Navarre Beach pier in default
Kaycee Lagarde, klagarde@pnj.com
Navarre Beach, FL
The operators of the Navarre Beach Fishing Pier owe Santa Rosa County at least $78,000 in admission and late fees, putting the pier in default until the amount is paid in full, according to Santa Rosa County Attorney Roy Andrews.
The Santa Rosa County Commission addressed the issue at Monday morning’s committee meeting, planning to vote Thursday on granting an extension to Coastal Concessions, the company operating the pier through a contract with the county.
Without action from the County Commission, the pier would be taken over by the county Dec. 17, 30 days after a notice of default was provided to Coastal Concessions, Andrews said.
Commissioners discussed Monday giving pier operators until Dec. 11 to pay an approximately $38,000 balance for September and October fees and until Jan. 6 to pay any remaining balance, including November admission. The board will vote Thursday to finalize any decisions.
Coastal Concessions, run by Scott Rayner, Stephanie Maddox and Joey Bryant, assumed operations at the Navarre Beach Fishing Pier in Jan. 2014 after responding to a request for proposals by the county.
Rayner and Maddox addressed the board Monday and expressed their intent to pay all past-due balances, also asking commissioners to consider amending the operating agreement to share some of the pier expenses.
According to the three-year contract between Santa Rosa County and Coastal Concessions, the county receives 100 percent of pier admission revenue, and Coastal Concessions is responsible for all pier maintenance and expenses.
Rayner stressed that Coastal Concessions is not asking to amend the contract in order to make more money, but rather to reflect the county's agreement with the Department of Environmental Protection related to the pier.
The county's contract with DEP states that “all entrance fees collected for the Navarre Beach Fishing Pier will be used solely for the purposes of operation and maintenance of the public facility.”
Currently, revenue from the pier shop, restaurant and bar is being used to pay for pier operations and maintenance, Rayner said.
“We’re robbing Peter to pay Paul, is what we’re doing,” he said.
Rayner said the company has spent about $180,000 for upgrades and necessary improvements at the pier, which was supposed to be a “turnkey” operation. When Coastal Concessions took over at the pier, Rayner said there were problems with rodents, rotting and molding floors, electrical and plumbing lines, and missing items including a bar, walk-in cooler, pier benches and trash cans.
“Unfortunately, what we inherited was far worse than anybody could have imagined,” Rayner said.
Maddox said she loves managing the pier and wants to see it succeed, and she hopes the county can evaluate the contract to help make that happen.
“We’re just thinking that maybe we can come to an agreement to where it’s fair for us and you guys, and the pier’s the one that benefits,” Maddox said. “That’s what we’re asking for."
Commissioners and county staff emphasized the need to receive the unpaid balances, but also commended Coastal Concessions for substantial improvements at the Navarre Beach Fishing Pier since they took over from the previous operator.
“They have operated the pier in an exemplary manner,” County Administrator Hunter Walker said. “I mean, we don’t get the complaints we used to on any number of subjects, more than just the noise. And they really do, by all accounts, are operating a family-friendly operation.”
Chairman Lane Lynchard agreed, adding that the board could review the contract once the pier payments are caught up to the county.
“I think we need to do what we can to support you in your effort to make sure we have a first-rate pier on Navarre Beach, which we do now,” Lynchard said.