Fairport Harbor administrator highlights village's key projects
Mar. 31—EDITOR'S NOTE — The Eastern Lake County Chamber of Commerce on March 14 hosted government officials from its communities to provide details on major projects for 2024 and cite accomplishments from 2023. This is one in a series of articles detailing the speeches that were given.
Fairport Harbor Village is hoping to secure federal permits this year to build a key component for a proposed transient marina.
That point was emphasized by Village Administrator Amy Cossick during the recent Eastern Lake County Chamber of Commerce's 2024 Community Reps Update program. The event took place in the Environmental Learning Center at Lake Metroparks Jordan Creek Park in Concord Township.
Cossick, during her speech, said Lake Development Authority is working with MSA Professional Services to prepare and submit applications for permits to construct a new breakwater at the future marina. Those requests would be sent to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.
"This review process can take six to eight months," Cossick said.
Lake Development Authority is managing the development process and securing funding for all stages of the transient marina project. Estimated cost of the overall endeavor is $14 million.
MSA , a Wisconsin-based engineering firm, has been performing a variety of duties to help prepare for building the transient marina.
If the Army Corps approves the permits requested on behalf of Fairport Harbor, the village then could begin its search for contractors to construct the breakwater.
"The estimated timeline for bidding out the breakwater project is September or October of 2024," Cossick said.
A new breakwater would need to be built first to safeguard the construction of the marina. In December 2020, Fairport Harbor government unveiled a conceptual design to develop a full-service transient marina on a site consisting of the Fairport Harbor Village Port Authority's boat launch and some adjacent property.
This marina would be located at the northern end of Water Street, along the Lake Erie shoreline.
The transient marina would be tailored to attract boaters from outside of Lake County for stays typically ranging from a day to two weeks, and not compete with local marinas in the county that serve long-term tenants.
Village government leaders are hoping that boaters who dock at the transient marina would visit stores, eateries and museums based in Fairport Harbor's nearby commercial district.
So far, Fairport Harbor and its project partners have acquired significant funding for marina development and construction from a variety of sources.
"Currently there is $5 million secured through the Ohio Department of Natural Resources for this project, and $1.1 million for the docks and fuel station through the Fish and Wildlife Boating Infrastructure Grant," Cossick said. "The village has also secured $350,000 in State Capital Funds designated for the boat launch area."
ODNR is involved in the project because the transient marina would include docks for the agency's research vessels and some of the department's smaller boats.
Additional money for the transient marina is being sought through the Port Infrastructure Development Program and a 2024 RAISE Grant, Cossick said.
RAISE stands for Rebuilding American Infrastructure with Sustainability and Equity.
Cossick also told the audience at the chamber program about two other projects in Fairport Harbor that stemmed from the community government's decision to buy treated bulk water from the city of Painesville.
First, she said that the demolition of the village's former water treatment is scheduled to take place next month, sometime after the April 8 total solar eclipse.
Fairport Harbor no longer needed the plant, which is nearly 90 years old, after it began receiving bulk water from Painesville on Oct. 6.
A new water tower with a larger capacity, at 250,000 gallons, also is being constructed on the grounds of the Village Service Department at 1340 East St. On-site foundation work for the tower has started and is expected to be completed in the next two or three weeks.
Fairport Harbor's current water tower on Orchard Street eventually will be demolished. That structure was built in 1935 and holds 200,000 gallons of water.
Another key project in the village involves enhancing the streetscape in a section of the village's commercial district.
Work began earlier this month to upgrade the streetscape on Third Street, between High and Eagle streets.
This portion of Third Street will be improved in the following ways during construction:
—New sidewalks, and new and additional streetlights, for both sides of the street.
—New Americans with Disabilities Act-accessible curb ramps at crosswalks.
—Improved ADA accessibility to downtown businesses.
Funding that's been allocated for the Third Street upgrades consists of a $245,000 Community Development Block Grant that Fairport Harbor was awarded in 2022; and a $55,000 local match from the village's streetlight fund.
In a follow-up interview on March 26, Cossick said the removal of sidewalks in the streetscape project area started last week. Electrical work for the streetlights was slated to begin March 27.
Aside from discussing projects, Cossick used her March 14 speech as an opportunity to mention some of the major community events planned in Fairport Harbor this year. Those programs include:
—Eclipse Viewing Party — 1 to 5 p.m. April 8 on the land just north of the Fairport Harbor Lighthouse on Second and High streets. Visitors will get the chance to enjoy music and cuisine from food trucks before and after watching the eclipse.
—Fairport Mardi Gras — July 3-6 at Lake Metroparks Fairport Harbor Lakefront Park, 301 Huntington Beach Drive. The celebration includes amusement rides each day; a parade at 7 p.m. July 3 and fireworks at dusk on July 6.
—Village Fest — 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Aug 10 on High Street, between Second and Fourth streets; and on Third Street. The event aims to attract people to Fairport Harbor's downtown for an afternoon of music, food, fun and shopping.
