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MARQUETTE -- There's no denying it.  The Presque Isle Marina is old.  It was constructed in 1970 and is in desperate need of repairs.

"The pier systems are bin wall construction, which means it's a metal-sided permanent wall solution, and those walls, in some instances, have failed," said Karl Zueger, assistant city manager for Marquette.

Because of the bin wall failure, the marina has lost 20 boat slips just this year.

The city first began working on trying to renovate the Presque Isle Marina back in November 2007, and while it has been a tedious process, plans for the facility are now starting to surface.

According to Zueger, the city was awarded a grant at the first of the year through the Waterways Commission to pay for an preliminary engineering study of Presque Isle Marina.  The results of that project were presented to the city last month.

"I think the three major components will be the breakwater, the pier systems, and the launch facility," Zueger said.

The cost of those renovations is estimated to be between $2 million and $3.6 million.

"Typically how these projects work is, we will apply for state funding through the Waterways Commission, and many times these projects are funded 50 percent," Zueger stated.

That leaves the city and its taxpayers to pick up the remaining tab.

The city, which also operates a marina in the Lower Harbor, is now considering developing a third marina at Founders Landing.  However, according to Zueger, the city's Tax Increment Financing District on that property would fund the facility.

Both projects are several years away as the city is still in the planning phase.

This Thursday, the public will be able to share their feelings as the city will gather input, at what is being called an envision session.  It starts at 6 p.m. at the Citizens Forum inside Lakeview Arena.