Connellsville council accepts quote for accessible fishing dock at Yacht River Park, adds contingency for removal funding

The Connellsville City Council voted to accept a $53,061.97 quote from Anchor Marine Group to install an Americans with Disabilities Act–compatible fishing dock at Yacht River Park, provided the city secures additional funding to buy equipment for removing and transporting the dock.

The motion, introduced at the July 15 meeting, specified that funds for the dock itself would come through CoStars purchasing and a grant from the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission. Council members amended the motion so acceptance is contingent on obtaining “sufficient funding to purchase the equipment and to remove and transport the fishing dock.” The amended motion passed on a roll-call vote.

Council members and staff raised practical concerns about moving the structure out of the river in the event of high water, flood, or ice. Council members asked how many people and what equipment would be required to remove the dock, whether a specialty trailer or other lifting equipment would be needed, and where the dock would be stored between seasonal uses. Staff said the vendor estimated removal would require multiple people and small loaders or trailers; council members and staff discussed possible costs to buy or rent a trailer or other equipment to ensure removal could be done reliably.

City staff and council also reviewed drawings and specifications included with the Anchor Marine quote. The vendor’s materials showed metal pylons driven about 36 inches into the riverbed and ramp panels sized 4-by-16-by-8, and a 19-foot width for the structure. Staff said the dock would be chained to the riverbed and that poles do not pass through the dock deck; council members said the design could rise and fall with the river and that a four-foot rise in water level was a practical threshold for concern. Council members asked for the dock’s weight and for clearer details about rails, pole lengths and anchoring to evaluate transport and storage needs.

Supporters said the dock would allow people with mobility limitations to fish from the riverbank area for the first time. One council member thanked staff for pursuing the grant and noted remaining grant funds would likely cover additional costs. Council members agreed the dock would help expand recreational access but that the city must ensure a reliable plan for removal and storage before installation.

The council recorded the motion to accept the vendor quote with the contingency and approved it by voice/roll-call vote.

The council instructed staff to continue work on funding for the removal/transport equipment and to return with more details on logistics and any additional cost estimates before the city finalizes installation scheduling.