A dilapidated dock in Leamington's harbour will finally get a makeover.
Leamington council approved a motion Monday night to hire a contractor to reconstruct the GH Dock in the marina, which was damaged in the 2010 tornado.
The municipality says this dock was the only one that was not rebuilt due to a limited insurance payout.
Deputy Mayor Hilda MacDonald, who presided for the absent John Paterson, says the dock's physical appearance has gone downhill in the seven years since the tornado and it was time for a renovation.
"It's been 20 years overdue basically," says MacDonald. "It was not covered by the monies that came in from the upper levels after the tornado. So it was time to do it."
The winning bid came from Kropf Industrial Inc. at just over $884,000, however, taxpayers will not have to pay for the whole amount. According to the report submitted to council, almost $405,000 will be used from the municipality's marina reserve account.
The rest of the cost will be offset by a proposed increase of mooring fees for boats that use the marina. Vessels are charged according to length. Seasonal mooring for boats between 26 ft and 49 ft will be $50, while vessels 50 ft and over will have a rate increase of $10 to $60 per season. This would take effect for the 2018 boating season.
Boating is one of the main tourist draws to the area and MacDonald says it's important Leamington puts its best foot forward in that department.
"We want to keep that jewel a jewel," says MacDonald. "We don't want it to look shopworn and bedraggled. We want it to look crisp and clean and inviting."
Councillor John Jacobs was the only one to vote against the motion.
Paterson previously told BlackburnNewsWindsor.com that he hopes to have the dock ready to go by next boating season.