CREST HAVEN – Now that the county bought the former Kmart site at Routes 9 and 47 in Rio Grande for $5.75 million, it’s time to start renovations.
The Social Services building, just south of the site, will be vacated and its employees shifted to the new site when all the work is done.
Freeholders approved a “not-to-exceed” $569,156 resolution Feb. 12 to award a contract to the architectural firm Buell Kratzer Powell, Ltd. for its expertise to renovate the site.
A previous release noted that the cost of renovation would be from $6 million to $7 million. The property is assessed at $10.4 million.
A community out-based clinic for the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs will be one of the tenants. It is expected to be operational by Feb 1, 2020.
The state is also expected to lease space from the county at the site.
Acting Purchasing Agent Allison Hansen told freeholders the firm was selected after receiving nine proposals that ranged from $200,000 to over $800,000.
Other engineering awards:
* A modification to an existing contract with the firm Greenman-Pedersen Inc. was approved for $375,965 for engineering services for Townsend’s Inlet Bridge underwater substructure repairs.
* Gibson Associates P.A. was awarded a $907,248 contract for construction engineering services for the Rio Grande Boulevard entryway project in Wildwood.
In other actions the board:
* Reappointed Patricia Callinan to the Cape May County Municipal Utilities Authority for five years, effective Feb. 1, 2019 expiring Feb. 1, 2024.
* Executed a lease agreement with the county 4-H Foundation to use the fairgrounds for 50 years to expire Feb. 25, 2069.
*Ended the county Water Resources Coordinating Council.
* Approved a $55,640 contract with non-profit Jersey Cape Diagnostic Opportunity and Training Center to provide recyclable materials pickup for one year. The center is a sheltered workshop that employs handicapped individuals.
* Authorized a change order for $46,747 to MJJ Construction LLC for renovation work on the third floor of the courthouse.
* Made an agreement with Middle Township Board of Education to provide bus transportation service in the event that a mass evacuation is ordered in the face of a natural disaster or other emergency. The pact is valid for three years from Jan. 22, 2019 to Jan. 21, 2022.
* Appointed William Cripps as county fire coordinator and Jay Newman and William Mulligan as deputy fire coordinators to fill unexpired terms of J. Greg Neill, Jonathan Schwartz and Chris Walters, terms to expire Dec. 31, 2019.
* Appointed members of the Mental Health, Alcohol and Drug Abuse Board: Robert Johnson of Court House, David Grusemeyer of Marmora and Barry Keefe of Ocean View. Terms expire June 30, 2021.
* Named to the county Construction Board of Appeals, Ray Poudrier, regular member, term expires Dec. 14, 2020. Michael Morano and Daniel Speigel as regular members, terms to expire Dec. 8, 2022. In a separate resolution officers to the board were named for 2019: Cornelius Byrne Jr., chair, Ray Poudrier, vice chair, Chris Penza, secretary.
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