Kayak Park Registration for Residents – First Come, First Served

AVALON – Borough council passed an ordinance establishing a pilot program for the registration of kayaks stored at the Avalon Kayak Park on 57th Street at its meeting March 12. The ordinance is in response to kayak overcrowding at the park, which is near the municipal boat ramp. The borough will furnish metal storage racks to be used by residents free of charge, two berths per household. Registrants will be provided a registration sticker that must be affixed to the kayak. Property owners seeking to register will need to provide their taxpayer ID, residents who are not property owners should bring a copy of their lease agreement. Registration will open 9 a.m. on April 12, online and in person at Avalon Community Hall. Registrations will be issued on a first come, first served basis. The ordinance requires registration for storage only, the launch ramp remains open to the public.
Back Bay Dredging
Borough Engineer Thomas Thornton explained a proposed bond ordinance of $750,000 for a joint venture, back bay dredging project with Middle Township. Thornton said that the Department of Transportation (DOT), Office of Maritime Resources will be reimbursing the borough for the state channel portions of the project, approximately 10,000 cubic yards. DOT will also be covering a prorated portion of the total fixed costs of the project, expected to be around $600,000. Property owners with boat slips will be able to deal directly with the contractor to have private slips dredged during the project. The borough’s permits will cover slip owners who chose to deal with the designated contractor. A slip owner who wishes to use a different contractor will have to procure their own permit. Since dredging may only take place between September and December by law, the project will be completed in two phases, beginning this fall. The ambitious project “includes nearly every waterway in Avalon,” said Thornton.
Water Tower
Borough Business Administrator Andrew Bednarek reported that Verizon Wireless has expressed interest in leasing space on the 13th Street water tower. AT&T began leasing space on the tower last year. The borough currently leases space to several cell phone carriers on the 38th Street water tower, raising nearly $380,000 in revenue per year.
Snow Removal Thanks
Before going into closed session, Councilman John McCorristin thanked the Department of Public Works for their snow removal efforts this winter. McCorristin said he had been contacted by several residents who wished to convey their thanks to the borough employees. Borough resident Richard Demarco echoed McCorristin’s notion, saying “There aren’t many of us here in the winter, and I know it’s not easy getting up and down every street. Great job.”
To contact Don Tozer, email dtozer@cmcherald.com.