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Fort Gates Ferry advocates press county for submerged land lease and landing repairs; commissioners outline legal, access and funding hurdles
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Summary
Public commenters urged the county to restore an interrupted submerged land lease and repair ferry landings; commissioners and staff described complex ownership, easement, and submerged-land-lease issues and asked staff to compile surveys, title documents and construction estimates before formal action.
Residents and advocates for Fort Gates Ferry used the Putnam County meeting April 14 to press the county for action to repair landings and restore or extend submerged land leases needed to resume ferry operations.
Travis Roberts, a long-time ferry operator, described prior leases that were shortened after storm damage and asked the county to restore the unused years of his former lease or otherwise provide a new term that would allow him to repay loans and resume operations. "We had 4 years that our lease was cut short... I would like to see that we could get the 4 remaining years that we were left on our lease plus the option that was in the original lease for the 10 years," Roberts said, describing historic operation and claimed losses.
County staff and legal counsel cautioned that multiple legal and logistical issues must be resolved before a lease can be reissued or repairs funded. County attorney Commando and staff explained that title searches indicate ambiguity about who owns the land up to the water’s edge and that a submerged-land lease with the state (FDEP) is required. Staff also identified the need for ingress/egress easements across private property to stage materials and access the landing for repairs. Commissioners emphasized the need for surveys, a clear ownership record, and formal quotes before committing public funds.
Deputy Administrator Grimes said that prior work on one side (the Fruitland side) may simplify the process but warned that state requirements (including whether a landing must be wood or concrete in a particular program) will affect cost. Commissioners asked staff to obtain written easement offers from property owners when possible, gather any existing submerged-land agreements, and get contractor estimates. A preliminary ballpark figure of $150,000 was cited as an informal on-site estimate for some repairs; staff noted the amount and whether formal procurement thresholds would apply once an estimate is obtained.
No formal lease or funding motion was taken at the meeting. Commissioners asked staff to return with a checklist of legal steps, ownership documentation, and construction estimates to allow the board to consider a path forward.
Key follow-ups: staff to assemble title documents and prior submerged land leases, obtain surveys and easement descriptions, and solicit preliminary contractor estimates and a written checklist from legal counsel to guide next steps.
