OBSERVER Photo by Jo Ward Owner Charles Pringle expects the marina to open on May 15 in Dunkirk.

Just in time for Memorial Day, the Holiday Harbor at Chadwick Bay Marina in Dunkirk will be ready to open on May 15, according to owner Charles Pringle.

However, Sean Korzenski, who formerly worked at the marina, has seen it go through rough times and stated that it’s going to be the toughest year yet. He voiced uncertainty about the marina opening on time.

“Year after year it’s the same problem, the docks are never finished,” he said. “The main problem is the docks are terrible. … Currently in Dunkirk … it’s essentially two-and-a-half men doing all of that (work).”

Korzenski says within weeks, the fishing season will be in full swing. However, he has concerns with the marina.

“When walleye season starts … there’s a line of boats that want to be in the water,” he said. “The docks though are a complete mess, they’re piecing them together and not a single one has been floated out to be attached, there’ve only been a couple dozen out of a couple hundred that have been worked on.”

Manpower, he said, is one of the main issues facing the future of the facility.

“They could pull it off, but they would need to hire a bunch of people right now, they would need to get another crew of guys working right now, it would take a lot and I just don’t see it happening,” he said.

Pringle communicated later that the docks were removed in the fall to begin repairs and that they will be back in the water by the middle of May.

“We took them out in the fall so that we could do repairs on them all winter, typically the marina opens in mid-May,” Pringle said. “We have been working very closely with the city and the city is 100% aware of what’s been going on.

“We communicate with them every week at least. We plan on deploying the docks in the next couple of weeks when we’re done with our repairs. Our full intention as far as the weather and the lake conditions the dock will be fully functioning by May 15.”