$14.9M Contract Awarded for County Commons

CREST HAVEN – Freeholders awarded a $14.9 million contract to Arthur J. Ogren, Inc., of Vineland, Nov. 12, for reconstruction and redevelopment of County Commons, 1127 Route 47 South, Rio Grande.
Three bids were received Oct. 30, according to Allison Hansen, of the Purchasing Department. She noted that the bid came in under estimate; “however, this is a fast-paced project, and some areas are still in the design work, so there will probably be some increases along the way.”
A notice to proceed was expected to be issued Nov. 13.
Upper Thorofare, Mill Creek Bridges
A modification to a contract with WSP USA, Inc. was approved for $45,208, for engineering services for repairs and permitting to Ocean Drive (CR 621) over Upper Thorofare and Mill Creek bridges in Lower Township.
The scope of work was increased “for additional information to permit the work and additional costs to break the phase one bridge repairs into two separate contracts,” reads the resolution.
The project has been ongoing for eight years, according to Acting County Engineer Robert Church. “Last year, we had wanted to do the guiderail and substructure repair work as one contract, but it became clear that, with Memorial Day coming up, we couldn’t do the substructure repairs in that contract. We split the contract, with the idea that we would do all the substructure repairs as their own contract.
“The problem was, since this contract has been around for so long, they originally got permits (in 2014),” Church continued. “Those permits only have a five-year life and they expired.”
The state Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) denied an extension, Church said, and the Army Corps of Engineers had additional requirements that they wanted satisfied as part of their permits.
Both permits should be secured, Church added.
Freeholder Director Gerald Thornton asked how much the additional permits would cost. Church replied that it would cost about $45,000.
“We’ve got to get better control over these permits expiring,” said Thornton.  
In other action, the board:
* Awarded a contract to Hickey Overhead Door Company, of Bayville, to furnish, install, and maintain overhead doors and related equipment, for a term of one year, with two one-year options. Per the resolution, “No amount of this contract shall be chargeable or certified until such time as services are ordered or otherwise called for prior to placing the order.”
* Accepted $55,775 from the state Department of Law and Public Safety. The money will be used to improve existing firearms ranges, Public Safety Training Center upgrades, and vehicle replacement.
* Accepted a $56,855 grant from the state Department of Law and Public Safety, with an in-kind match of $17,306, to support sexual assault victims between Oct. 1, 2019 and Sept. 30, 2020.
* Established the Cape May County Police Academy Partnership Program. “The county desires to establish a program that invites law enforcement agencies from throughout the state to commit to solely utilizing the academy to train its officers and recruits for the Basic Course for Police Officers and Special Law Enforcement Officers (SLEO II), as well as continually designating qualified officers to serve as instructors at the academy at no cost to the county,” according to the resolution.
The county will waive the course tuition for program partners, as well as any fees associated with the use of the academy programs and facilities, the resolution continues.
* Authorized a two-year memorandum of agreement between the county, the county prosecutor, and the Police Benevolent Association Local 401, covering investigators, detectives, and sergeants.
* Agreed to settle with Kurt Stevenson, a county employee. The resolution stated he filed a workers’ compensation claim petition for “injuries allegedly attributed to his employment with the county.” The amount of settlement ($94,266) was agreed upon and approved Oct. 3 by Judge of Workers Compensation Court James Robertson.
* Agreed to settle with Dora Treon, on behalf of decedent Arthur Treon, who was an employee of the county. She filed a workers’ compensation claim petition for “injuries allegedly attributed to his employment with the county,” according to the resolution. The amount of settlement ($187,500) was agreed upon and approved Oct. 24 by Judge of Workers Compensation Court James Robertson. 
* Designated “celebrated” and “cash” holidays for 2020. Celebrated days reflect the days/dates the holiday is observed by Monday through Friday employees. Cash days denote the days/dates the holiday is observed for employees working other than a five-day work week.
* Authorized a shared services agreement with Upper Township Board of Education for use of its facilities for shelter in the event of adverse weather or other disaster. 
* Appointed Elisa Sorensen as director of nursing, and Lovella More as senior physical therapist, at Crest Haven Nursing Home and Rehabilitation Center, effective Oct. 25, 2019.
* Authorized a $28,788 subcontract with North Wildwood for participation in the Municipal Alliance Program through June 30, 2020.
* Authorized an agreement with Atlantic Cape Community College to provide students with practical nursing training at Crest Haven Nursing Home and Rehabilitation Center, effective Jan. 1, 2020.
* Authorized a one-year contract with Barton Community College to provide field experience to students enrolled in its Dietary Manager program, through Crest Haven Nursing Home and Rehabilitation Center.
* Authorized an agreement with Atlantic Cape Community College to provide clinical observation and experience to students enrolled in the Nursing/Allied Health program, through the Cape May County Health Department, effective Jan. 1, 2020.
* Authorized a change order not to exceed $51,963 to the contract with Designing Local, Ltd. for implementation support for creative placemaking.
* Awarded a $755,705 contract to Maser Consulting for construction engineering services for Avalon Boulevard (CR 601) over Ingram’s Thorofare deck reconstruction in Middle Township.
* Authorized a shared services agreement in an amount not to exceed $114,190, with the Atlantic County Improvement Authority for project management services concerning the Government Services District at the Cape May County Airport. The resolution states the district contains six World War II era buildings, owned by the county, and that the county desires to demolish the buildings and redevelop the district “in a manner that better services the county and public.”
* Authorized purchase of a development easement from DLB Holdings, LLC in Block 53, Lots 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 48, 51.01, 52.01, and 58 at 1985 Route 47, Woodbine, which consists of 337.93 acres. The county negotiated a price at $2,400 per acre, or $811,000, which “the property owner has indicated a willingness to accept,” according to the resolution. Stewart Title Company handled the title insurance and closing services.
* Accepted a $1.4 million grant from the state Department of Labor and Workforce Development to assist adults, youth, and dislocated workers in finding employment between July 1, 2019 and June 30, 2020.
* Authorized modification No. 4 in the amount of $48,000 to the engineering and license site remediation services agreement with Sadat Associates, Inc. The resolution states the ceiling amount was increased “to continue with the remedial investigation studies for the formal closure” of the county-owned landfill.
* Awarded a $1.4 million contract to South State, Inc., of Bridgeton, for Woodbine-Ocean View Road (CR 550) and Dennisville-Petersburg Road (CR 610) roundabout in Woodbine. Church said the project is funded through federal money.
* Granted permission to Dennis Township to close a portion of Fidler Road (CR 638) and Petersburg Road (CR 638) Dec. 5 for the Christmas parade. The closure will be from 6 to 8 p.m.
* Authorized a memorandum of agreement between the county and Fraternal Order of Police Lodge 7, covering uniformed corrections officers and sergeants between Jan. 1, 2018 and Dec. 31, 2021.