TOWER- The next phase of Tower’s long-delayed harbor project will have to wait another year. That was just one item of bad news delivered to the city council here on Monday by city engineer Matt Bolf, of SEH, who has been overseeing the work.

Bolf also informed the council that the latest delay in the project has cost the city $372,000 in previously allocated funds from the state Department of Employment and Economic Development, which will now have to be returned. The city was planning on using this money for the harbor dredging, but the legislation that provided the money to the city in 2007 had required that the funds be spent by 2013, or be sent back. City officials, at the time, had anticipated the harbor project would be completed well before then, but the project has since been mired in continual delay. Bolf said the city will be reapplying for the dollars, with the new DEED grant to be submitted by Aug. 1.

The city had been planning to conduct most of the harbor excavation and river dredging this summer and fall, but Bolf said continuing delays in permitting will push that work back at least another year. Bolf said the city needs to make decisions on the design of the harbor soon, so the actual plans can be developed. Plans must be in place before the necessary permits can be approved. Bolf said he is working on different ideas for the harbor wall construction and dockage options, and will have cost estimates for the city soon.

The city did receive about $740,000 in new state bonding money to use for the project earlier this year, and is currently seeking other sources of matching funding.

At this point, city officials hope that work on the harbor will begin next summer.

St. Mary’s Church relocation

Members of the Lake Vermilion Cultural Center brought initial architectural drawings showing how the St. Mary’s Church could be located adjacent to the Tower Civic Center. The group has raised money to renovate and relocate the church, but has yet to finalize the site. The plan shows the church located adjacent to the civic center, with a new curved entryway connecting the two buildings and creating a single shared entrance. Plans call for digging out a basement area for the church, which would be used as additional meeting space and a dressing room area.

Committee member Mary Batinich said the group has been meeting with funders from the USDA, and said there is the possibility that both the LVCC and the city could apply for separate $30,000 grants to help with the project. The architect envisions renovating the exteriors of both buildings so they match. She said the church hall would be used for lectures, concerts, plays and more. The charter school is looking at using the space for school functions, also.

The city is currently struggling with finding funding to upgrade the aging civic center building, which needs a new roof. The building also serves as garage space for the fire and ambulance departments.

The plan would have LVCC sharing the civic center kitchen facilities, which are also in need of repair.

The council made no commitment to the project. Questions have been raised about the costs to the city, as well as funding for the long-term maintenance of the church building if it ends up located on city property.