THE reconstruction of Sugar Dock in Chalan Kanoa may be completed by January 2023, community members were told in a meeting Wednesday.
The scope of the project includes demolishing the existing dock and building a new one, and the construction of a functional boat launching ramp.
Led by Precinct 2 Reps. Tina M. Sablan and John Paul Sablan, the meeting allowed project managers to provide clarity on the architecture and engineering design of the dock, as well as to receive community feedback.
Rep. Tina Sablan said the project focuses on the dock and surrounding debris and is different from the project of the Bantalan Boys and the administration.
“There [are] a lot of things happening in this area, a lot of exciting developments,” she said.
“As many people know, Sugar Dock is a very beloved part of the island. It’s very popular for families, fishermen, and even divers. We really want to enhance and make it an even more enjoyable place.”
She said she and Rep. John Paul Sablan are following up on the status of the project, and communicating conversations with the project engineer, the secretary of the Department of Public Works, and the Historic Preservation Office.
“The project is being managed by the [DPW] and the proposal right now is to tear down the current structure, which is very unsafe, and mitigate that hazard before we construct a new dock. We will be using the same footprint so that boaters will be able to use it,” she said.
“We also want to make the boat launching ramp functional again for boaters and fishermen. As you can see, it’s covered with sand. Part of the proposal is to dredge this area so that boaters can use it.”
Rep. Tina Sablan said there are also talks with the HPO on showcasing the historic importance of Sugar Dock, as it is already a registered historic site.
“Many people know that this pool area is a historic site, the dock itself is nationally registered as a historic site. I would like to work with the [HPO] and people who know and love the history of this place, for a way to showcase that history so that community members, children, and visitors can learn about how special Sugar Dock is,” she said.
The environmental assessment of the project is now 50% complete, she added.
Discussion
The meeting started at 5 p.m. with Reps. Tina Sablan and John Paul Sablan leading the discussion with Precinct 2 community members and representatives of the agencies involved in the Sugar Dock projects.
Among those who attended the meeting were officers and members of Bantalan Sugar Dock Inc., Department of Public Lands Secretary Sixto Igisomar, Department of Public Works project manager Gani Salazar, as well as representatives of the prime contractor YSE Engineer and the permitting sub-contractor Micronesian Environmental Services.
The plan, the architectural and engineering designs and the proposed action to be taken were presented to the members of the community.
Background
Rep. John Paul Sablan said in the 20th Legislature, he and then-Speaker Ralph Demapan authored a bill, which later became Public Law 20-61, appropriating $700,000 in casino gross revenue tax collections to fund the Sugar Dock reconstruction project.
He said the Saipan and Northern Islands Legislative Delegation also passed a measure that appropriated $1 million from the casino license fee as additional funding for the project.
He said there was also a need to secure the required permits from the Historic Preservation Office, the Bureau of Environmental and Coastal Quality, the Zoning Office and the Department of Lands and Natural Resources.
“It took a lot of work in order to move this project,” he added.
Rep. Tina Sablan speaks as Rep. John Paul Sablan and officers of the Bantalan Sugar Dock Inc. listen during a meeting in Chalan Kanoa on Wednesday.
Micronesian Environmental Services project manager John Gourley presents an image depicting the Sugar Dock reconstruction project.
Rep. Tina Sablan poses for a photo at Sugar Dock.
Sugar Dock will undergo reconstruction.
