Winthrop Harbor leaders say they were recently made aware of lease renewal issues between the North Point Marina operator and the Illinois Department of Natural Resources, and are warning of dire local economic consequences if they are not resolved.
In a news release issued Thursday, the village said it became aware of the potential issues through unofficial channels about 10 days ago and has been working with state lawmakers since then.
Village Administrator David Alarcon said Winthrop Harbor officials have had little communication from the IDNR and are unaware of the nature of the lease issue.
He framed the current issue as a continuation of the village’s ongoing concerns about communication between the small Lake Michigan community and the state agency that owns the marina and Illinois Beach State Park land.
Although the marina is within the village limits, Winthrop Harbor does not operate, supervise or direct any of its functions, according to the release. The marina is operated by Texas-based Suntex Marinas, which could not be reached for comment.
“All operational decisions, including maintenance, capital improvements, concessions, leasing, programming and personnel, are solely under the authority of the IDNR or its designated operators,” the release said.
Attempts to get a response from IDNR officials were unsuccessful.
The release said Winthrop Harbor had contacted state Rep. Joyce Mason, D-Gurnee, and state Sen. Mary Edly-Allen, D-Libertyville, and that “neither had been previously informed of potential concerns regarding marina operations.”
Neither state lawmaker could be reached for comment.
Alarcon warned that if the marina were to close the impact would be “devastating” to the local economy. The release describes it as a “key economic engine” and a “vital element” of the village’s identity.
A disruption could result in the loss of around 150 jobs, with impacts on the charter fishing industry, boat service and repair businesses, hospitality partners and restaurants, not to mention the strain it would cause on local taxpayers.
Although the long-term consequences could be serious for the small village, the immediate situation is not as dire, Alarcon said. The marina is currently “at a standstill” due to winter weather, and he said the village is “confident” the problem can be resolved before the weather warms up.
“The village is ready and willing to work with the IDNR to resolve this issue,” Alarcon said. “We are ready and willing to provide whatever support we can to make this happen, because it is very important to us.”
Over the past two years, Winthrop Harbor officials have repeatedly raised concerns about a lack of state support for water safety along Lake Michigan, particularly at Illinois Beach State Park, where there has been a rash of drownings since the completion of an extensive waterfront renovation.
Winthrop Harbor’s relationship with the IDNR has apparently been strained by such issues, and Alarcon said the marina situation is yet another example of lackluster communication.
