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VIPA: First phase of Crown Bay dredging complete [The Virgin Islands Daily News, St. Thomas](Virgin Islands Daily News (St. Thomas) Via Acquire Media NewsEdge) Oct. 22--ST. THOMAS -- The first phase of the Crown Bay dredging project was completed Tuesday, but the federal permit for the last piece of the project has not yet been approved. During a meeting Tuesday of the V.I. Port Authority board, Director of Engineering Dale Gregory told board members that the project is moving forward. "That project is in process. It's moving pretty well," he said. "We're completing the dredging within the marina. Hopefully it should be completed this afternoon." The marina dredging project received its Army Corps of Engineers permit, and the contractor will now move to another small portion of the marina before one of the dredging contracts is completed. The dredging project is split into two contracts, one for the Crown Bay marina and one for the East Gregorie Channel, which leads into the marina. Gregory said he spoke to a representative at the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers on Tuesday who said the agency are waiting for the approval of the National Marine Fisheries Service before the channel permit can be approved and released to the Port Authority. There is no indication of when that approval will come, Gregory said. If the dredging does not happen by the start of the tourist season in November, the port will lose 13 ship calls, representing a potential $18 million economic loss for the territory, according to Port Authority Executive Director Carlton Dowe. The dredging of the channel will take about 8 weeks, according to Dowe. In other business, the board: - Authorized terminating the installation of a new time and attendance system that was supposed to integrate with the authority's payroll software but has failed in testing. Legal counsel is going to pursue any recourse for the Port Authority to get its money -- about $84,000 -- returned. - Approved an amended lease for an additional 2 acres for Tibbar Energy USVI to build a bio-gas energy plant on St. Croix. - Approved a lease to Bay Isles Associates for space to sell timeshares in the Urman Fredericks Marine facility in Red Hook. The one-year lease is for 83 square feet and Bay Isles will pay $7,794.96 per year in rent. - Approved a lease for Milford Thibou Jr., doing business as Jr.'s Cakes and Bakes, to sell food in the Frederick Marine Terminal. The three-year lease will have a $9,574.68 per year rent. - Authorized staff to issue a request for proposals for a company to provide exclusive public taxi service at Ambramson Marine Facility in Frederiksted. - Approved a $32,415 contract with Custom Builders to replace the expansion joints in the floor of the baggage claim area at King Airport. - Approved a $406,996 contract with Custom Builders to enclose the baggage claim area at King Airport and install air conditioning. - Awarded a $3.3 million contract to Better Roads Inc. for Phase 2 of the Rohlsen Airport apron rehabilitation project. - Approved increasing the personnel budget by $500,000. - Contact reporter Aldeth Lewin at 714-9111 or email [email protected]. ___ (c)2014 The Virgin Islands Daily News (St. Thomas, VIR) Visit The Virgin Islands Daily News (St. Thomas, VIR) at www.virginislandsdailynews.com Distributed by MCT Information Services |