Cape May to Bond $1.4 Million for Equipment, Building Improvements

CAPE MAY — With its 2010 budget in place, City Council is ready to shopping, introducing a $1.4 million bond ordinance for capital improvements ranging from vehicles to building repair at a May 18 meeting.
The bond covers equipment purchases including a new trash truck, riding lawn mower, street barricades, Police SUV 4×4, fire extrication equipment and other equipment totaling $263,00.
The bond covers improvements to municipal public buildings, storage facilities, and parks, including pedestrian walkways, lighting, signs, landscape and parking improvements, alternative and green energy features, including all labor and materials necessary to complete the above, totaling $261,000.
Acquisition of office equipment and furniture totals $96,000.
Purchase of safety equipment includes a police call recording system, in-car computers and cameras for police and fire, radar units, alcohol-tester, fire department vehicle computers, protective equipment, and hand-held PDF’s totaling $80,000.
The city will place a $75,000 down payment on the bond.
City Council also introduced a $1 million bond for improvements to the water/sewer utility including but not limited to all transmission mains, laterals and piping, water storage facilities, wells and well housings, pumping stations, and production systems and facilities, including all labor and materials necessary therefore and incidental thereto, totaling $950,000.
City Manager Bruce MacLeod said most of the appropriations were associated with the city’s road reconstruction program, replacing water and sewer mains as roads are paved.
The bond also covers acquisition of new water meters, computers and software for the automated water metering system, including the costs of upgrading existing water meters, and further including all related costs and expenditures incidental thereto, totaling $50,000. MacLeod said about 2,600 automated water meters have been installed which are linked by radio signal to the water department.
In addition, council introduced a $215,000 bond ordinance for the beach utility which covers improvements to various public buildings and grounds, including but not limited to beachfront restrooms, storage facilities, and ADA beach access ramps and walkways, the seawall, including all work and materials necessary, totaling $70,000.
In addition, the bond covers acquisition of equipment, including but not limited to the purchase of a beach tractor, a beach sanitizer, and other safety equipment, totaling $145,000.
MacLeod said all items were discussed by council at various budget meetings.