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New management will soon be taking over at EastPort Marina.
Longtime harbor master John Eakle, owner of Sunset Marine Inc. in East Peoria, did not submit a proposal by Friday's deadline to continue operation of the marina.
"The city is surprised that John Eakle and Sunset Marine Inc. elected not to submit a proposal," said City Administrator Tom Brimberry. "John Eakle has run the marina for the past 16 years and has turned the marina around from its difficult start following construction, filled the marina with boaters and made it a self-sustaining profit center."
The latest three-year contract with Sunset Marine expires March 15. According to the agreement, if the city didn't intend to automatically renew the contract, it was obligated to notify Sunset Marine by Dec. 31, 2010.
"I guess it's just time to move on," said Eakle on Monday. "As members of the City Council have changed, so have the priorities."
Brimberry said the city's decision to open up the bidding process was twofold: The City Council wanted to see if other competitive management proposals existed, and it was concerned about complaints from marina slip renters and neighboring residents of Harbor Pointe condominiums.
"On occasion, Harbor Pointe residents have raised issues with the appearance of the marina and the slip renters raised issues with the speed of dredging," said Brimberry.
Four individuals submitted proposals to the city on Friday to take over management of the city-owned marina. All are boaters at EastPort and are scheduled to make presentations after Tuesday's City Council meeting. No action will be taken by the council.
Those who submitted proposals are Jeff Gibbs, owner of Clinton Marine in Weldon; John Balaco, operator of EastPort's Cantina Bar & Grill and who formerly owned Peoria's Mulligan's for 17 years; Mike Childers, a slip renter credited with designing the marina's current dock system and who played a role in the original construction of EastPort; and Brent Wright, owner of Brent Wright Homes of Bloomington.
"All four identified continued dredging of the marina and increased marketing as top priorities," said Brimberry.
Eakle's Sunset Marine is the second management firm to operate the marina. When EastPort opened in 1996, the city contracted with Wisconsin-based Skipper Marine Development Inc. to oversee construction and management of the marina.
In its five-year agreement, Skipper Marine received a base management fee of between $60,000 and $75,000 each year. However, midway through the contract, the city opted to cancel the agreement after deciding it wanted a local management firm.
It was then, in 1999, that the city entered into a one-year operational agreement for $50,000 with Eakle. He's been at the helm ever since. His management fee is $75,000 a year.
Before being named EastPort's manager, Eakle managed the Fondulac Park District's Carl Spindler Marina for 15 years. During his time at EastPort, Eakle has been credited with updating the dock system and pulling the operation out of the red.
The city invested $19 million to build the marina. Its construction debt will be paid off in 2017.
New management will soon be taking over at EastPort Marina.
Longtime harbor master John Eakle, owner of Sunset Marine Inc. in East Peoria, did not submit a proposal by Friday's deadline to continue operation of the marina.
"The city is surprised that John Eakle and Sunset Marine Inc. elected not to submit a proposal," said City Administrator Tom Brimberry. "John Eakle has run the marina for the past 16 years and has turned the marina around from its difficult start following construction, filled the marina with boaters and made it a self-sustaining profit center."
The latest three-year contract with Sunset Marine expires March 15. According to the agreement, if the city didn't intend to automatically renew the contract, it was obligated to notify Sunset Marine by Dec. 31, 2010.
"I guess it's just time to move on," said Eakle on Monday. "As members of the City Council have changed, so have the priorities."
Brimberry said the city's decision to open up the bidding process was twofold: The City Council wanted to see if other competitive management proposals existed, and it was concerned about complaints from marina slip renters and neighboring residents of Harbor Pointe condominiums.
"On occasion, Harbor Pointe residents have raised issues with the appearance of the marina and the slip renters raised issues with the speed of dredging," said Brimberry.
Four individuals submitted proposals to the city on Friday to take over management of the city-owned marina. All are boaters at EastPort and are scheduled to make presentations after Tuesday's City Council meeting. No action will be taken by the council.
Those who submitted proposals are Jeff Gibbs, owner of Clinton Marine in Weldon; John Balaco, operator of EastPort's Cantina Bar & Grill and who formerly owned Peoria's Mulligan's for 17 years; Mike Childers, a slip renter credited with designing the marina's current dock system and who played a role in the original construction of EastPort; and Brent Wright, owner of Brent Wright Homes of Bloomington.
"All four identified continued dredging of the marina and increased marketing as top priorities," said Brimberry.
Eakle's Sunset Marine is the second management firm to operate the marina. When EastPort opened in 1996, the city contracted with Wisconsin-based Skipper Marine Development Inc. to oversee construction and management of the marina.
In its five-year agreement, Skipper Marine received a base management fee of between $60,000 and $75,000 each year. However, midway through the contract, the city opted to cancel the agreement after deciding it wanted a local management firm.
It was then, in 1999, that the city entered into a one-year operational agreement for $50,000 with Eakle. He's been at the helm ever since. His management fee is $75,000 a year.
Before being named EastPort's manager, Eakle managed the Fondulac Park District's Carl Spindler Marina for 15 years. During his time at EastPort, Eakle has been credited with updating the dock system and pulling the operation out of the red.
The city invested $19 million to build the marina. Its construction debt will be paid off in 2017.
