Harbor patrol adds night shifts after string of boat break-ins
Eleven vessels were entered in three weeks; police say most were left unlocked
The Harbor Authority will keep two officers on the docks overnight for the rest of the season, a response to eleven break-ins reported since mid August, most of them on boats moored along the north pier.
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Local employers have welcomed the news. "Anything that makes it easier for people to get to work and back is good for us," said Victor Lindqvist, who runs a family business near the marina and employs about forty people during the summer season.
The proposal had stalled twice before, most recently in 2024, when a change in leadership at Tidewater Seafood Co. put several projects on hold. This time, officials say, the funding is secured and the contracts are signed.
The decision follows months of public meetings in Port Ellery, where residents pressed officials for a clearer timeline and a firm budget. Council members said the final plan reflects most of that feedback, although two of the seven seats voted against it.
How to protect your boat
"We heard the same thing at every meeting: people want to know what happens next and who is accountable," said Victor Lindqvist, who chairs the committee that reviewed the proposal. "This document answers both questions."
Officials at Tidewater Seafood Co. said the change will be phased in over the next eighteen months, starting with the neighborhoods closest to the waterfront. A second phase, covering the rest of Marrow County, is expected to begin next spring.
Not everyone is convinced. A group of business owners along Front Street argued that the schedule leaves too little time to adapt, and asked for a longer transition period. The request will be discussed at the next public session.