From WJHG:

Panama City Beach and Bay County officials have agreed in principle that they will not compete with each other for fishermen. Construction on the beach's new city pier is just about complete. The county's "twin" pier is not too far behind.

As news channel 7's Mark Vaughn tells us both groups have decided they will charges fees and those fees will mirror each other. Bay County and Panama City Beach are working together to design and build two identical fishing piers. The Russell-Fields pier will be open in a few months and Panama City Beach is researching prices to give residents and tourist a low cost way to fish.

"We checked with about 6 or 8 other piers around the panhandle to determine what they charge and then try to find a happy medium. We want everyone that wants to walk out there or go fishing to be able to do that."

"The city's pier will be finished nearly a year and a half before the county's pier here at M.B. Miller Park, so the county and city are collaborating now to make sure their pier's have the same prices."

"Our plans are to work with the county so that anyone wants to go fishing can pay one fee and either fish on one pier, the city or the county's, or fish on both piers."

"It'll help us in the long run where we can try to get together and pass this for both piers for the citizens of Bay County."

This is the first time the county has decided to charge a user fee for its pier.

"In order to maintain it and keep that park upright and keep it surveyed where there's good security and everything there I think it's our duty to charge for it, and do a whole lot better than the county has done in the past with the pier."

"The only way we have to maintain safety on the pier, the restrooms, and that boardwalk is by using what we call a user fee."

County and city officials will meet soon to develop a fee schedule that everyone can agree on. FEMA is funding the Panama City Beach pier with more than eight million dollars in mitigation funding. It could be open sometime in May. The county will receive about two and a half million from FEMA and pay the rest out of their budget. Work on the new structure should begin this month.

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