[quote]
Topsail Beach | Town officials on Tuesday night rescinded their decision to keep the town's waterway access free and open to the public.
Parking and traffic concerns at the unmanned marina prompted the board to vote to put the town manager in charge of running the marina.
Residents had been complaining about the noise, traffic, parking, littering and boisterous activity taking place at the marina, said Mayor Howard Braxton. There also were complaints about leased boat slips being unmonitored, he said.
"There was a lot of concern by some residents about the need for some type of regulation at the marina," Braxton said. "The marina was wide open with no regulation, so our decision was based on us wanting the town to get back control over the marina."
The manager will be responsible for establishing a fee schedule for the waterway access and deciding whether to hire employees to collect the fees and help monitor traffic and parking at the site, Braxton said.
"We're putting everything in the manager's hand, and we're confident he'll do a good job," Braxton said.
The board purchased the marina in 2006 after a long legal battle with the previous owner. The commissioners decided the town needed a free place for residents to put their boats in the water.
The board has changed its mind over the past year on how to run the town's marina.
In March, the board voted to eliminate boat fees at the marina after it decided not to partner with a private business to run its public boat ramp. Previously, daily, weekly and yearly rates were set for boat ramp fees. For example, the daily rate was $10.
Last year, the town made $11,020 on boat ramp and slip rental fees after paying the salaries of two part-time employees who helped maneuver boat traffic and collect boat ramp fees from April through November.
Before deciding to get rid of the fees, the board tossed around the idea of leasing the marina's building to private individuals who might have been interested in renting part of the building for a small business and running the town's marina.
Town manager Steve Foster said he will develop an organization plan on how to run the marina by the end of the week.
Tyra M. Vaughn: 343-2070
tyra.vaughn@starnewsonline.com
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