Update: Marina will provide fuel this summer
Administrator | Apr 17, 2014 | Comments 118
UPDATE April 17 – The fuel pumps at Picton marina will remain operational this summer as mandatory replacement of the fuel tanks has been rescheduled for the fall.
Following further discussions with the County, the Technical Standards and Safety Authority (TSSA) has agreed to permit the Picton marina to continue dispensing fuel until Oct. 15, 2014 to minimize impact on boaters, tourists, and the local economy.
Once a construction schedule is finalized, the County will issue public announcements to communicate any service disruptions that may occur as a result of this project.
No gas at marina while County replaces tanks
APRIL 11 – Boaters will not be able to gas up at Picton Marina between July 4 and Aug. 15 this summer as the County must replace tanks and the piping system.
Council will tender to replace the underground gas tanks and supply lines with the required double walled systems that meet Technical Standards and Safety Authority (TSSA) guidelines. The County will also devise a communication plan to alert boaters.
In 2010, the County was notified it was required to comply with the Ontario Liquid Fuels Handling Code and had three years to meet the code. In 2013, the County received an order to comply by the TSSA and that all fuel dispensing was to cease until the fuel system was upgraded.
A capital project was proposed and approved for the 2014 budget. The new tanks are estimated to last at least 40 years. They have 30-years warranties against leaks as result of structural failure; natural external corrosion and internal corrosion. Construction time is estimated at six weeks or less.
At budget time council learned that in 2013 there were approximately 80,000 litres of fuel sold. With a surcharge of 10 cents per litre the payback on the cost of the replacement works would take 17.5 years.
Filed Under: Local News
A new slogan for Prince Edward County to go along with the new fruit of the loom branding. Come To The County and Get Gas.
So, open a temporary grocery store to sell bread and burger buns, make a half a million dollars in 3 months. Albeit, some ice cream too. Fill that NEED!
Not quite similar a situation to the once-little town of Oshkosh Wisconsin; tourist city invasion for a short time when EAA Air Venture happens. It’s the largest aviation event in the world: airplanes gathering, airshow, fleamarket, airplane display, campers, bikers, travelers, workshops, competitions, celebrities, etc.
“A one week wonder”, Jul 28-Aug 3, 2014. Years ago the town was never prepared for the onslaught of the invasion. Today the area has grown, capitalized on the extreme population overage. Now more of a little city, with still not much happening in winter.
if your interested
http://www.airventure.org/
Oshkosh, was originally a small-town manufacturer of adult work clothing, it has become best known for its children’s clothing, especially bib overalls. “OshKosh B’Gosh” an American children’s apparel company in 1895.
How does tourism affect our roads? If tourism is beneficial for roads why have they gotten significantly worse since the County and it’s Fruit of the Loom was discovered. How does tourism help the senior living on a modest fixed income? I am not against tourism but I am far from being convinced that the return for the average taxpayer is a big plus.
I’ve said it before, “you” might not have a job or a business down here that benefits from people that are from “away”, but I’m pretty damn sure that someone in your family or circle of friends have a job or business that benefits from people that are from “away”. I’m surprised that Marnie and her ilk aren’t at the points of entry to the County giving the middle finger to all the vehicles coming in on the long weekends.
Could someone give me examples of business,s that do not benefit from the tourist industry. My thoughts regarding No Frills ,Home Hardware, Canadian tire. Giant Tiger. Major and I might add generous contributors of local charities and employers here in Picton. Who does not benefit? Sounds like sour grapes to me!
On second thouht I think the grape growers would also agree with this wise decision.
Why are we being sacrificed to tourism which benefits only a select group of merchants? They make a bundle and pay staff minimum wage. For at least three months of the year our town becomes a zoo – no parking spaces, a traffic nightmare and zero benefits for the average person. Based on the way that loaves of bread and burger buns disappear from supermarket shelves a large percentage of these summer visitors must be eating at their campsites and on their boats. There are weekends when it looks as if a plague of locusts must have hit No Frills’ bread shelves. Tourist traffic stresses our road system and these summer vistors often leave their garbage behind.
Maybe they’ll raise taxes to help recoup the cost of new tanks….
It will be interesting to see how the predicted 17.5 years to recoup the costs does considering the high and rising cost of fuel add to that 10cent per litre surcharge I wonder how many boaters will opt to fill up elsewhere…Interesting all so a select few tourist based business owners can line their pockets while regular folk get paid MINIMUM wage working at these seasonal jobs..
Thank you to the county for looking into and implementing a later date for this construction. We appreciate the ability to continue to use the Picton harbour.
E-mailed my boating friends in Western Lake Ontario telling them Picton would not be open for fuel this summer. Too late now word is out, great PR work by county officals.
The pumps will remain open until October 15th. At last, some common sense!
Tourism is still only “seasonal” – seasonal money. Sorry to say, it is NOT good enough for the county to prosper. I’d blame tourism in part for the disaster that is happening in the county. Population dictates these days in many areas of services and funding handed down from the gov’t or what they will cover by their magical formula for service. ie police
Even and still today, the young ppl continue to leave the county – go away to school, to work in their careers making money and then come back set up their own businesses hoping to live, work and retire here. That is a cycle that must be altered as well because it effects the dynamic of what is trying to bring prosperity here. Just like a seasonal tourist. imo.
I hear this life style event too often. I think it is referred to as “blow back” ppl. (those returning to the county). What are their expectations at this point?
Are you saying that the municipality should not promote tourism financially ? Support that actually has a measurable payback number? What factors would you use to determine which businesses are ” tourist based ” and which are not? Would you possibly use some kind of formula to determine what business profits more then another from the tourists?
Well Paul it goes back to the base argument of how much tourism helps the average taxpayer. Same as the derelict roads pounded by tourists. Users pay for the 20 million crap plant. And you and I and the working poor will pay for the roads. Where is all the tourist revenue?
If it took 17.5 years for No Frills to recoup the cost of those 99 cent per pound turkeys they would rethink their business model and head in a different direction…
How about local tourist based businesses pay the costs to replace the tanks and they charge a surcharge on their service or product to recoup the cost ? Those Businesses you speak of Jack absorb the cost to attract people to their business at their expense, Why should The County be responsible for attracting tourists to tourist based businesses ?
@Paul. This is not about making or losing money at a gas pump. Do you think Canadian tire is making money selling $ 29.95 oil change services, No frills 99 cents a pound turkey? I am pretty sure they are breaking even at best. So why do they do it? Boaters are an important tourist industry and no fuel is not going to get them stopping here to shop, eat or drink.
Well it’s not like the harbour is being marketed for tourists by any stretch. Unless they are looking for a Family Health Team.
“At budget time council learned that in 2013 there were approximately 80,000 litres of fuel sold. With a surcharge of 10 cents per litre the payback on the cost of the replacement works would take 17.5 years”
Sounds to me like all has been considered 10 cents on top of say $1.30 how many would pay that ? 17 years to pay it back, sounds to me like this isn’t a money making enteprise
When something in the system changes — the whole system changes.
And there have been a lot of changes since the time you’re talking about. The debt load ppl, municipalities and gov’ts are carrying around contributes to the pos/neg. response.
You gotta have money — to make money.
The mayor is in charge of his zoo. Money comes into the county and money goes out, via immigrant workers sending money to foreign families. Or wineries buying grape juice from outside vineyards to supplement their crops of wine, ect. It’s an active seasonal business environment.
MI
<<>>
Why do you consider these ppl “non-privileged”?
I could make an argument discrediting this language and find them very privileged to have work and contribute to the economy, even in this seasonal situation, in which that is a major problem for filling the County coffers.
>>> Shouldn’t someone offer an explanation how this could happen,a manager, councillor or even the mayor? <<<
YES.
Are you going to ask them? Go to Shire Hall. Report back to us scant few who seem to care enough to at least write our disgruntled reflections on the back pages of this annal.
Boater or non-boater, it is about making good business decisions, (they are not). There was a time when a lot of businesses benefited from the boating community. Any idea how many people living elsewhere keep their boats here?
Let’s see, restaurants, clothing stores, grocery stores, motels, marinas, mechanics, Canadian Tire,Home Hardware, gas stations and all the non-privileged who are employed in these businesses, all benefit from boaters. Perhaps some of you could open your eyes to the big picture and see how we all need to work together so everyone can benefit. There is no place for arrogance or intolerance towards an industry that historically has brought business and employment to PEC.
Fact remains this situation was badly mishandled by the county. Another situation that reinforces the lack of accountability and leadership by the municipality. Shouldn’t someone offer an explanation how this could happen,a manager, councillor or even the mayor?
I think you can get gas at the Bath marina.
It is not the fact that the need for gas is a big issue…It is the fact that we had 3 years to correct this issue and nothing was done…I am not sure if it is the responsibility of the counsel to plan for the proper maintenance, but I do feel it is the responsibility of counsel to find out who is responsible and like any business the person or persons should be made accountable…Are there no schedules set for jobs that must be done to keep things up to date… If there is no money to maintain facilities advertised, then they should be shut down…..So much for branding….if you cannot guarantee what we promise…then the people will stop coming.
Soooo ….
Who’s phoning Shire Hall? or their local councilor?
A boat person with a legitimate stake in gas? a paddle, and albeit a tow line.
A portable gasoline storage unit is an optional solution.
“A lot of boats will only go around 100 miles to a tank and people coming out of the thousand islands will need gas in Picton before heading back home.”
Seems to me therein lies a business opportunity. 🙂
Think of all the people who cannot afford the luxury of a boat or even some of the basics that most of us take for granted. Why are we worrying about how summer fun will be ruined for the privileged when many are struggling just to pay their hydro bills and their property taxes? The fact that gas will not be available at the marina for part of the summer is hardly reason for a public outcry. It’s an inconvenience, not the end of the world.
This is a reply to IM MESSENGER , A lot of boats will only go around 100 miles to a tank and people coming out of the thousand islands will need gas in Picton before heading back home. There are a lot of us up “sh-t creek” without a paddle this year with no gas
I don’t think this is much of an issue for the electorate. Far too many pressing issues to be a big concern.
Wow, This does NOT surprise me at all. With all the other cut backs we have witnessed over the last year why should this be any different? Keep up the good work Shire Hall, will surely fall off the map well before our time. Yep this is what re-organization looks like, the sad thing is everyone knew it,it was just a matter of time before the wheels started to fall off the bus(except the ones who implemented them). CLEAN SWEEP AT SHIRE HALL A MUST!!!! Jobs need to be lost over this and I don’t mean the front line workers either.
Ok,
so who is going to contact Shire Hall Monday morning and update us on all the questions asked here. lol. So we all can get back to the business of making some sense and hold council to something of greater consequence.
Geesh a grumbly bunch gasoline loomers.
If this gas prob was all we had to concern ourselves with in life then we’d all … “find a paddle and paddle up sh_t creek” one more time. Honestly, most serious boaters know the situation of docks/harbours before they start, if they don’t they need to start looking at Gov’t daily marine stats in their area posted online.
Cheer up about the dire straits of boat gas, it all works out: the bees are breathing in their last gasp of air, our food supply is being poisoned with the same stuff the bee’s legs are covered with and, Lyme disease hides, lays in wait for your pant leg or your dog to sweep through the long grasses… Life and death!
With all the cutbacks roads snow removal things that effect local residents its a shame the tourists have buy gas for their luxury water craft else where (<<sarcasm)
What is wrong with the council closing the gas station during the peak tourist season?
I would think that a number of heads should roll, especially those involved with the Marina…I do not mean the front line workers, but those in charge for not seeing this was done in a timely manner. Another mix up that will cost the merchants and the tax payers, hopefully someone will be held accountable for this unorganized system
My interpretation of the story tells me that waiting until the fall is not an option . The order is to cease pumping gas immediately but they had been given three years notice to comply or the order would be issued. It now has been issued, effectively shutting the operation down. Why and who decided they should wait until the very last moment is the question.
What a very sad state of affairs! I think the good people of the ‘County’ seriously need to look at who is running in the next election and get rid of the present group. Really inexcusable!
I’m not sure that council has ignored the issue in years past but what I can’t understand is why the bureaucrats involved don’t postpone the work until after labour day. It sounds like the work is required but timing can make the difference to a lot of businesses in Picton. As a former boater using the Bay of Quinte as a route to the St. Lawrence, Picton was a definite stop for gas, shopping and eating. Many boater from east and west have always thought Picton a must stop.
Are above ground tanks no longer allowed?… Perhaps not in this location. When we were selling boat fuel we had licensed and approved,professionally installed fuel tanks in prefab. cement spill containers that worked great for our small operation.Has to be cheaper than burying a tank! Safety standards applied, and pumps were checked by Weights and Measures regularily.
The new regulations for underground fuel tanks has put the small operator out of business and discourages any new service operations to start up.
I recently had to replace my expired 200 gal. furnace oil tank with a double wall tank in my house and it was over $2000! Can’t imagine what a 5000 gal. would cost. And if they use a fibreglass type double the price.
Glad to see that our local government has not disappointed us with this latest announcement. Why could this work not be done now and not during the main boating season? Great way to hamper the short boating season.
Picton harbour is one of the most protected natural harbours on the Eastern end of Lake Ontario and we are doing our best the keep boaters away.
I am certain if this was the Sandbanks that was being effected something would have been done much sooner.
Maybe someone on council should ask the countys manager of facilities how this could happen,is there no accountability anymore ? Interesting that no one from Shire Hall offered an explanation how this could happen in the article. Great timing on this blunder.
Boaters in the county will have to go to Belleville or Waupoos for gas.For me that would cost $150.00. No boating for me this summer thanks to our “BRAIN DEAD COUNCIL “
It pay’s back better than the $20000. they gave the field naturalist’s
Terrible investment payback !
Standard government practice. Wait till the last minuet often cancelling contracts and paying penalties while prices go up ( helicopters). Moved away from the county decades ago for work but where I live now they finally built a couple of new schools and the portables started a couple of years later. They fix and or repair streets and or sidewalks then dig it all up for sewers and water. Their best plan was to build a new pool library complex on land donated ( ? ) by the developer while they owned the land the old pool , library and arena were on and was vacant. The developer then wanted his company name on the new complex while he built houses around the complex. The experts who built were from the same company that built the Titanic because they built the library lower than the pool. When the fail safe pool pump failed the library was flooded , sort of like shooting your own foot to see if it hurts. The Titanic was unsinkable.
Is there not a place someone can sell fuel from a fuel truck before you destroy the tourism. People will buy fuel and everything else they need elsewhere. Not good for the local economy if the boaters do not show up.
Obviously Gary who commented earlier is not a boater. I think you should think about the loss of tourism this will bring. Boaters do eat in local restaurants and also shop at local stores. All other towns and cities have marinas run by the municapalitym and provide services for the boating tourist. With three years of knowing this it is a shame that they could not see to the future needs of this problem.
Leave the boat gas business to private enterprise. Taxpayers do not need to support this at all. Most boaters eat, sleep and drink on the boat. We do not need to be involved.
Brilliant timing as usual. Right at the height of boating season with big implications for those arriving expecting a standard service. Too bad there isn’t someone in local government that has the strength of character to make decisions for the good of the tax payers and general public. I continue to be disapointed by the area services and I’m not alone. Shame and double shame on you all. The only thriving industry (tourism) takes another low blow for no good reason!!
Why did we wait until the tanks were condemned ? We had three years and two budgets to get get it done. Were the downtown merchants and hotel owners made aware of the updates needed? This can only have adverse effects on the health of the tourist economy. Who would be responsible to make sure that all that could be affected by this be notified?
way to go. you better put up signs in Belleville and Kingston telling boats that there is no gas in picton. and don’t worry it will take years to get the boaters back.