RIVERSIDE — Officials say repairs are moving along at Riverside Landing.

“We are trying to get things repaired for use so when the weather warms up area residents can utilize Riverside Landing,” Mayor Rusty Jessup said.

The town purchased and renamed the old D & S Marina on Depot Street in December. The town formulated a master plan for Riverside Landing and the park area, and has applied for a $50,000 Alabama Department of Economic and Community Affairs grant from the Land and Water Conservation Fund. The town has a $50,000 match if awarded the grant, which includes in-kind services.

“The boat ramp repairs are completed,” Jessup said. “Hopefully residents can use both sides of the boat ramp this weekend.”

Jessup said in February the town earned about $600 in income from its $3 honesty policy boat launch fee.

“We see that as a good sign,” he said. “Hopefully that amount will double, or even triple, once we hit our peak months in May and June.”

The council approved a year-long boat launch pass (January through December) for a fee of $35. Static boat launch pass stickers have been ordered, and should arrive soon, Jessup said.

“The excavating is almost done on the north side of the channel,” Jessup said. “It needs the riprap put in.”

The council approved additional funding for grading and riprap for the south side of the channel at Tuesday’s council meeting.

“We really need to get both sides shored up with riprap,” he said.

The council also approved $17,000 for two new piers at Lakeside Landing.

“We will have to bid out those projects, and it might cost us less than $17,000,” Jessup said.

He said the council felt that building two piers was more beneficial in the long run than trying to make temporary repairs to the existing piers, which are currently unsafe for use.

“The gas pier (which contains a pump for selling gasoline on the water) needs new foam flotillas, per Alabama Power Company,” Councilman Jimmy Hollander said. “We plan to re-deck the pier at the same time.”

Hollander said the 104-foot-long main pier needs to be rebuilt as well.

“We want to get them done so we have no problems during peak season,” he said.

Councilwoman Rachelle Painter said useable piers are important for safety reasons.

“The current piers are unsafe, and we still have people trying to use them,” she said. “That problem will increase as the weather gets better.”

Councilman Rob Hayes said he feels providing gas for individuals on the water should be the council’s next priority.

“We need to be able to offer gas on the water,” he said.

Jessup said perhaps a gas pump with a debit/credit card reader would work.

“That way people could get gas at any time of the day or night without having to have an attendant there to collect money,” he said.

Jessup said the restroom facilities at Riverside Landing are currently in disrepair and unusable. The town plans to get a port-a-john until more permanent restroom facilities can be built.

“We don’t have the money right now to build restrooms,” he said. “We are hoping to do that if and when we get the ADECA grant.”