Avalon Funds Beach Replenishment; Project Will Be Completed by July 4

AVALON – Borough Council acted April 8 to ensure sand on the beaches before Independence Day.
At meetings earlier this year, council approved a bond ordinance for up to $12 million for the project. The two bids received came in several million dollars below that figure. The contract made the award to Great Lakes Dredging and Dock Co. for between $4.7 million and $6.3 million depending upon the options elected by the borough.
In soliciting bids, the borough had set a minimum level of beach fill at 400,000 cubic yards of sand. The bid process also asked contractors to respond to three optional bid items at additional increments of 100,000 cubic yards up to a total of 700,000 cubic yards of sand.
Thomas Thornton of the borough’s engineering firm of Hatch Mott MacDonald explained that the task is one with “high fixed costs and relatively low unit costs.” His reference was to the $2.3 million base price for mobilization and use of the dredge, which applies regardless of whether the sand level is at the lower or higher level for cubic yards. The unit cost in the winning bid was $5.10 per cubic yard.
Council passed two resolutions allowing the borough to proceed with the winning bidder and approving Hatch Mott MacDonald for engineering oversight services. The process should begin in mid-May and has a completion date of June 29. The project will distribute up to 700,000 cubic yards of sand on north end beaches from Eighth Street to 26th Street.
Beaches will be closed as work progresses. Thornton explained that the restrictions would apply to a two to three block area that move from north to south as the operations progress.
Notices for entry and exit points will be posted and the borough will have information on its web site. Business Administrator Scott Wahl said, “This is the first beach fill we have had since March after Sandy. It has lasted us two years which is about the best we can hope for.”
Wahl made the point that the high level of ratables in Avalon, estimated at $7.6 billion, along with the local economy, all depend on sand on the beach. “Sand on the beach is not an expense,” Wahl added, “It’s an investment.”
Other Business
As of April 7 the borough moved ahead with Phase II of its Healthy Forest Initiative at Armacost Park. This involved the planting of 300 native species trees in the areas of the park cleared of vines and much understory during Phase I of the project. The plantings included 100 seedlings each of Persimmon, Beach Plum, and Sweet Gum. The Eastern Red Cedar, which was to be included, was left out when it came time for planting. Availability may have been the issue with the red cedar, but its absence just increased the distrust of those who have been protesting against the borough’s initiative in the park.
When Joseph Lomax, borough environmental consultant, had early on discussed the tree selections for planting, he referred to the red cedar as a species that “supports nesting, hiding and roosting.” Residents who have raised concerns about the initiative from the start focused much of their attention on the disturbance of nesting and roosting areas.
Some of these individuals speaking before the council meeting started expressed renewed distrust over what they are told by the council and what they see happen in the park.
Council members have repeatedly expressed their desire to see healthy park ecology and a thriving sanctuary for birds. One of those who has spoken out against the initiative since its introduction, Martha Wright, recently compiled a list from which she asserts 10 individuals have attended council meetings to speak against the initiative, some many times, and six individuals have attended to support the borough’s actions.
Both sides claim to be supporters of the park, but they hold very different views on what needs to be done to encourage a healthy sanctuary.
For one side, intervention is the only way to save the park’s deteriorating ecology; for the other intervention is the root of the park’s problems and leaving the area to nature is the best way to encourage a vibrant environment for the birds. For now the pilot project is at a point where no new intervention is imminent, but one doubts the issue is resolved.
To contact Vince Conti, email vconti@cmcherald.com.