HISID Board tables marina contract until June meetings

The Holiday Island Suburban Improvement District (HISID) Board of Commissioners declined to vote on renewing the five-year lease with Marina Concessions, LLC, aka. Allan and Brenda Krier, at its business meeting Monday.

District Manager Kevin Crosson came back to the board after last week's work session with a few changes to the contract.

The most significant change is shifting the option to renew for five years to the district rather than to the lessee.

Commissioner Ken Mills pushed for making the lease an annual renewal, stating it would be 10 years before the district could change the contract.

"I think we should determine whether we want to operate it internally," he said.

"This (change) would leave it an option at that time of whether we want to renew it," said Commissioner Dick Lytle. "It gives (the lessee) the ability to plan for the next year. It's fair to him and to us."

Crosson pointed out Krier felt five years is needed for him to recoup his costs from a capital investment standpoint.

Commissioner Bill Branum addressed the amount of profit the lessee makes from concessions.

"He buys the boats. Why would we care how much he takes in concessions? If it's not our money, why is that a problem?"

The commission also addressed winter hours.

"The only way we should ask him to be open is if it's going to be profitable," Branum said. "We shouldn't force him to be open if he's going to lose money."

Krier again pointed out keeping fuel in the lines can be a problem on several fronts: getting old if not purchased quickly; being subject to condensation; and being a fire and chemical hazard during lightning strikes or snowstorms.

Crosson said the issue of hours is open for negotiation with Krier and suggested maybe a list of people committed to buying fuel during certain times would work.

Extended hours in March and October were also added as an option, to be adjusted as weather permits.

In response to a question about how other area marinas are able to make a profit being open and selling fuel in the winter, Krier said they are larger marinas with larger and more boats coming in that buy more fuel. He said Holiday Island's location at the end of the lake reduces traffic, and Crosson added the shallowness of the lake here keeps them out.

During the public comment portion of the meeting, several people spoke both for and against the Kriers and the way the marina is operated.

David Blackford read a letter in which he recounted several areas of dissatisfaction: insufficient improvements, deterioration, housekeeping, and an "atmosphere of antagonism."

He suggested making the lease annual, decreasing the lessee's percentage, increasing hours, making finger walkways the lessee's responsibility and making fuel available in the winter.

"What we're talking about is a man in business for himself," said Chairman Boyce Williams during the marina discussion. "And anyone who's been in business for himself knows this - he has to make a profit. It's better for him and better for us. I don't think we should micromanage this lease."

He said he did have some questions remaining to be answered and suggested tabling the matter until the June work session.

The board agreed to table the matter, with the provision it finally be decided at the June business meeting.

In other business, HISID:

The next district meetings are as follows: June 21, work session at 9 a.m.; June 28, business meeting at 6:30 p.m., both at the district office.

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HISID Board tables marina contract until June meetings

The Holiday Island Suburban Improvement District (HISID) Board of Commissioners declined to vote on renewing the five-year lease with Marina Concessions, LLC, aka. Allan and Brenda Krier, at its business meeting Monday.