Hoping to clear up confusion surrounding the most recent problem with the marina expansion project, Port of South Whidbey elected officials met with staff in a special meeting this week.

The Nov. 25 meeting followed recent communications concerning problems with underwater cables that secure the new dock in place. Commissioners agreed the contractors should finish the work on the breakwater and gangway before making further decisions, but the board took no formal action.

“We simply need them to finish the work that they’ve been paid to do,” Commissioner Curt Gordon said.

The contractor, Mike Carlson Enterprises, was hired and is responsible for completing the breakwater and gangway, Gordon said.

“When they get that done we’ll take the next steps,” he said.

During the regular meeting earlier this month, Port Operations Manager Ed Field reported to the board issues with the underwater cables of the dock. As the tides rise and fall, the dock was not lining up with the gangway.

Gordon said the contractors have a very clear design for the rigging and there’s reason to believe the rigging is not finished. Evidence from the position of the breakwater and previous dives show that they have not yet completed the rigging, he said.

“They have a responsibility to take care of this without direction from us,” he said. “Any direction we give them can be misconstrued as a release from some other requirement.”

A diver was sent down to check out the problem on Saturday with plans to complete the work midweek.

The cables follow a series of problems with the expansion project both offshore and onshore, such as the discovery of buried logs and contaminated soil at the parking lot, and a barge partially sinking.

“This sends a message that we need to tidy up details,” Gordon said. “We’re not going to entertain any changes in the contract, or pay more on the existing contract until they finished the work that they’ve been paid to do.”