The lease for the facility is under negotiations by several individuals who want to do business at the marina. The deadline to submit bids was December 1 of last year and the state has 120 days from that time to award the lease.
Jill Midkiff, an employee with the Finance and Administration Cabinet for the Commonwealth, which is handling the negotiations and will ultimately award the lease to a possible new owner said that the cabinet is still evaluating bids and an hopes to have the winner chosen within the next couple of weeks.
She could not comment on the details of the negotiation saying it may jeopardize the negotiation process.
According to Edward "Happy" Higgins, who currently holds the lease to do business at the marina, said in November that he was aware of only a few other persons or organizations that were interested in taking over the lease.
"I know of two entities that have shown interest," he said in November.
He also said that one of the interested parties physically visited the site to inspect the facility.
A sizeable investment will be required to take over the lease. State Park Manager John Rittenhouse said it could cost as much as $2 million to inherit the lease that will be vacated by the end of the month. There will also be stipulations to repair certain items at the marina including the fueling dock as well as two piers that house personal watercrafts.
"They’ll have to level the docks and rebuild them, and then after 15 years, they will become property of the state," Rittenhouse said in November.
In addition to the required repairs, the new lease-holder will be required to provide a 15-year commitment to the business. A 10-year option will be available for negotiation after that 15-year period is expired.
Higgins said he is one of the bidders that could take home the lease at the end of the month. He said that he has had some individuals working on the lease since late last year.
BMAR and Associates, Inc. an engineering company based in Hopkinsville, has submitted a detailed proposal for the future of the marina.
The company has designed a work-up of what they intend to do with existing facilities and likewise new facilities and amenities they would like to add.
Currently, there are four docks at the marina that are able to hold anything from a rowboat to a large yacht. BMAR has proposed to erect an entirely new dock to hold additional boats and yachts. They also plan to build a brand new boathouse that is larger and more contemporary than the existing boathouse. Other amenities such as lighting and combination locks are proposed as well.
