Arrival of credit card readers for dock hoists delayed

An order for cashless machines for the public to pay for use of the four dock hoists at the Port and Harbors Department is delayed — the manufacturer is still waiting on parts.

Port Director Steve Miller said they ordered four credit card readers for $11,000 from El Dorado, Arkansas-based manufacturer IDX this winter and were going to work with electricians in Wrangell for installation before the start of the summer season, but it’s looking like the order won’t arrive until June. And there could be further delays because local electricians are seeing a slowdown in equipment order fulfillment as well, Miller said last Wednesday.

Two credit-card readers will be installed at Reliance Harbor in front of the harbormaster office, one in the boatyard at The Marine Service Center and one at Shoemaker Bay Harbor.

Even when the machines do arrive, Miller said, “it’s going to be pretty crazy-like” because fishing season will be in full swing.

“At this point, we may be waiting until they’re not quite as busy, just because when I do (install) them, I have to have all of them running at the same time,” he said.

There is a charge for the public to use the dock hoists — technically. But because there is no automated system, it’s been free so far, Miller said, and the department has no way of tracking who uses the hoists.

The card readers will collect on the charge of $5 for 10 minutes, or $30 per hour.

Like a car wash system, the machines will start beeping in the last minute to alert users they need to buy more time, if they want.

“We have to be able to get one, two or three done within a day,” Miller said. “We have to play it by ear. If I put up one,” people will go to the ones that don’t have the payment machine, he said.

Boaters use the hoists for everything that is too heavy to take up the dock — freight to fishing gear, skiffs and moose.

Miller said his department will try to get the credit card readers installed within the season to catch some of the income for the borough.

The new system has been budgeted for at least two years, and Port and Harbors finally found a system it likes. Craig, another Southeast community, has seen success with the same system, Miller said.