During a meeting held Tuesday evening, the North East Community Marina Authority addressed the recent collapse of the South Basin wall, emphasizing that public safety remains their highest priority.
"Other than sleeping and spending time with family, our number one concern is the repairs" of the collapsed wall, said board members, who noted that engineers and contractors are already developing a plan to stabilize the damage.
While there is optimism surrounding the repair timeline, officials confirmed that no definitive schedule has been set for when boats will be permitted to dock again. The marina authority referred to the incident as a "blessing in disguise," stating that it has finally brought key stakeholders to the table after years of unsuccessful attempts to secure assistance.
State Representative Jake Banta and State Senate Dan Laughlin, along with the Department of Environmental Protection, are now actively involved in the response. Representative Banta visited the site of the collapse earlier in the day and has been working closely with marina officials to coordinate recovery efforts.
Though the docks remain closed, the board stressed that the Marina Bait & Tackle Shop remains open for business and urged the public to continue supporting it. They were clear in stating that the marina itself is not closing.
While the North East Community Marina Authority declined an interview request, The board informed Erie News Now that they are in conjunction with the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission and will hold a negotiation session at 10 a.m. on Friday. Further details are expected to be released following the meeting.
