Lakeport City Council considers new aluminum docks

Before its members headed over to the city's National Night Out event, the Lakeport City Council held an early meeting to look over a sampling of new docks and take up some other business.

The council convened at city hall before council members and city staff walked over to Library Park to look at new aluminum docks as an option for replacing the city's aging wood docks. Councilman Martin Scheel recused himself from the tour due to a conflict of interest.

In May, the council had toured a sampling of vinyl docks constructed by Missouri-based EZ Docks, which were presented by Clearlake Oaks marine contractor and EZ Docks master distributor Wayne Chatoff, as Lake County News has reported.

This time, Paul Racine and son, PJ, owners of the Lakeport-based The Dock Factory and Supply Co., and Dan Green of GatorDock presented aluminum docks, which they believe are more durable, and less susceptible to vandalism or theft.

“There's virtually nothing you can do to these,” PJ Racine said.

Green said aluminum has minor heat retention, so the docks will remain cooler than the air temperature, even during the hot summer months.

In addition, it was suggested that the docks are less expensive than vinyl ones, Racine said.

Racine said the docks have a 15-year warranty. The Skylark Motel, located on the lakeshore in Lakeport, has had the docks in place for 17 years.

He told council members and staff that he was suggesting the city purchase docks that are between 30 and 40 feet long, as the longer lengths withstand the lake's wave patterns better.

If the city purchases the docks from his company, Racine said they would be custom manufactured to specifically fit Lakeport's needs.

Racine did not yet have an estimate of what it would cost the city if it decided to purchase the aluminum docks.

After the tour, the council reconvened at city hall, where it approved the utility billing delinquency list and an associated resolution. The list will now be submitted to the Lake County Auditor-Controller's office for inclusion on the property tax roll.

In exchange for its work, the county gets to keep fines it collects, according to city Finance Director Dan Buffalo.

The council also approved the purchase of a trailer-mounted air compressor and its accessories, not to exceed approximately $22,050.05, and a professional services agreement for construction observation of the city's US Department of Agriculture water meter project.