Washington’s City Council wants more information on estimated costs and materials before making a decision regarding repairing the boardwalk that runs from the North Carolina Estuarium to just east of the Moss Landing development.

“We’ve been observing the plank boardwalk next to the Estuarium. It’s been there for a number of years. We have an opportunity to take a look at it through the (Coastal Area Management Act) program,” City Manager Bobby Roberson told the council.

John Rodman, the city’s director of community and cultural resources, told the council during its Feb. 13 meeting the wooden slats need replacing on the boardwalk, which is about 15 years old. The railings also might need some attention, too, he said. Rodman said the city might want to consider replacing the wooden slats with concrete slats similar to those used to build the pier at the Stewart Parkway promenade. Replacing wooden slats with concrete ones would be more expensive, Rodman said. The boardwalk ties into the east end of the promenade at the Estuarium.

Rodman said the first phase of the boardwalk project would cost an estimated $498,000 if concrete slabs replace the existing wooden slabs. The second phase would cost about the same.

The city would seek a grant from the Division of Coastal Management to help pay for the boardwalk project. Under the grant conditions, the DCM grant would pay for 90 percent of the project, with the city providing the money to cover the remaining 10 percent of the project’s cost, about $50,000, according to Rodman. The application is due April 10.

“My concern is we did, I think, five years of repairs that finished up year before last. Now, you’re telling me it’s deteriorated to the point you need a million dollars to fix it back up. If the first phase is $498,000, I’m assuming the second phase is going to be about the same,” Councilman Doug Mercer said.

Rodman said the problem with the boardwalk is not so much with its planks but with its railings, that are “bowing out” and some are “becoming separated from each other.” The boardwalk’s condition is becoming a “hassle,” he said.

The concrete slabs would last longer, Rodman said, but they would cost more than wooden slats. Using wooden slats would reduce the project cost by about half, according to Rodman. “If you get a half-million dollar grant and do all of it with wood, it would seem that would be the logical thing to do,” Mercer said.

Mayor Mac Hodges said, “There other side, though, is the concrete. Once you do it in concrete, you’re probably done with it until everybody in this (room is dead).” Hodges said concrete slabs would last decades longer than wooden slats.

“I would go with concrete, myself,” said Councilman Richard Brooks.

“I would go with concrete, too,” Councilwoman Virginia Finnerty added.

Councilman Larry Beeman asked, “Is there any indication from CAMA that there may be funding for a phase two?”

“No. That would have to come in another year,” Rodman said.

After hearing the council’s concerns, Rodman said he would further investigate the costs of project options and report back to the council.

FEMA mandates state, tribal and local governments develop and adopt hazard-mitigation plans as a condition for receiving certain types of non-emergency disaster assistance, including funding for Hazard Mitigation Assistance projects. Washington’s floodplain-management program is saving city property owners money. They are receiving a 15-percent discount on their National Flood Insurance Program premiums because the city has one of the best floodplain-management programs in North Carolina. In 2012, Washington was recognized for operating a top-notch floodplain-management program. Washington residents have some of the lowest flood-insurance premiums in North Carolina.

Beaufort County does not participate in the NFIP’s Community Rating System.