DUNKIRK — The city of Dunkirk has asked Chautauqua County to help them cover the cost of removing some old docks on the waterfront after the bill ended up being nearly nine times higher than expected.

During the legislature’s Audit and Control Committee meeting, committee members were asked to use $50,000 from the county’s occupancy tax reserve funds to pay for the damaged steel dock structures from the Dunkirk Harbor. Those funds are generated from money collected at county motels, hotels and short term rentals.

From 2019-2021, high Lake Erie water levels and weather events caused severe damage to the steel dock structures. According to Dunkirk Department of Public Works Director Randy Woodbury, they were more than 75 years old and hadn’t been maintained for the last couple of decades.

Specifically, the docks were between the Yacht Club north of Memorial Park and the city boat launch on the west side of the pier.

Woodbury said it was very hazardous and sometimes children would try to climb on the old docks. He described it as looking like a “war zone.”

Chautauqua County Watershed Coordinator Dave McCoy said the Lake Erie Management Commission previously agreed to spend $12,000 to help pay for the docks’ removal. They thought that’s how much the project would cost.

In January, the city of Dunkirk hired a marine contractor to remove them. The contractor charged the city $107,500.

Legislator Terry Niebel, R-Sheridan, asked Woodbury if the city had a contract with the contractor, which Woodbury admitted they didn’t. “We apologize for coming here after the fact,” he said.

Niebel said in the future the city should have a written contract to avoid problems like this in the future. At the same time, he said he was a necessary project and thought they did a good job.

Woodbury responded, “We agree with you 3,000%.”

Woodbury said he believes the contractor should only charge $62,000. If it ends up being higher than that, he said it would be the city’s responsibility to take care of the balance.

The committee backed the request. The full legislature will vote on final approval at its next meeting on Wednesday.