As the Augusta Rowing Club gears up for regatta season, the Augusta Commission may pull the plug on the entire club by handing the group a $3 million bill for repairs at the Boathouse at the Marina.
The commission postponed the decision about what to do for two weeks when they expect to have more accurate estimates of repair costs.
The rowing club has come before the commission recently to ask for help as the deteriorating boathouse suffered leaky pipes in late December, making the building unfit to even store equipment.
District 2 Commissioner Stacy Pullium reviewed the contract signed by the rowing club some 30 years ago and concluded that the club was responsible for not only the upkeep of the building but also for any repairs that might be needed.
However, according to Brad Holdren, head coach of the rowing club, the intent of the contract was that the club would maintain and pay for any improvements to the first floor shed where boats and equipment is stored.
In the past, the group has used space on the second floor to hold club meetings, but the building has never been used by the club to host special events or fundraisers.
“No, we haven’t used the building for fundraising. The regattas are our fundraisers,” Holdren said.
The club has operated downtown since 1984.
During the Feb. 28 Public Services Committee meeting, City Attorney Wayne Brown, seemed at first to agree with Pullium that the contract places the responsibility for repairs on the rowing club but then walked his statement back under questioning by District 3 Commissioner Catherine McKnight.
“I will add that while the lessee assumed responsibility, Augusta could make repairs if so desired,” Brown said.
Brown also stated that the city has the power to inspect the building but was not obligated to perform inspections.
Parks and Rec Director Maurice McDowell was asked the current price tag for renovating the structure. McDowell has promised the commission multiple times over the past year to come up with a dollar amount, but at Tuesday’s meeting, he had to admit that he still didn’t know how much a renovation would cost.
McDowell deferred to Central Services Director Ramon Lampkin who told commissioners that the cost of the plumbing alone was roughly $168,000 and that it will cost $780,000 to address structural issues.
Lamkin estimated the final tab, which would include replacing the roof, HVAC equipment and decks, at north of $3 million.
Discussion then turned to District 4 Commissioner Al Mason who questioned who actually owned the building, as the Augusta Port Authority owns some land parcels at the Augusta Marina.
“This has the potential to be a crown jewel if everything goes right, but first we need to find out who owns the dog-gone thing,” Mason said.
Property records show that the city does indeed own the building.
Holdren says he has never heard of a landlord forcing a tenant to pay for repairs on a building they do not own, and if the city presses the matter, the rowing club will simply have to fold the organization.
“I don’t know if this is a tactic to shut us down or get us to back down somehow. I don’t know what the purpose of all of this is. I’m going to need a few days to process it all,” Holdren said.
