Ocean City Council Approves Funding

OCEAN CITY – City Council met for its regular meeting Feb. 9 and as part of the five-year capital plan approved a $12.2-million funding package, including nearly $11.6 million in city bonds and notes. 
The five-year capital plan was the subject of a town hall budget presentation by city administration Jan. 24.
The funding will finance some of the construction projects that will be done in 2017. They include the Boardwalk’s reconstruction between 10th and 12th streets, work on the new 29th Street firehouse, landscaping improvements, repairs to city buildings and upgrades to playgrounds and recreation centers.
At Mayor Jay Gillian’s request and his earlier recommendation to move the cost of renovation and expansion of the public safety building from this year to 2018, Council is slowing plans for a $17.5-million renovation and expansion of the public safety building, which houses the police department and municipal court.
That project is another big-ticket item and Gillian and council have jointly proposed town hall meetings on its scope and possible options.
“I want to get out to the public more details and also ask for their input. Pushing back implementation will give us time to identify the needs of the police, municipal court, emergency dispatch and social services offices that occupy the building,” said Gillian.
Council also unanimously voted at the meeting to approve a $6.6-million construction contract for drainage upgrades.
Those upgrades will encompass a flood-prone, 24-block area stretching from 26th Street to 34th Street between West Avenue and Bay Avenue. The construction contractor will repave roads, install new drainage pipes to replace some that are 40 to 60-years-old and build four new pumping stations to help channel floodwater off the streets and into the bay.
Councilman Keith Hartzell indicated he was happy to see the project finally get underway because he has been telling residents for the past 10 years “We were going to fix it.”
Councilman Barr concurred “It’s been a long time coming.”
The start of this project has been eagerly awaited by residents and represents the largest flood remediation scope of work in Ocean City history. This approved project follows on the heels of another large drainage project which is now underway in the Merion Park section of the island. Gillian has noted on many occasions that while these systems can’t provide total immunity from all flooding in this low-lying resort they represent a significant improvement for those living in these neighborhoods.
City Business Administrator James Mallon said of the project, “It’s not going to eliminate all flooding, but it will make the situation better and get water off the streets faster.”
In the past, the area between 26th and 34th streets has been particularly vulnerable to flooding, even during routine rainstorms. The new drainage and roadway improvements are expected to help reduce flooding in most storms.
According to Mallon, it is anticipated that construction will get started in the spring and be completed by the summer.
He added that the city would work with neighbors to try to minimize any construction-related disruptions, including the possibility that some of the street paving may be done through the summer.
To contact Camille Sailer, email csailer@cmcherald.com.