The bids to build replacement floating docks at Lakeview Marina have come back well above the budgeted amount.
The city had planned for a cost of $3-million to build docks to accommodate 222 boats.
But the lowest tenders came in at a total of $5-million for demolition of the existing docks and rebuilding the new ones.
Windsor corporate leader for parks, recreation, culture and facilities, Jan Wilson says there are two options for council to consider.
Wilson says completing the full project makes some financial sense.
"We do feel the floating docks are a good investment for the long term. So we are hopeful we can proceed in that way. Obviously it's a challenging situation and council has tough decisions to make as we enter into our deliberations for 2020."
She says the additional $2-million over the planned amount won't come entirely from the budget.
"We're fortunate in that there's some interest earnings on the federal gas tax funding. We do anticipate receiving some insurance funds for the damage that occurred. And then we would use other reserve funds that have not been allocated at this point."
Wilson says the option of only spending the budgeted $3-million comes with costs.
"That would have quite a significant impact on our current uses of the facility and it would cost more in the long run to add additional facilities at a later date. However that is absolutely an option that if we want to keep within the $3-million that was originally allocated."
Completing the full project will generate an expected $360,000 in annual revenue, while the partial completion would mean only earning $175,000 at the marina.
Mayor Drew Dilkens says it makes the most sense to spend the additional $2-million to complete the project.
He says council has to decide if the city is in the marina business and wants to make an investment at that site.
Dilkens says the fluctuating levels of the Great Lakes mean the nearly 40-year-old docks are no longer usable.
-- with files from Teresinha Medieros --