Newport News should focus on present

Source: dailypress.com

October 3, 2007

The Deep Creek pier seems to be the perfect metaphor for all that is wrong with city government. The city was supposed to maintain the pier. What maintenance has the city performed on the pier in the last, say, 25 years? Was Newport News City Manager Randy Hildebrandt serious when he said it would have cost too much to replace the pier?

The FY ’08 budget for parks, recreation and cultural activities is over $19 million. Included in that budget is $1.5 million for cultural activities, such as Christopher Newport University’s Ferguson Center and the Peninsula Fine Arts Center. How can we fund these noncity activities while not properly maintaining city property?

City government has lost sight of what is important. The combined liability for the retiree health care and pension shortfall and long term debt is almost one billion dollars. Instead of maintaining roads and other infrastructure needs, the city lets them fall apart before replacing them.

The City Council has consistent- ly under-funded the city’s IT infra- structure and vehicle replacement programs, among others. The sheriff has appealed to the courts to force the city to provide more funds to hire additional deputies to help alleviate overcrowding at the city jail. The list goes on and on.

We cannot continue to invest in projects with potential payoffs decades in the future while ignor- ing the real needs of the present. We are falling deeper and deeper in debt while the city falls apart around us. Unlike the federal government we cannot print money. The bills will eventually come due, and the homeowners of Newport News will pay them. We need a new City Council and city manager.

Douglas C. Prior

Newport News

James River Marina Letter To City Council

October 19th, 2007

Mayor Frank, Vice Mayor Allen, City Council members, City Manager and City Attorney:

I am writing this letter to you on behalf of my business partner Jeff Deyong and myself as owners of the James River Marina, 665 Deep Creek Road.

As the controversy of the Deep Creek Pier continues, it deeply disturbs us that Council is still entertaining ideas to resurrect the Pier in some form or another despite having no facilities or parking to support such structure.

Since buying the Marina in 2001 we have taken a sleepy, little marina of 60 boats and turned it into a destination location with storage for 200. We’ve updated the service and repair facilities, and the restaurant has reopened to great reviews. We have been in contact with the City and expressed our desire to add additional piers. The Marina is poised to add up to 40 slips to handle permanent dockage and provide transient slips for those boats wanting to dock over night or visit the restaurant once the City has removed the Deep Creek Pier.

It should be obvious to all, that the current situation in which the watermen governed themselves on the pier is unacceptable. Beside the actual condition of the pier, the sunken boats the city has had to remove, as well as submerged engines and parts, now around the pier prove that the watermen are their own worst enemy. The workboats expelled prior to the initial phase of demolition forced only one waterman working the river to relocate. The other moored boats were in various stages of disrepair or sat idle. We have witnessed many instances where pleasure boats trying to dock at the pier were turned away or crews harassed upon disembarking.

This leads to our last and most vocal argument against restoring the pier, liability. Not one single boat moored at the Deep Creek Pier carried any kind of insurance, more specifically liability insurance. Incidence over the years of boats slipping their mooring and running into our pier has tested our patience and pocket. We have been threatened with lawsuits by our own tenants after their boats have been struck by these uninsured vessels, and threatened with violence when confronting captains, owners, and crew of those guilty boats. We have constantly had to police the parking lot and threaten towing those individuals responsible for damage to our property.

Recently, we have been informed by our attorney should someone get hurt on or around the pier we could be held liable by the courts as a facilitator for letting individuals park in our lot.

We strongly urge council to stand firm on their decision to dismantle the pier in the quickest way possible. Any further open discussion regarding the repair or replacement of the pier continues only to rally those hoping for a city facility at the end of Deep Creek Road. Recently we were asked by the City if we would be interested in donating land adjacent to the pier. Unfortunately donating our number one asset, the waterfront, is not feasible at this time. To this end, if the City is willing to purchase the entire property we would gladly entertain any dialogue. Thank you in advance for any consideration given this letter.

Regards,
Marty Moliken
Jeffery Deyong
James River Marina

What do you do with $15.9 million?

In today’s Daily Press, Councilwoman Madeline McMillan went public about her support regarding the rebuilding of Deep Creek Pier.

~ Site Administrator

———————————–

Newport News’ city manager has projects on his wish list, but the council is under pressure to trim taxes.

Source: dailypress.com

By SABINE HIRSCHAUER

October 24, 2007

NEWPORT NEWS – — The city closed its books last fiscal year with an estimated $15.9 million in extra cash, but with continued pressure from homeowners, who would like to see lower taxes, City Council members are increasingly hesitant to spend it.

Newport News City Manager Randy Hildebrandt told council members during a special financial retreat Tuesday what he would like to do with the surplus.

Some of the items on Hildebrandt’s wish list include $1.2 million for the renovation of the Rouse Tower, home of the city’s social services department. It also includes $600,000 for a fire station at the airport, and $300,000 in jail improvements.

“I believe these projects can’t wait until spring,” Hildebrandt said.

Other things-to-do, which could wait, include $1.5 million for the city’s red light camera system and $2 million for a new taxation software program.

But some council members weren’t so sure about it.

“I don’t want to spend it,” said Councilman William Haskins. “I want to wait until next budget season.”

The city struggles with a mixed bag of financial problems, which include a $212 million pension shortfall and the looming $535million debt.

Councilman Bert Bateman Jr., last week said he wants to leave the surplus dollars in the city’s reserves or use part of it to pay down the city’s pension and retirement fund shortage.

Some council members had other ideas.

“I would like to spend some of it on the Deep Creek pier,” said Councilwoman Madeline McMillan.”

During the retreat budget officials said that the city’s projected debt burden – the city’s debt compared to its real estate and personal property values – will gradually shrink in the next five years.

“That’s good news,” said Hildebrandt, who is crediting the city’s newly implemented debt policies for the reduction. “We are going to see the impacts of these policies.”

The debt policies include a new strategy to pay more city projects in cash instead of borrowing money for them. Also, in the next five years the city is estimated to pay off $192 million of its debt while taking on only $178 million in new debt.

“We are paying off more than we are borrowing,” Hildebrandt said.

Mayor Joe S. Frank said he’d like for department heads to look into savings through sharing city services such as purchasing among departments and the schools. He also would like city staff to contract out some city services.

The first step in the new budget process is for Hildebrandt to present his recommendations for the next capital improvement plan, a five-year blueprint for city projects, early next month.

“Let’s look at our resources first,” Haskins said. “Then we know what we can spend. And we can’t just tax, tax, tax. We have to see where the money is coming from.”

Deep Creek pier adds quality of life

Source: dailypress.com

October 23, 2007

As a longtime resident of Deep Creek Road, I was saddened the other day when I walked to the marina at the end of the street and saw the pier being demolished. I couldn’t help but think of the fond memories I have of walking with my two young sons, now in their twenties, to the pier to go crabbing. That was something they always loved to do. Some of the best “quality time” I ever spent with them was on that pier.

I wondered where other dads would now be able to take their kids to make the same kind of memories. I can’t remember how many times I’ve gone down to that pier after a hard day at work to do nothing more than just enjoy some peace and quiet and take in the sights of being on the water, which is so much a part of living in Newport News. How sad it is during these times of high crime in our city that a resource like this that kids could use to stay out of trouble is being taken away from us. “Not enough money” seems like a lame excuse when I read about the very questionable ways other money in the city is being spent.

Perhaps after the next election, when our city officials are looking for employment, they will realize the importance of things like the pier and how much it enhanced the quality of life for the residents in this area.

Jim Bush

Newport News

Keep the watermen at Deep Creek

Boats at Menchville ~ October 17, 2007

October 22, 2007

Source: dailypress.com

Bonniebelle Amory Melzer was my mother. I’m 90 years old, and I remember when Warwick County officials knocked on her kitchen door and asked her to give them land to build a road down to Deep Creek harbor. She agreed on one condition –– that they would build a pier for the citizens and watermen, free of fees, and that they would maintain it forever.

Warwick County agreed, and the responsibility of the pier later passed to Newport News. It must have seemed like a pretty good deal at the time, but times change. Newport News doesn’t think it was such a good deal after all. It wants to tear down the pier.

It has moved the watermen from a safe harbor at Deep Creek to the Menchville side of the harbor. There are many things that can be reasonably argued on both sides of this issue, but the wind is not one of them. Docking boats in line with a channel where the winds are funneled straight to where the boats are docked is dangerous and foolhardy.

If this wasn’t enough, without a pier for docking, boats are tied together now. The watermen will be forced to jump from one boat to another to check on their boats during a storm, and they most certainly will do this because they can not provide for their families if something happens to their boat. This is a tragedy waiting to happen.

The watermen helped to make this city what it is today. Now the city has a chance to give something back to them. Give them their pier and build it in a safe harbor –– Deep Creek Harbor.

Joseph Lee Melzer Sr.

Newport News

Newport News should focus on the present

October 2, 2007
Source: dailypress.com

The Deep Creek pier seems to be the perfect metaphor for all that is wrong with city government. The city was supposed to maintain the pier. What maintenance has the city performed on the pier in the last, say, 25 years? Was Newport News City Manager Randy Hildebrandt serious when he said it would have cost too much to replace the pier?

The FY ’08 budget for parks, recreation and cultural activities is over $19 million. Included in that budget is $1.5 million for cultural activities, such as Christopher Newport University’s Ferguson Center and the Peninsula Fine Arts Center. How can we fund these noncity activities while not properly maintaining city property?

City government has lost sight of what is important. The combined liability for the retiree health care and pension shortfall and long term debt is almost one billion dollars. Instead of maintaining roads and other infrastructure needs, the city lets them fall apart before replacing them.

The City Council has consistent- ly under-funded the city’s IT infra- structure and vehicle replacement programs, among others. The sheriff has appealed to the courts to force the city to provide more funds to hire additional deputies to help alleviate overcrowding at the city jail. The list goes on and on.

We cannot continue to invest in projects with potential payoffs decades in the future while ignor- ing the real needs of the present. We are falling deeper and deeper in debt while the city falls apart around us. Unlike the federal government we cannot print money. The bills will eventually come due, and the homeowners of Newport News will pay them. We need a new City Council and city manager.

Douglas C. Prior

Newport News

Keep Deek Creek Pier Promise

September 10, 2007
Source: dailypress.com

How is the Deep Creek pier on the chopping block again? How can Newport News City Council pick and choose what laws and agreements to follow or break? As my grandmother, Ruth Melzer DeMaria, said, “A promise made is a promise kept.”

When the County of Warwick accepted the Deep Creek land and made the agreement (the Melzer Land Grant) to keep it up for the commercial fishermen’s and the public’s use, there was no expiration date on the agreement. This binding agreement is one the city of Newport News now has the job to carry out. To uphold its side of the agreement, the city must maintain the pier and surrounding land all of which would not be there today and available for everyone’s use if it weren’t for the Melzer Land Grant.

Generations of my family have used and enjoyed this pier, and I hope generations to come will be able to use it as well. We can all thank my great-grandmother for this gift. But instead, we are all having to fight to keep the pier. The city needs to hold up its side of the agreement just as we as citizens are to abide by all laws of the city.

How can the council circumvent the agreements that previous lawmakers made, with no questions asked? We, as citizens, must stand by what is right and hold politicians to their word. If not, they will be able to constantly do whatever they want while in office, instead of serving the community and wishes that community members have.

Laura DeMaria

Newport News

Site Administrator’s Take on Mayor Frank’s Letter

Interests has been expressed about letters dispatched from City Council – received by those who spoke on behalf of Deep Creek Pier at the August 14 City Council meeting. The administrator of this site has no information about said letters, however, there is certainty regarding one letter received by at least one who spoke at that meeting. The administrator of this site suspects that the content of the other letters may be similar, but has no way of knowing.

Some may interpret this letter as a positive take on the plans for Deep Creek Pier, however, there is nothing new in its content. At the August 14 meeting, City Council voted to investigate the feasibility of rebuilding a new pier at Deep Creek. As decided at that meeting, the
City Manager is suppose to investigate and provide the results garnered from that investigation – costs surrounding the building of a new pier, restrooms, clean-out facilities for boats using it, and a parking lot for those who use the pier -at the November meeting.

That is it. There are no plans to rebuild the pier, only plans to get estimates about what it will cost, and then vote on whether it is a feasible project for the City – as discussed at the August 14 meeting. It is essential for anyone who wants the pier to be rebuilt to attend the November meeting. Do not be placated by this letter. It promises nothing.

If others have received letters expressing something other than the content of this letter, and wish to see it published here, please send to deepcreekpier@yahoo.com. The site administrator will publish all pertinent information regarding Deep Creek Pier.

Thank you.

see letter below

Mayor Joe Frank’s Letter

Re: Deep Creek Pier

Dear Col. DeMaria:

I very much appreciate your correspondence with regard to the Deep Creek Pier. You should know that the City Manager recommended demolishing the pier because of its extremely deteriorated condition and based upon engineering reports that indicate it is dangerous. I supported his recommendation.

At the same time, given the clear support for a pier at that location by citizens in the community, I asked the City Manager to bring to City Council (as part of his Capital Improvement Plan due in November)a plan to rebuild the pier –to include parking, restroom facilities, and clean-out facilities for boats using it. Obviously each of those features would be priced separately so a decision could be made for which would be needed and could be afforded.

I am hopeful we will find a way to make that happen. I am particularly mindful that your family and many supporters want us to preserve the legacy of Ms. Bonniebelle Amory Melzer and her vision for a pier at that location.

Very truly yous,

Joe S. Frank

Mayor