Collins Requests Explanation of Corps Decision to Raise Dock Fees

9th District U.S. Representative Doug Collins is joining other Congressmen in the Southeast demanding an explanation from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers on their decision to raise dock fees at all Corp-operated lakes and waterways in the South Atlantic region.

Collins is joined in his demand by Congressman Jeff Duncan, (R-S.C.), Congressman Jody Hice (R-Ga.), Congressman Barry Loudermilk (R-Ga.), and Congresswoman Virginia Foxx (R-N.C.)

Last week, the Corps announced it was raising dock fees and facility permits from $400 to $835. Additionally, re-issue permits will increase from $175 to $835.

In Georgia, the increase in dock fees will apply to property owners on Lake Hartwell, J. Strom Thurmond Lake on the Georgia-South Carolina border, Lake Lanier, the Walter F. George and West Point Lakes on the Georgia-Alabama border; and Lake Seminole on the Georgia-Florida border.

The new permit fees go into effect January 1, 2020.

Last week, Corps Savannah office spokesman Russell Wicke said the rise in permit fees is a consolidation of a number of other fees in addition to the dock permit fee.

“What this does is it consolidates everything into one cost, no matter what,” Wicke said. “The same amount of work and cost to the government and time takes place. It’s just that now a number of things are assessed for different things, which is hard to follow. So, this just consolidates everything.”

The fee increase he said includes a $35 fee for a Shoreline Permit and an $800 administrative fee for the Real Estate License.

According to Wicke, the administrative fee will cover costs the Corps incurs for the issuance or re-issuance of dock permits and licenses in connection with the private use of fee-owned public lands by landowners adjacent to the reservoirs.

Examples he said include dock anchorage, lighting, walkways, and steps to improve access to permitted boat docks and similar facilities.

But Collins and his fellow Congressmen aren’t buying that explanation. A a joint letter was sent to the Corps Commander in Atlanta this week demanding an explanation on how and why the fee hike was instituted with no input from Congress or the taxpaying public.

“This is a classic case that we’ve dealt with the Corps before,” he said Tuesday. “They believe that they are an entity that can operate by themselves without input from public, even though every action like this has an affect on the public. That’s been my concern from the beginning. They don’t get input from anyone else, they only talk with themselves and they end up with issues once they put something out because typically it’s not well thought out. And this is another very classic case of a not-very-well-thought-out process that has an affect on homeowners.”

In their letter, the Congressman have asked Brig. Gen. Diana Holland, Commander of the Corps of Engineers South Atlantic Division to answer a list of questions on how and why the Corps arrived at a permit figure almost five times the current fee.

“Why would do this in such a way that makes a situation antagonistic instead of cooperative? Again, they seem to enjoy a fight, and that’s become very much of an issue that I want to see dealt with. It always seems like everytime, it always seems like they say, ‘We’re going to put it out there and then talk about it.’ That’s not the way this should be; especially with as much interaction that my office has with the Corps almost on a weekly basis. This should have been something discussed more prominantly,” Collins said.

Collins said this is not the first time the Corps has instituted a policy change without the knowledge or approval of Congress.  That’s why he says it’s time for a change.

“This goes to why I am beginning to push more and more and have discussions about. That is, changing the entire structure of the Corps,” Collins explained. “It’s not just the South Atlantic Region, it’s all over the United States. Any Congressperson who has the Corps of Engieers in their District has problems of some kind; with communications, with policies, etc. It’s now time we honestly have a real discussion on the very structure on the Corps of Engineers itself.”

The Corps commander has until June 28th to answer the letter sent by the Congressmen.