Doubting that ‘universe wants this to happen’
Civic leaders in Lockport look askance at plan to build canalboat replica
By Thomas J. Prohaska
LOCKPORT— Michael R. Weekes is looking for a place to construct a replica of a 19th century Erie Canal packet boat after the Dale Association, which was letting him use a building that it owned, told him last week to go away. Civic leaders also questioned whether they were getting what they thought they were from Weekes, who also has proposed a sports museum for the Buffalo waterfront.
Weekes said he has talked with a Lockport business that may make some space available to him for completion of the boat.
“It’s a shame I can’t find a place and the support I need, but I’m not giving up. The universe wants this to happen,” Weekes said.
Weekes tried to get the Dale Association, a nonprofit human services agency, to pay some utility bills incurred in the course of his project, according to Maureen A. Wendt, its director of development.
“There were bills that were being forwarded to the Dale Association that were not part of the original agreement,” Wendt said last week.
Linda L. Van Buskirk, executive director of the Dale Association, said that there were unpaid bills totaling about $1,500 for installation of lights and fixtures and a furnace inspection.
Weekes said the association’s facilities manager had a local contractor install $450 worth of lights inside the former Sir Billiards on Lock Street, now owned by the association. The work was done without his knowledge, he said, but he hadn’t planned on paying utility bills for the site.
“I was laying out a substantial amount of money for materials and couldn’t afford to take on utilities,” said Weekes, whose “Pride of the Erie Canal” boat was budgeted at $40,000.
Van Buskirk said the electrical work was done on the assumption that the Dale Association wouldn’t have to pay for it.
“As a not-for-profit organization, we need to stick as close to our mission statement as possible,” Wendt said. “It’s one thing to do
something good for the community. It’s another thing to incur expenses we simply can’t afford.”
Weekes has lost his support from the city’s tourism powers and from City Hall.
“We’re not interested in being involved in that project,” Mayor Michael W. Tucker said.
“I didn’t want [the Dale Association] to get hurt,” said Douglas V. Farley, director of the Erie Canal Discovery Center. “We feel partly responsible because we brought [Weekes] to the attention of the community.”
The replica boat was supposed to offer rides to tourists and be available for educational and tourism programs in Lockport for part of the year.
“When the bills came into the Dale Association, I forwarded them to Doug Farley, under the impression there was an arrangement between Mr. Weekes and Doug Farley to pay the bills,” Van Buskirk said.
It turned out that there was no such arrangement.
Weekes said that only three days of work had been done on the boat, which was no more than 10 percent complete.
He said Van Buskirk told him to remove it as soon as possible, cutting the hull up if needed to get it through the door.
Van Buskirk confirmed, “I suggested one of the ways he could do it was to take apart what he had already built.”
“In early December, some red flags went up,” said Jay C. Krull, a tourism promoter who was going to help market the boat. The cost of the boat had doubled from the original $20,000, and the size of the boat was being slightly reduced from 36-by-12 feet to 32-by-10.
Weekes said that was because the building had only a 10-foot ceiling. He said he was expecting the Dale Association to install a garage door so he could extricate the finished craft.
Van Buskirk said an overhead door is on tap for this spring. “It wasn’t for him,” she said. The association wants the door “so we can put our vehicles there and use it for more expanded storage.”
It was just a useful coincidence that the planned door installation was to occur at about the same time Weekes wanted to have his boat finished, she said.
The reduction in the boat’s size worried Krull, who had helped line up the use of the former billiard hall by Weekes.
“We were concerned about whether the boat would be historically accurate,” Krull said.
“The scale . . . would mean nothing to anyone who would enjoy it,” Weekes said.
Krull said, “Everything changed. We very succinctly put three pages of questions down and he wouldn’t answer them.”
He grew suspicious of Weekes’ claims to be an experienced boat builder and asked for photos of the three replica boats that Weekes said he had built. However, he received only stock photos from a catalog.
Weekes said he doesn’t have photos of the boats he has built. “I saw no need to document it,” he said.
“Come on. Who builds a boat and doesn’t take a picture of it?” Krull said.
Rick Heenan, a seasonal worker at the Erie Canal Discovery Center and the city visitor center, volunteered to work on the boat and vouched for Weekes’ skill.
“The gentleman’s an engineer. We got two-thirds of the bottom of the boat built in two days,” Heenan said.
Krull said his research turned up evidence of Weekes’ participation in only one boat.
“We found a picture of a boat he might have helped build. It was probably a 10-or 12-foot dory sitting on the side of the Buffalo River, upside down, dilapidated,” Krull said.
Weekes said that boat was thrown together with limited lumber for a contest and doesn’t reflect his full ability.
Van Buskirk said, “I don’t have any anger at anyone. Out of enthusiasm about the project, everything didn’t get nailed down as firmly as it should have been.”
Weekes said, “The title of this story should be ‘The Boat That Got Built Despite the Community That Was Supposed to Host It.’ ”
tprohaska@buffnews.com
Packet boat supporters jump ship
LOCKPORT — A Buffalo man’s plan to build and launch the Pride of the Erie
Canal in Lockport is sinking.
Management of the Dale Association, which agreed to loan dormant warehouse space to packet boat builder Michael R. Weeks for six months, recently informed Weekes he must vacate the Lock Street space immediately.
Dale Association Director Linda Van Buskirk’s vacate deadline, today, will come and go with Weekes pondering how to get his 800-pound work-in-progress — it’s the base of the hull — out of the Dale property.
He says he can’t, in one piece anyway, and he hinted earlier this week that until he finds another place to build or at least store the hull, he’s not inclined to go anywhere.
Local support for Weekes’ project, announced with fanfare less than two months ago at the Erie Canal Discovery Center, has evaporated. Weekes’ primary backers — ECDC’s Doug Farley, community event organizer Jay Krull and Van Buskirk — are cutting ties with him after the Dale Association received bills for warehouse improvements and Weekes refused to pay them.
“I wish Mr. Weekes success with his endeavor, but I made the decision to ask him to leave (the Dale warehouse) because the deal has gotten murky. I felt it best not to continue on and incur any more expenses,” Van Buskirk said. “We don’t exist to support boat building; that’s not how we should be spending our money.”
The Dale Association, a not-for-profit senior citizens/human services organization, has been handed bills adding up to $1,500, for electric and heating work inside the warehouse and fuel charges incurred since early December.
According to all parties, Van Buskirk OK’d Weekes’ free, temporary use of the old Sir Billiards pool hall to build a 36-by-12-by-9-foot replica packet boat. The unimproved space was to be the Dale’s contribution to what was billed as a community history and tourism-building project.
In exchange for aiding Weekes as he built the packet boat, it was said at a Nov. 29 press conference announcing the project, the community would have occasional access to the boat, while it was being built and later at canal-linked festivals and special events. At the time, Weekes identified himself as a self-employed business improvement consultant. He said Lockport would be the Pride’s home base, meaning the city’s name would be emblazoned on the back end as he piloted it along the Erie Canal in summer. He also said the boat would be his personal property, since he was funding the $40,000 construction project completely out of his pocket, but he’d gladly “share” it with the community that helped him build it.
Weekes began boat construction at the Dale warehouse around Dec. 10.
Local support for his endeavor starting waning soon after, when the Dale received a $425 bill from one of its electric contractors, for electric work and installation of new lights in the warehouse. Weekes was shown the bill and he refused to pay it.
Weekes told the US&J that he couldn’t afford to, because at the time he was unemployed and “spending thousands of dollars a week on lumber and materials.” Then he said he thought his backers had offered to pick up any heat and electric expenses he incurred at the Dale, by fundraising; that after he, Farley and Krull drafted a budget of $2,500 for utility costs, Krull specifically agreed to obtain sponsorships and donations for that amount.
Krull said that was not their agreement. The men came up with a $2,500 budget estimate to cover miscellaneous costs, mostly expenses tied to marketing of events involving the boat and non-profit organizations. Along the way, Krull said, they estimated utility spending of about $500 at the Dale warehouse — and came up with a plan to try getting the work done for less that Weekes ignored.
Krull said he proposed asking a city building inspector to look over the warehouse and determine if Krull could do the work — mostly putting up new lights — and still keep the warehouse code-compliant; or in the alternative, obtain a discount from a certified contractor. Before a city inspection could be obtained, Krull said, Weekes went ahead and commissioned the Dale contractor on his own, based on a reference from the Dale facilities manager.
Krull, who had recruited Van Buskirk and the Dale to the project, said he had an uneasy feeling about Weekes after the first bill episode. The Dale received additional bills, for building supplies, HVAC work and locksmith service at the warehouse, the total well exceeding the $500 estimate that Weekes had helped draft, Krull said. Meanwhile, Weekes resisted entering a written agreement with his backers specifying who’d do or be responsible for what; and clearly defining Weekes’ intent to “share” the finished boat with Lockport.
How many days or weeks would Pride be in Lockport this summer? Would people be able to board and/or ride it? Would the boat be historically accurate? Why did the boat size decrease, and the cost estimate increase, as Weekes talked more about his plans? How much boat-building experience did Weekes have, anyway, and why couldn’t he show photographs of the three boats he said he’d built previously? Why didn’t he have a construction budget or documentation he possessed the means to pay for construction?
Weekes wouldn’t answer the questions definitively, orally or in writing, Krull said.
To the questions of public access, Weekes said he agreed verbally to make Pride available for public viewing 45 days this summer, for events, weekends and extended docking near ECDC, and he’d produce “passes” allowing up to 12 “guests” at a time to come aboard free of charge, but would not do formal tours because state regulators get involved in that.
Beyond the 2012 navigating season, Weekes told Farley and Krull that he’d agree to a three-year contract with ECDC and other parties, on the condition the parties find — and fund — storage space for his boat during the off season.
Earlier this month, after Weekes failed to answer Krull’s written questions about his background and intentions, Krull told Farley and Van Buskirk that he was stepping down from the partnership. Farley and Van Buskirk soon followed suit — and Weekes got notice to vacate the Dale warehouse by Jan. 30. Van Buskirk raised the deadline to today — and warned she’d have him locked out of the warehouse if he doesn’t go — after Weekes tried badgering her to reconsider, according to Krull.
“We’ve become very concerned about the direction of this, because we have no guarantees; he could let this community build a boat for him ... then sail the Erie Canal into the sunset and we’d never see him again,” Krull said. “There were a lot of discrepancies in Mr. Weekes’ commitment, in what he was going to provide in return for our support. There were just a lot of strange things and (Weekes) wouldn’t clear them up.”
Weekes said he thinks Krull soured on him for competitive reasons, including his dismissal of Krull’s offer to try doing the Dale electric work himself. He claims he’s a victim of broken promises now.
“I had an offer to build (Pride) in Buffalo, in leased space. The reason I’m here is I thought I had fundraising help,” he said. “I was sold the idea that I’d have a place to build this boat ... now here we are.”
Weekes — who says he landed a new job as an executive with Upstate New York Transplant Services last month — insists he can’t remove the unfinished hull from Dale property in one piece, and cutting into pieces would ruin it. He asserted one of his backers’ unmet “promises” was to install an overhead door before he finished building the boat, so he could tow it out whole.
Van Buskirk said she did not promise Weekes a door. The Dale Association already had plans to install an overhead door this spring, in order to use the warehouse for covered vehicle storage. Meanwhile, Weekes’ construction timeline called for a mid-May boat launch.
“By the time the boat was built, it would have been close to the time the board planned to install the overhead door, so I saw no conflict in timing the door (installation) to that,” she said. “In retrospect, I’m not sure what Mr. Weekes thought the city was going to do with him. I thought we made a short-term deal for borrowed space, because (Weekes’ project) would be good for the community, good for the city. I’m truly sorry to see it’s not working out that way.”
There are two sides to every story as the saying goes, and I'm sure there is plenty of blame for both sides on this one. What I found really interesting about this story was some of the people involved and mentioned. First consider that Jay Krull, self-proclaimed 'Events Promoter', was involved. Many who know Jay, know that vagueness is a mantra by which he conducts business, and an illegal one run out of his home. Secondly, Rick Heenan is a man who has no horse in this race (so to speak), is vouching for Mister Weekes, and Mr. Heenan is truly a stand-up guy.
But, the really telling part about this story to me, is that the Buffalo News article gives a fair, facts only investigative report, while the Union Sun & Journal gives their typical 'Tucker regime biased' opinionated approach. Just remember, when it comes to Lockport, if you're not "in", then you are definitely "out"!
Management of the Dale Association, which agreed to loan dormant warehouse space to packet boat builder Michael R. Weeks for six months, recently informed Weekes he must vacate the Lock Street space immediately.
Dale Association Director Linda Van Buskirk’s vacate deadline, today, will come and go with Weekes pondering how to get his 800-pound work-in-progress — it’s the base of the hull — out of the Dale property.
He says he can’t, in one piece anyway, and he hinted earlier this week that until he finds another place to build or at least store the hull, he’s not inclined to go anywhere.
Local support for Weekes’ project, announced with fanfare less than two months ago at the Erie Canal Discovery Center, has evaporated. Weekes’ primary backers — ECDC’s Doug Farley, community event organizer Jay Krull and Van Buskirk — are cutting ties with him after the Dale Association received bills for warehouse improvements and Weekes refused to pay them.
“I wish Mr. Weekes success with his endeavor, but I made the decision to ask him to leave (the Dale warehouse) because the deal has gotten murky. I felt it best not to continue on and incur any more expenses,” Van Buskirk said. “We don’t exist to support boat building; that’s not how we should be spending our money.”
The Dale Association, a not-for-profit senior citizens/human services organization, has been handed bills adding up to $1,500, for electric and heating work inside the warehouse and fuel charges incurred since early December.
According to all parties, Van Buskirk OK’d Weekes’ free, temporary use of the old Sir Billiards pool hall to build a 36-by-12-by-9-foot replica packet boat. The unimproved space was to be the Dale’s contribution to what was billed as a community history and tourism-building project.
In exchange for aiding Weekes as he built the packet boat, it was said at a Nov. 29 press conference announcing the project, the community would have occasional access to the boat, while it was being built and later at canal-linked festivals and special events. At the time, Weekes identified himself as a self-employed business improvement consultant. He said Lockport would be the Pride’s home base, meaning the city’s name would be emblazoned on the back end as he piloted it along the Erie Canal in summer. He also said the boat would be his personal property, since he was funding the $40,000 construction project completely out of his pocket, but he’d gladly “share” it with the community that helped him build it.
Weekes began boat construction at the Dale warehouse around Dec. 10.
Local support for his endeavor starting waning soon after, when the Dale received a $425 bill from one of its electric contractors, for electric work and installation of new lights in the warehouse. Weekes was shown the bill and he refused to pay it.
Weekes told the US&J that he couldn’t afford to, because at the time he was unemployed and “spending thousands of dollars a week on lumber and materials.” Then he said he thought his backers had offered to pick up any heat and electric expenses he incurred at the Dale, by fundraising; that after he, Farley and Krull drafted a budget of $2,500 for utility costs, Krull specifically agreed to obtain sponsorships and donations for that amount.
Krull said that was not their agreement. The men came up with a $2,500 budget estimate to cover miscellaneous costs, mostly expenses tied to marketing of events involving the boat and non-profit organizations. Along the way, Krull said, they estimated utility spending of about $500 at the Dale warehouse — and came up with a plan to try getting the work done for less that Weekes ignored.
Krull said he proposed asking a city building inspector to look over the warehouse and determine if Krull could do the work — mostly putting up new lights — and still keep the warehouse code-compliant; or in the alternative, obtain a discount from a certified contractor. Before a city inspection could be obtained, Krull said, Weekes went ahead and commissioned the Dale contractor on his own, based on a reference from the Dale facilities manager.
Krull, who had recruited Van Buskirk and the Dale to the project, said he had an uneasy feeling about Weekes after the first bill episode. The Dale received additional bills, for building supplies, HVAC work and locksmith service at the warehouse, the total well exceeding the $500 estimate that Weekes had helped draft, Krull said. Meanwhile, Weekes resisted entering a written agreement with his backers specifying who’d do or be responsible for what; and clearly defining Weekes’ intent to “share” the finished boat with Lockport.
How many days or weeks would Pride be in Lockport this summer? Would people be able to board and/or ride it? Would the boat be historically accurate? Why did the boat size decrease, and the cost estimate increase, as Weekes talked more about his plans? How much boat-building experience did Weekes have, anyway, and why couldn’t he show photographs of the three boats he said he’d built previously? Why didn’t he have a construction budget or documentation he possessed the means to pay for construction?
Weekes wouldn’t answer the questions definitively, orally or in writing, Krull said.
To the questions of public access, Weekes said he agreed verbally to make Pride available for public viewing 45 days this summer, for events, weekends and extended docking near ECDC, and he’d produce “passes” allowing up to 12 “guests” at a time to come aboard free of charge, but would not do formal tours because state regulators get involved in that.
Beyond the 2012 navigating season, Weekes told Farley and Krull that he’d agree to a three-year contract with ECDC and other parties, on the condition the parties find — and fund — storage space for his boat during the off season.
Earlier this month, after Weekes failed to answer Krull’s written questions about his background and intentions, Krull told Farley and Van Buskirk that he was stepping down from the partnership. Farley and Van Buskirk soon followed suit — and Weekes got notice to vacate the Dale warehouse by Jan. 30. Van Buskirk raised the deadline to today — and warned she’d have him locked out of the warehouse if he doesn’t go — after Weekes tried badgering her to reconsider, according to Krull.
“We’ve become very concerned about the direction of this, because we have no guarantees; he could let this community build a boat for him ... then sail the Erie Canal into the sunset and we’d never see him again,” Krull said. “There were a lot of discrepancies in Mr. Weekes’ commitment, in what he was going to provide in return for our support. There were just a lot of strange things and (Weekes) wouldn’t clear them up.”
Weekes said he thinks Krull soured on him for competitive reasons, including his dismissal of Krull’s offer to try doing the Dale electric work himself. He claims he’s a victim of broken promises now.
“I had an offer to build (Pride) in Buffalo, in leased space. The reason I’m here is I thought I had fundraising help,” he said. “I was sold the idea that I’d have a place to build this boat ... now here we are.”
Weekes — who says he landed a new job as an executive with Upstate New York Transplant Services last month — insists he can’t remove the unfinished hull from Dale property in one piece, and cutting into pieces would ruin it. He asserted one of his backers’ unmet “promises” was to install an overhead door before he finished building the boat, so he could tow it out whole.
Van Buskirk said she did not promise Weekes a door. The Dale Association already had plans to install an overhead door this spring, in order to use the warehouse for covered vehicle storage. Meanwhile, Weekes’ construction timeline called for a mid-May boat launch.
“By the time the boat was built, it would have been close to the time the board planned to install the overhead door, so I saw no conflict in timing the door (installation) to that,” she said. “In retrospect, I’m not sure what Mr. Weekes thought the city was going to do with him. I thought we made a short-term deal for borrowed space, because (Weekes’ project) would be good for the community, good for the city. I’m truly sorry to see it’s not working out that way.”
There are two sides to every story as the saying goes, and I'm sure there is plenty of blame for both sides on this one. What I found really interesting about this story was some of the people involved and mentioned. First consider that Jay Krull, self-proclaimed 'Events Promoter', was involved. Many who know Jay, know that vagueness is a mantra by which he conducts business, and an illegal one run out of his home. Secondly, Rick Heenan is a man who has no horse in this race (so to speak), is vouching for Mister Weekes, and Mr. Heenan is truly a stand-up guy.
But, the really telling part about this story to me, is that the Buffalo News article gives a fair, facts only investigative report, while the Union Sun & Journal gives their typical 'Tucker regime biased' opinionated approach. Just remember, when it comes to Lockport, if you're not "in", then you are definitely "out"!
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