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Update on the dock box issue
January 5, 2010
Hello Members,
After the dock box letters were sent from ARAMARK to the slip renters, we received many emails and letters expressing not only concern, but anger from our members and other boaters. The requirement of changing to a smaller triangular dock box was not the only gripe. It appeared that the Marina was attempting to capitalize on it by requiring the change by an April 1, 2010 deadline, a time before most boaters would return for the season. They generously offered to change out the boxes – of course at marina labor rates. Commodore Mark Giebelhaus contacted the marina manager, Chuck Fortin. Mark has distributed the results of that communication.
In early November, I contacted Lou Good, NPS Business Manager for the Glen Canyon National Park Service, to express our concerns. Items addressed were not only why do the dock boxes need to be changed, but the size requirement and especially the April 1st deadline that the Marina was demanding. I requested changing the deadline to late in 2010, which would allow boaters a chance to return at a convenient time during the season. He agreed the deadline was not reasonable and would contact ARAMARK about the issues I had raised. When asked why the NPS was stated as requesting the change, he elaborated on the reason. It seems that during the recent boat fires at Halls Crossing and Wahweap marinas, the firemen had difficulty getting around the large boxes. At Hall Crossing, as divers were cleaning up debris that had sunk when the dock burned, many containers of flammable and explosive materials were discovered in the sunken boxes. The NPS became alarmed about materials possibly exploding as firefighters would be working around the boxes when fighting a boat or dock fire.
After two meetings with ARAMARK officials, Mr. Good responded recently to me that they would change the cut-off-date. ARAMARK agreed to change the deadline to a more reasonable date of sometime around July. Not late in the year which I had requested, but some reprieve. In addition, they would send a notice to the slip renters that if they had difficulty meeting the new date, to call the marina and they would work with them on an individual basis for some relief. That notice is to be sent out sometime after the first of the year. There was no response as to the concerns about box size or shape. We thank Lou Good and ARAMARK for providing some relief on the deadline.
Gary Yantis, General Manager
Lake Powell Yacht Club
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