks created the dock system.

“Hopefully, we’ll have the slips next year,” Conde said.

“I anticipate that we will, in one form or another,” Cota said.

LWRP funding is expected to be awarded in December/January, with contracting to follow.

Cota said that, with the fingers pulled, “we’re 99% of the way there.

“We are not looking at replanting the current piles unless Wahoo comes in and says, ‘You have to have a pile system.’ At this point, that hasn’t been the interpretation.”

A system wherein poles and docks are pulled in the fall would prevent “these ongoing issues with piles that are going to continuously be jacked up based upon ice conditions in our river,” Cota said.

He noted the project “will depend on financing. I’m hopefully optimistic that, through the LWRP program, and through the governor’s office – which we have also met with – that we will have the support necessary to move forward.”

Plaza public hearing

Cota announced the Planning Commission’s public hearing on the Ellicott Development plaza’s building No. 3 first floor – space expected to be rented and operated by Ace Hardware – will be held inside the Red Brick Municipal Building gymnasium, 145 N. Fourth St. The forum is scheduled for Monday, Aug. 10, immediately following the Historic Preservation Commission meeting (approximately 6:30 p.m.).

Now, if the Recreation Department’s programming for that evening is forced to move inside the gym because of weather, the Planning Board meeting will move to the Lewiston No. 1 firehall on North Sixth Street. If that happens, Cota said signs will be placed on the Red Brick doors, and a notification will be issued on social media.

‘Hometown Heroes’ back in play

Cota said the village intends to become a “Hometown Heroes” participant. Veterans of Foreign Wars Downriver Post 7487 was unable to reach an agreement with the previous administration to place the veteran-honoring flags on municipal streets. The mayor said size and style options are being evaluated.

Other news

•The board voted to remove any penalties from the July 2026 water/sewer bills (within the time frame of March 15 through June 16) due to recent mailing issues

Two weeks ago, the clerk’s office announced the village “received reports that some residents have not yet received their July water bills due to a mailing delay.

“We have contacted the U.S. Postal Service, but they are unable to provide an estimated delivery date at this time.”

•The Department of Public Works will begin milling and pothole patching.

Mang also announced the DPW will offer a larger trash pickup day on Monday, Aug. 3, for brush and building demo – residential, not contractor debris. Brush should be stacked parallel with the road.

•Cota said he is researching outlets that can livestream Village Board meetings. He expects the cost to be between $3,700 and $4,000. Bids are being collected.

Cameras and microphones would be added for the sake of video quality, without requiring additional speakers inside the boardroom.

•Artpark & Company was granted permission to extend weather-delayed concerts past the standard noise ordinance cutoff of 10 p.m. on weeknights, instead getting an 11 p.m. curfew.