The East Jordan city marina is empty this November because its rebuild was set to begin the moment the boating season ended, and the city paid more than the lowest bids to hold that schedule.
The harbor closed in mid-October for a full rebuild. That covers new floating docks, new electrical and water service, dredging, and a new 65-foot gangway. The city's records show the calendar was a deciding factor in who got hired, and in two of the three contracts the winning bid was not the lowest one.
The dredging contract went to the bidder who would keep the spoils off the campground
Four companies bid on the marine construction and dredging work when bids were opened on April 24, 2026. 45th Parallel Marine came in lowest at $449,000. R.B. Lyons ended up at $523,760, but only after a voluntary deduction of $294,800 for dewatering and disposing of the dredge material at a different location.
What that deduction meant on the ground shows up in the city's own comparison sheet. The 45th Parallel bid assumed "beach dredge offload and grading of material on beach if good material." City Administrator Tom Cannon's May 13 memo to the commission set out the alternative in plain terms:
"R.B. Lyons was 2nd lowest bid; however, they would haul all dredge materials to their own approved site. This eliminates any burden at the Tourist Park Campground. Have completed multiple projects within our harbor. Would begin work October 15th so harbor is open full season in 2026."
That passage comes from the May 2026 City Commission packet. Lyons cost about $74,760 more than the low bid, and in exchange the city got two things. The harbor stayed open through its full summer, and the dredge spoils won't end up at a campground that just logged 899 reservations and nearly 9,700 nights across its campsites and cabins, according to the 2026 State of the City. The commission approved the Lyons contract on May 19.
The dock contract is where timing cost the most
The fall start date protects the 2026 season. The dock contract decides how soon the 2027 season can begin, and the gap between the two dock bids is the largest number in the project.
| Contract | Bidders | Award, May 19, 2026 | What the paperwork says about it |
|---|---|---|---|
| Marine construction and dredging | 45th Parallel Marine, R.B. Lyons, Tri-County Excavating, Walton Contracting | R.B. Lyons, $523,760 | Second-lowest bid. Hauls dredge material off-site and starts October 15 |
| Floating docks and plumbing | Flotation Docking Systems, Meeco Sullivan | Meeco Sullivan, $1,076,292 | Staff had recommended the $765,100 bid, which would have pushed spring installation to May and completion to June |
| Marine electrical | Atlas Electric | Atlas Electric, $822,500 | Only bidder. The price fell from a $1,035,500 base bid with a value-engineered approach |
Staff's memo recommended Flotation Docking Systems. It was the lower of the two dock bids by about $311,000, and the memo noted that because of the company's other projects, spring installation "would be delayed until May and completed in June." The commission voted 5 to 1 to give the contract to the company the minutes spell Meeko Sullivan and the bid sheet spells Meeco Sullivan, at $1,076,292. Commissioner Joseph Kroll cast the vote against.
The city's planning sheet puts a price on what a late spring would mean. Under the scenario built on the lower dock bid, the project wouldn't be finished until July 2, 2027, and the sheet estimated $30,000 in lost marina revenue for May and June 2027. It put the cost of closing in September and October 2026 at $20,000. On the city's own figures, the cheaper dock bid would have saved about ten times the marina revenue a late spring was expected to cost. The commission chose the earlier installation anyway.
How the work is being paid for
The money comes from several sources. A 2025 Michigan DNR Waterways grant for East Jordan Marina Phase 2, numbered WW25-010, covers floating-dock replacement and utility work. It provides $558,600 in state money matched by a $581,400 local share, for a $1,140,000 total. The State of the City describes the renovation as moving forward with a $1 million state grant. On October 6, the commission passed a resolution authorizing up to $1.9 million in general obligation limited tax bonds for the docks, electrical work, dredging, demolition and related site work. It also directed that a notice of intent be published in the Charlevoix County News.
The DNR also reviewed the bid tabulations and backed staff's recommendations before the commission voted.
What happens on the water between now and June
Each step in the city's schedule is set around the off-season.
- Mid-October. The harbor closed. Downtown Development Authority minutes from the September 14 meeting called for dredging in the fall and new docks in the spring.
- Week of October 20. The administrator's report said Lyons Construction would start demolishing the floating docks that week.
- Until winter sets in. After demolition and infrastructure work, the same report said, dredging continues until the weather stops it.
- Spring 2027. New docks are installed. The bid package also calls for timber and sheet-pile abutments and for salvaging and relocating some existing floating dock and gangway sections.
- June 2027. The city's goal for opening the new facility.
June is a goal. The planning documents gave different finish dates for different contractor combinations, so the exact reopening date depends on how the spring work goes.
On Main Street, the same off-season logic at 116 Main
The harbor isn't the only downtown project aiming at the cold months. The old community center at 116 Main Street, within walking distance of the south arm, has been empty since 2020. MLive reported in August that the 0.45-acre site was first developed in 1901 as the Lake Side Hotel and Livery. It later served as a Charlevoix County Road Commission storage area before it became a community center.
An $805,000 brownfield grant from the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy pays for more environmental assessment, demolition and asbestos abatement of two buildings, and hauling away about 4,500 tons of contaminated soil, according to MLive. DDA minutes said demolition bids were due in September, with "hope for fall removal." The city scheduled a brownfield meeting for October 27 to review the redevelopment plan, with EGLE consultants and Fleis & Vandenbrink attending.
The planned replacement is a 22,800-square-foot building with commercial space and 17 housing units, a mix of for-sale condos and rental apartments. Eight of those units are reserved for households earning 60% to 120% of the area median income. MLive put the project at $8.6 million, with 12 new jobs and occupancy expected in early 2028. A June 2025 city packet lists signed purchase and development agreements with EJ Development Group LLC for the property.
The same DDA minutes include two smaller updates. The library property has been sold to Artemus Development, which is working with the Planning Commission. A development agreement for the old boat launch property is on hold because the state cut its funding.
The downtown calendar runs alongside the work
Downtown's holiday events go ahead as scheduled while the harbor sits empty.
- Thursday, November 19, 4:00 to 7:00 p.m. Small Business Thursday Shopping Night, with sales and open houses at participating businesses.
- Saturday, December 5, 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. Santa visits downtown. Santa is at City Hall, the Soup Cook-Off is at American Legion Hall, and a Santa scavenger hunt runs at The Depot/Jordan Valley Teen Center.
- Sunday, December 6, 5:00 to 6:00 p.m. Lighting of the Tree and Community Caroling at G.A.R. Park. John Hunter lights the tree, and cocoa, cookies and crafts follow at the American Legion. East Jordan Girl Scouts and Helping Hearts of East Jordan are the sponsors.
By the time the tree goes up at G.A.R. Park, the city's schedule has the old docks gone and dredging running until winter weather stops it. The new docks are scheduled to go in next spring.
If you own a home near the south arm or have been waiting for a slip at the new marina, the team at Pat O'Brien & Associates is following the rebuild from our East Jordan office and can tell you how the spring schedule is going. Contact us anytime.
