Guest Column: Port and waterway activity

Port Observers —

Port has $1.7M in the bank. Elyse Kemper was unanimously appointed to Secretary-Treasurer upon the retirement of Dennis Bell.

Marker 15 in Salt Run has been replaced; next in line is Marker 1, also in Salt Run. These aids to navigation are funded entirely by the Port district.

Further south, for the Summer Haven River restoration, Board approved unanimously the cost for Permitting at $61K.

More offshore fishing reefs are on schedule for next year. Amy Kennedy for Flagler County, Carl Blow for FIND St Johns, and newly appointed St Johns County Parks and Recreation Director Will Smith are all working to make good use of the scrap concrete from our everywhere bridge and highway construction.

Carefully deployed some 18 miles out, more fish habitat will be created in 2013. Port will participate in financing that effort.

The totally submerged 27-foot derelict north of the Vilano Bridge will also serve as fish habitat. Board confirmed 3-2 not to raise that derelict. Not to be confused with yet another sinker buoyed and showing its mast also about 3/4 miles north of the Vilano bridge, east side. There is still hope the latter will be raised by its owner.

No sign of construction at the Vilano fishing pier, yet. The floating dock is still under construction shore side; firmer date for completion at our next Port meeting, April 17th.

To participate in the Blessing of the Fleet on April 1st, refer to the host St Augustine Yacht Club at www.sayc2000.com

Jay Bliss, Commissioner Seat 5

This executive summary on the March 20, 2012 Port meeting is not the official record, which you will always find on the Port website, www.staugustineport.com.