OCEAN CITY – City Council unanimously approved a $2-million contract with Charter Contracting Co. of Boston, Mass. to rebuild a back-bay island to the size it was in 1979.
Called a “living shoreline” project, plans call for the addition of material, including thousands of tons of material dredged from waterways, to rebuild the unoccupied Shooting Island off Tennessee Avenue to the size it was on a map from almost 40 years ago.
An additional part of the contract could include the creation of oyster habitat and add aids to navigation, driving the cost to $2.3 million.
Speaking near the close of the meeting, Suzanne Hornick, founder of the group Ocean City Flooding, argued that the money could be better spent to prevent flooding and protect property in Ocean City.
“We need a better plan. I would really like someone to look at where we’re spending our money,” she said. “Unless really the idea is that you need a place to dump dredge spoils.”
That would be fine, she said, but she suggested it could be done cheaper.
