Frustrations mount over Tappan Marina project

BY JD LONG jim@harrisonnewsherald.com

NEW PHILADELPHIA — The Muskingum Watershed Conservancy District (MWCD) held its first in-person meeting since February 2020 with much on its plates. One issue in particular that received a lot of attention was the deadline missed for the Tappan Marina opening, which has now been over a month ago. June 18 was the original date, but some board members doubted it could meet that goal earlier this year. Chief Engineer Boris Slogar said the project was “rounding third and heading for home” but spoke of the frustration while attempting to answer questions by board member Joanne Limbach.

He did supply a new completion date; the contractor told him it was Aug. 25. Slogar said the kitchen is nearly completed, and the building has air conditioning; drywall and flooring are being worked on now. Limbach asked Slogar if he was surprised at the project’s current status and if it could influence the current contract with Dennison Yard, the vendor who will operate the marina, while also recalling his confidence for the June opening.

“I really can’t give you a good answer on schedules,” Slogar explained. Slogar added that the contractor told him they were still on schedule as they entered June. “I don’t have any insight into the contractor’s proposed schedule, manpower [or] what they’re planning to pour into the project.” Slogar stated the scheduling question is asked at every progress meeting but added he has no choice other than to agree with the contractor’s word.

“Listen, I completely understand; it’s been frustrating for us as well in trying to manage the project,” Slogar said. “How the contractor decides to handle the project is entirely up to them. We have no leverage. The only leverage we have once a contract is underway is the application of liquidated damages should they pass the scheduled dates that have been agreed upon by the contractors.”

Limbach suggested it would be cheaper for the contractor to pay those liquidated damages ($900 per day does not apply to Dennison Yard) than to finish the job on time. Limbach then followed up with what the district could do to combat that kind of option. Slogar countered with the scenario that if they upped the liquidated damages amount, the contractor would view it as a risk then “front-load” their estimate. “There is no magic bullet,” Slogar told the board, adding that his department is frustrated as well. “We’re frustrated the project is running behind, absolutely... we’re doing all we can, but there are limits to how far we can go with the contractor. They truly are at the controls of what they want to do.”

Limbach also stressed the financial consequences over a possible “snowball effect” if the delay continues further because of the contract with Dennison Yard and whether it might be affected for 2022. But Slogar again emphasized that they could not make the contractor throw any more resources at the job than they’re doing now and could only encourage them to push forward.

“Generally speaking, I do believe the contractor has been receptive and has worked with us in that regard,” Slogar said. Still, he acknowledged that the contractor could have put forth more resources a few months ago to accelerate the job and chose not to do that.

Jim Crandall, the new chief financial officer following Jim Cugliari’s retirement, provided an estimate on the possible financial losses. He said the restaurant and retail sales are both being affected, with the full restaurant budget being $30,000 for the year. As a worst-case scenario, even if they open, the loss would be at a 75% clip. On the retail side, their budget was $43,900 and would also absorb a loss of 75%.

Crandall said the overall loss would amount to $73,900 if the new marina building does not open this year. However, he added that those numbers are just estimates thrown together for the board to understand what they might be looking at.”It may not be catastrophic, but it’s still substantial,” Limbach explained. Chief of Recreation Ryan McCleaster said the Dennison Yard owners (Matt Donohoe and Shari Lewis) “have been fantastic to work with.”

“They’re still optimistic and very upbeat,” he told the board. “But we’re doing what we can to get it done. I feel like the opportunity to have at least some options, like take-out, is very viable for us.” McCleaster said he hoped the new vendors could use the last few months of the season as a test run to break in the equipment for a grand opening next spring.