For Everetts Cove Marina, 'rays' of hope

Pontoon boats and jet skis are at the ready. All they need now is some nice weather and some vacationers, marina owner Jeff Everett says. (Harrison Thorp photo)

LEBANON - For Jeff Everett, Memorial Day weekend was a washout. This weekend’s not looking too hot, either.

But between the two, last weekend wasn’t too bad, prompting the Everetts Cove Marina owner to express some mild optimism that his business may survive after all. Right now, he said he’s taking it one weekend at a time.

The saving grace may be the fact that Ray’s Marina, which closed last year, left a void in the area for outboard motor repairs. Everett, who recently hired a new marine mechanic, said he’s seeing more business in that revenue stream.

Still, the longtime marina owner admits that the loss of the New Bridge Road bridge has been a staggering blow to his business, which depended on foot traffic across the bridge from Milton residents and Mi-Te-Jo Campground visitors to fuel his ice cream as well as jet ski and pontoon boat rentals.

“The ice cream business came over from the campground,” Everett said recently. “They see we have pontoon boats, jet skis. With our business model, it all ties together.”

Everett estimates that 65 percent of his ice cream business came from the New Hampshire side.

Now New Hampshire residents off Townhouse Road have to drive more than six miles around the lake past another ice cream shop, instead of a short walk.

For Everett, it all goes back to the bridge. He’s done everything from pressing local leaders to stop the bridge-fix inertia to researching private bridge-building companies that might offer a less expensive span.

A new one-lane concrete bridge has been estimated at $1.4 million. On the New Hampshire DOT website it shows the Granite State’s estimated cost at $700,000, with Milton’s portion at $140,000.

Under current statute, Milton must pay 20 percent of New Hampshire’s 50 percent cost, while Maine would pay the full freight of its half, with no Lebanon money required.

Maine officials have asked Lebanon to kick in some funding if they want to speed the process but it’s a moot point. New Hampshire won’t even put the bridge on a timetable till they see the $140,000 from Milton. Right now the New Hampshire DOT is scheduling bridge funds for 2023, so that’s the earliest it would be fixed even if Milton came up with its share.

Everett found a company called Excel Bridge Manufacturing Co. that would produce a one-lane bridge for $200,000, but that’s a longshot. Most likely, Lebanon and Milton would have to foot the bill on that, because state money wouldn’t be available. DOT officials in both states said they would assist with safety and regulatory issues.

Meanwhile, Everett is compiling a list of officials from both states whom residents and visitors alike can contact and demand action. That list will soon be available at http://everettscove.com.

For now, Everett is hoping the increased repair work and a slight hike in boat slip rentals along with loyal customers will keep him afloat.