Bond for $18 million Would Fix Bridges, Demolish Former Everlon Building

CREST HAVEN – An $18-million bond ordinance was discussed by freeholders July 11 for four general areas. 
The largest amount, $9.5 million is allocated for improvements to buildings and demolition. The Everlon Building at the Cape May County Airport will take about $6 million of that sum.
Remaining will be airport improvements and security upgrades at various locations including the courts and park.
For Bridge Commission-operated spans, the Townsend’s Inlet Bridge will account for $4,050,000. Of that amount, $202,500 will be funded by the state Department of Transportation’s Local Bridges Future Needs Program.
Other county bridges will take $4 million. They include Ingram’s Thorofare, Great Channel, and Roosevelt Boulevard.
Computers will consume $450,000 of the bond.
Several grant funds, totaling $697,500 are included to fund the projects.
In other action the board:
* Extended the contract with Conmed LLC for medical and pharmaceutical services at the Correctional Center through Dec. 31 at the cost of $65,000 per month, or about $195,000 for the three-month extension, according to Purchasing Agent Kevin Lare.
* Made an agreement with Lower Cape May Regional School District Board of Education to use its buses to assist in the evacuation of the county in the event of a natural disaster or emergency.
* Opposed and rejected “unnecessary and drastic cuts to federal workforce, education and human services programs.” They are contained in President Trump’s 2018 budget proposal.
* Approved a shared services agreement with Dennis Township for funding $224,000 for its bike/walkway, parking lot and access paths.
* Approved a $121,899 increase in the amount of work to be done by engineering firm NV5 to design a rear entrance to the County Park off Court House-South Dennis Road to align with the traffic signal by Atlantic Cape Community College.