PORT RICHEY, Fla. -- Port Richey City Manager Vince Lupo said the city will once again request bids for a project to improve and repair the Nick's Park boat ramp. City council members rejected a bid earlier this week because it was more than twice the estimated cost.

• Most recent bid on boat ramp project was more than twice city estimate
• City manager said repairs would include enlarging ramp, making entry and exit easier
• Suggestions brought up at council meeting include asking county for help with funding, implementing user fee

Lupo told council members the city estimated it would cost about $120,000 to make improvements to the ramp. The lone bid that came in following the city's most recent request was for $289,000. He said there was also only one bid made last summer during a previous process for $296,750.

In addition to once again requesting bids, council members suggested asking the county for help with funding, saying the vast majority of people who use the ramp aren't city residents, but come from elsewhere in Pasco County.

"They recognize -- I'm sure they do -- the importance of that ramp to the citizens of the county in general. I'm sure that they would seriously consider aiding the city, particularly in that our budget is very small and they know we'll be putting up $100,000 of our money to match the $100,000 of the Fish and Wildlife grant," Lupo said, referring to a matching grant awarded to the city by FWC.

A county spokesperson said as of Thursday afternoon, no such requests had been received.

Lupo said this is the third time in 20 years the ramp is in need of repairs. While the city doesn't have exact usage numbers, he and boaters noted that the ramp is a popular spot.

"It's not built for the capacity of people, volume, that comes in on the weekends. It's just deteriorating," said Stephen Milone of Holiday. Milone said he uses the ramp every other weekend or so.

"You can't put your boat anywhere, and the whole boat ramp gets tied up. It's really falling apart," Milone said.

At this week's meeting, Councilmen Todd Maklary and William Dittmer both raised the possibility of starting to charge a user fee.

"That has been discussed off and on for many, many years here, and for one reason or another, councils have not moved forward on that issue," said Lupo.

Some boaters said it's a fee they'd be willing to pay.

"I'm all for user fees. I mean, anybody who uses a facility and wants it to be maintained should pay a user fee," said Donald Waiberman of Lutz.

"If it goes towards the boat ramp and putting it back in, I don't mind paying. I pay everywhere else," said Milone.

For now, Lupo said the city continues to wait for new bids.