County, Dennis to Swap Speed Sign Data

CREST HAVEN – Dennisville resident Robert Grace told Dennis Township Committee that he lives on Speedway Boulevard (Route 610/Petersburg-Woodbine Road). 
Over time, he rehearsed his concerns many times to the governing body. As reported here Nov. 5, 2015, Grace said, “I’m scared that we’re really going to have a bad thing happen there because of the lack of enforcement of the speed limit.”
The county road has a speed limit of 25 mph. He added, “If I am going 24 mph, there are pickup trucks and other large vehicles that will speed right by me even though there’s a double yellow line at that point. I was weeding a flower bed by the side of the road and a truck passed and if I hadn’t rolled out of the way, I do think I would have been hit.”
While the wheels of government may grind slowly, they turn, witnessed by a freeholder resolution passed Aug. 23.
The shared services agreement between the county and Dennis Township was for the installation of additional speed feedback signs in Grace’s section of the highway.
County Engineer Dale Foster explained for freeholders that Dennis Township was “looking to buy additional signs.” He noted the signs require special software that the county possesses, and is ready to share with the municipality. The resolution solidified that agreement.
After the signs are placed, enforcement will become the key to finally solving Grace’s concern.
In November he was asked when the worst times for speeding infractions take place. “The worst hours are 6 p.m. to around 7:30 p.m. You really need to get the county to pay attention since the traffic signs are not meaning much,” he was quoted as saying at the November meeting.
In other action the board:
Lauded the efforts of the American Legion Auxiliary of Morvay-Miley Post 524, Ocean City for placing five flagpoles at the circle of the county Veterans Cemetery that will fly flags of each service. Accepting the honor on behalf of the Auxiliary was President Joan Sambucci, Gloria McDermott, and Betty Stivate.
Approved an agreement with Delaware River and Bay Authority to store the County Prosecutor’s Office patrol boat at the North Cape May ferry terminal. The vessel, purchased with Homeland Security grant funds, is the mainstay of the newly-created Maritime Security and Response Unit. The boat will be used in conjunction with the Delaware River and Bay Authority Police Department to “prevent, protect against, respond to, and recover from acts of terrorism and other catastrophic events and emergencies that occur at the Port of Cape May and surrounding waters.”
Applied to the state Juvenile Justice Commission for funding of $314,535 for 2017. Of that, $105,152 is for Family Court; $209,383 is for State Community Partnership.
Voted support to use the state’s Regional Transportation Alternatives Program to fund the “missing link” along Seashore Road (CR 626) from Sandman Boulevard to the Canal Bridge, a part of the county’s regional bike path network. When completed, the path will allow bicyclists to pedal from the Cape May-Lewes Ferry to Cape May County Park and Zoo without being endangered by vehicles.
Approved a $14,309 change order (Number 6) to Aliano Brothers General Contractors Inc. for the Stone Harbor Branch Library at 96th and Second Avenue. It provided for balcony insulation, metal covers for the exterior, stair railings, ladder cover, additional door closers and miscellaneous siding work.
Approved change order (No. 1) for $286,461 to Asphalt Paving Systems Inc. for increased quantities of asphalt on the resurfacing project of Commonwealth Avenue (CR 619) from Sea Isle City border to Corson’s Inlet Bridge. Foster told the board in some places concrete slabs had sunk, and much more asphalt was required than was first estimated.
Awarded to Collins Iron Works, d/b/a Dennisville Fence a contract for $15,984 for fencing at the Social Services Building, Rio Grande. Lowest of three bidders, Dennisville Fence was also lower by $14,000 than the state contract supplier.