Yacht Club canopy on hold; facility's structure an issue

(May 1, 2009) Ocean Piners who expected to see a canopy at the entrance to the Yacht Club by the end of April must wait a while longer.

Structural issues, plus the time for the bid and permit process to conclude, made it necessary to postpone the enhancement.

"We want to do it right, not fast," said Ted Moroney, a member of the task force to study the community's facilities for a 10-year plan.

The Ocean Pines Association Board of Directors voted in February to install a canopy from the Yacht Club's entrance to the vegetated area on the far side of the driveway to improve the appearance of the club and to make it more convenient for patrons in the event of inclement weather.

The task force, which has met five times since February, has read reports, obtained input from department heads and toured the various facilities. After drafting a report, they will give it to the board and schedule a workshop to discuss the findings and recommendations. An expanded workgroup is anticipated when tackling difficult projects like the Yacht Club and Country Club, Moroney said at the board's April 18 meeting.

The goal, Moroney said, is to have an overall plan by December for each facility, including budget costs and a proposed timeline for the next decade. The task force is also looking at possible future uses of the buildings.

During their study, task force members had expressed concerns about the structural integrity of the Yacht Club. They decided it would be foolish, Moroney said, "to dump a bunch of money into the Yacht Club if the foundation is not solid."

Some of the foundation piles needed repair, the deck had some rotting wood and the insulation beneath the building had fallen off, he said. Columns and beams will be reinforced immediately and the entire deck system will be reviewed.

Board member Bill Rakow said he did not believe the structural issues are serious. The board's obligation to its membership is what is serious, he said. The money spent to repair the structural deficiencies will be money well invested, he added.

The tennis facility has had minor repairs, such as repairs to the gate. Lights were to be installed within 10 days. Pleased with the improvements, the Tennis Advisory Committee and the tennis club formed a committee to do a membership drive.