Cedar Rapids plans to shut down quarry across from Ellis Harbor

CEDAR RAPIDS — The city of Cedar Rapids is moving forward with plans to shut down the storage quarry across from Ellis Harbor by Dec. 31 — an operational change that some residents fear will create logistical hurdles to accessing the space along the Cedar River.

Cedar Rapids residents and nonresidents may lease space for a fee to keep their trailers and house boats in the quarry at 2550 Ellis Blvd. NW. Harbor stakeholders say it’s vital to the harbor’s operation, as it allows house boats to be transported to the water with ease.

City officials say the quarry is separate from the harbor and that they have no plans to shut down the unique neighborhood where people spend summers.

But harbor stakeholders said the logistical challenges of moving their large trailers and house boats will, in effect, force a segment of users out of the harbor, adversely affecting the nostalgic beauty of the semipermanent neighborhood.

John Hansen, the Harbor Association’s city liaison, said those with house boats on the harbor likely will opt not to return if their house boats can’t be moved with ease.

“It’s essentially eliminating some of the harbor,” Hansen said.

Jim Kaas, who has a boat house in Ellis Harbor, said he’s spent his life along the water — boating on the Cedar and Mississippi rivers, and now living near Mohawk Park.

In his view, a marina needs a quarry where users can store their boats and trailers.

“Logistics of moving boats down a road sometimes aren’t doable,” Kaas said. “ … It’s a really good spot to put that, and so this is all very unfortunate that there was some security problems that were probably just a handful of people complaining.”

Security concerns prompt change

Mayor Tiffany O’Donnell said in early winter, she received emails about break-ins at the quarry. The police department also was getting reports, which prompted efforts to address security issues.

City officials explored adding cameras, further increasing police patrols and stepping up measures such as a gate or fence to secure the perimeter of the quarry.

“For me personally, that’s when I began digging into the budget and that’s when I began to see that taking those extra steps was just financially not feasible,” O’Donnell said.

The Ellis Harbor Association earlier this winter submitted a plan to the city to keep the quarry in operation. The group proposed a “master at arms” to oversee the quarry on a weekly basis and verify all trailers and boats belong there, shifting security responsibility to the Harbor Association.

Additionally, the association suggested hiking fees for quarry space by 10 percent.

Parks and Recreation Director Hashim Taylor said the city legally could not agree to this proposal and have citizens enforcing the city’s rules and regulations, essentially functioning as staff.

He said city staff notified the board that their proposal did not address security, management and fees. The city has added a camera there, Taylor said, but staff estimate it would cost $101,600 to cover the security needs identified at the quarry.

In 2022, Taylor said the city received $23,380 from quarry fees. There are 78 spaces total, most taken up by 59 Cedar Rapids residents and eight nonresidents.

Last week, when the city shared its plans with the harbor board, members requested an opportunity to submit another proposal to keep the quarry’s operation viable. City staff have set an April 3 deadline for a final proposal.

More than 30 Ellis Harbor stakeholders, including the Ellis Harbor Association, nonprofit Cedar Boat Club and quarry tenants met Saturday to discuss a path forward.

Their current proposal would involve the Cedar Boat Club entering into a management agreement with the city and making a substantial investment in security measures. Members are working to prepare a formal proposal.

Harbor stakeholders don’t favor hiring a private company to take over the quarry because of concerns about increased rental fees.

Taylor said similarly sized private facilities charge 75 to 85 percent more than the city, but the city estimates a fee increase of 85 to 90 percent would be necessary to bring the facility within market rate and address security.

“The city will give all due consideration to a final proposal and makes no guarantee another proposal will change the decision to close the quarry,” Taylor said. “At this time, we continue to move forward with plans to close the quarry by the end of the year.”

Whether or not the city accepts this proposal, staff do plan to designate two spaces near the front of the quarry for Ellis Harbor users to build and repair boats.

Taylor said in 2020, the harbor generated $130,145 to cover $125,303 in expenses. That leaves roughly $5,000 to invest back in harbor improvements each year. Since 2016, he said the city has invested more than $774,000 in improvements such as bank stabilization and sidewalk repairs. Taxpayers fill in that gap.

It’s unclear which of those expenses are related to the harbor versus the quarry. Taylor said the city is working on a cost-rate model separating those costs.

‘Great future’ for Harbor

Dee McLaud, vice president of the Harbor Association board, said the harbor is a gem of the city. She fears that without the quarry, the harbor will lose the house boats.

In the summer, residents host family-friendly activities, and before the COVID-19 pandemic there was an annual fireworks show. The Boat Club is working to revive that.

“Our harbor is so unique,” McLaud said. “You can’t find that in any other cities.”

Looking at the bigger picture, O’Donnell said, seeing what taxpayers were subsidizing for few residents spurred a larger conversation.

“At this point in time with where we are with tight budgets, every dollar matters,” O’Donnell said. “It became more clear that it was time for the city to get out of the storage business.”

O’Donnell said the harbor has a great future in Cedar Rapids.

“As a council, we are really focused on our greenway and long term, we want to make sure that beautiful part of our city is accessible and usable by more people,” O’Donnell said.

Council member Ann Poe, who grew up in the northwest quadrant and spent time on Ellis Harbor, said she and her husband have stored their trailer in the quarry.

While she understands quarry tenants’ perspective, Poe said she doesn’t support the amount of money the city would need to spend to secure it. She said there are other critical issues facing the city.

“As much as I love it — and we’re not talking about getting rid of the harbor … I just can’t see using taxpayer money to see securing something for a few people,” Poe said.

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