Kayak Rule Changes Weighed; Townsend’s Inlet Bridge Reopens

AVALON – Avalon Borough Council used a significant portion of its Feb. 10 work session to consider some proposed changes to rules governing the kayak park. 
In 2015, the borough amended its ordinance for the park and reduced the upper limit for each household from two to one berth. With only 216 berths total and a demand that annually produces a waiting list; the aim had been to better spread opportunities for berths across the interested public; to serve more households at the cost of a reduction in the per-household berths potentially available.
Despite a modest number of dissenters, council found the public happier with the broader distribution. A proposal to consider returning to a limit of two per household was seen as something that would produce greater displeasure.
Council member John McCorristin said the present system has “been received well,” and added “It would be tough to think about going back to two per household.”
The longer registration period for berths also instituted last year, was reported as working well. 
One change in wording to the ordinance, likely to be accepted when it is finally voted on, is clarification that anyone with an outstanding violation of the rules governing the park cannot participate in the annual registration process until the violation is cleared.
Bridge Reopens
Business Manager Scott Wahl told council that the contractor, South State, is finished with the $5 million project on Ocean Drive near the entrance to the Townsend’s Inlet Bridge. 
“The work is done,” Wahl said emphatically, “only some clean-up is left.” The bridge opened for traffic Feb. 12. Wahl said “There are no plans to close again for the foreseeable future.” 
McCorristin said that he saw the contractor hauling away material during the recent storm. “They were working,” he said.
The work to repair Ocean Drive was originally scheduled as a two-year project. Closing the section of road for a longer period allowed the contractor to maintain double shifts on the project and cut the job’s duration significantly.
The up-and-down schedule for bridge work and Ocean Drive repairs forced motorists to use the longer Route 9 path as the only connection between the communities.
Other Business
Wahl also reported to council that the Atlantic City Electric work on the new Peermont sub-station was actually ahead of schedule even with weather-related interruptions to the project this past month.
He saw no reason why the project would not be completed and clear by Memorial Day.
The joint agreement between Middle Township and Avalon on dredging was well received according to Wahl who read a letter of thanks from an Avalon Manor resident praising the cooperative venture.
The dredging of Middle’s Sterback Harbor was part of Avalon’s overall dredging project and that portion of the effort has been completed.
With the coldest days of the winter predicted for the Valentine’s Day Weekend, Avalon announced that the borough would have a warming center available at the Avalon Senior Center should anything cause an interruption in electric power.
Avalon’s Office of Emergency Management will have the center open throughout the weekend of predicted frigid temperatures. “It is just a precaution,” Wahl said.
To contact Vince Conti, email vconti@cmcherald.com.