Avalon Outfall Pipes to Get Check Valves

AVALON- Borough Council approved an expenditure of $65,000 to install tidal backflow check valves on outfall pipes at 20th, 22n and 24th streets.
At a Nov. 28 council meeting, Borough Engineer Tom Thornton, of Hatch Mott MacDonald, said the valves would reduce a lot of nuisance flooding. He said the project consisted of 13 valves of various sizes.
“These are the flexible rubber check valves that you put at the ends of pipe,” said Thornton.
He said 18 bidders picked up a bid package from the borough with 12 responding with bids ranging from $65,000 to $140,000.
Thornton said the low bid was submitted by F. W. Shawl and Sons for $64,900. He said the engineer’s estimate for the cost of the project was $75,000.
In other business: council authorized a shared services agreement with the City of Millville for the temporary storage of Avalon’s equipment, vehicles and materials during times of natural disaster for ten years ending Dec. 31, 2022.
City Administrator Andy Bednarek said Millville had plenty of room for storage.
He said the borough had sizable clean up expenses following Hurricane Sandy.
“The clean-up expense so far, we’re looking at just under $400,000 and an additional $120,000 in tipping fees,” said Bednarek. “There was a lot of debris cleaned up expeditiously and very professionally and without incident.”
Borough Council discussed raising impound fees for vehicles and vessels. Police Chief William McCormick suggested a $50 fee which he said was in line with Sea Isle City.
He also suggested a $20 per day storage fee. McCormick said the borough did not store many vehicles but stored a number of kayaks.
The chief suggested a $10 per day storage fee for kayaks and other items that are stored in borough yards.
“It takes a lot of resources both public works and the police department to remove these items, to store them and then to release them,” he said.
McCormick said the stored items are placed in police evidence and must be released by a detective. He said the borough had no fees for kayak or other items with a $2 per day storage fee for vehicles.
The police department stored 15 kayaks last year through the winter left at the kayak park after Oct. 1 l without charging a storage fee, said McCormick. He said the owners claim the kayaks and return them to the kayak park.
Jitney service for Avalon and Stone Harbor seems likely for summer season 2013. Bednarek was scheduled to meet Dec. 3 with Atlantic County Jitney Association President Tom Woodruff to finalize an ordinance along with Stone Harbor.
Bednarek said the ordinance could be introduced at council’s Dec. 19 meeting and adopted in early January. He said Avalon has insisted on a registration fee for jitneys because it requires background checks and registration of taxicabs.
Bednarek the jitney association would be required to register 190 vehicles which would cost about $19,000. He said that fee would be covered by the business community.