Public Presentation on Former Rio Kmart to be Held Oct. 8

CREST HAVEN – Freeholders awarded a $4.3 million contract to South State, Inc., of Bridgeton, Sept. 10 for construction site work improvements at the former Kmart, 1127 Route 47 South in Rio Grande.
Freeholder Will Morey was absent.
Allison Hansen, of the Purchasing Department, told freeholders that four bids were received, and the one that was chosen came in well below the $5.1 million estimate.
Work includes parking lot, sidewalks, curbs, pavers, fence, water, sewer, irrigation, fire service and landscaping, according to Hansen, “so essentially everything from the outside of the building to the perimeter of the site.”
Hansen noted that contract time for completion is 130 days.
County Counsel Jeffrey Lindsay said Tractor Supply would be in the building “before this calendar year,” the veterans’ clinic by the end of April 2020, and county and state offices by Aug. 1, 2020.
He noted that a proposal was received for a movie theater.
If approved, “they (company) want to open up a movie theater within 60 days, so we’re probably looking at just after the turn of the new year, the movie theater would be open,” said Lindsay.
Freeholder Director Gerald Thornton said a lot of the interior would be completed by the private corporations.
“Somewhat,” said Lindsay. “As it (building) exists, it’s a large, empty box. We still need to do the work to make each unit, essentially box it out.”
“As far as all the work inside for their needs, they’re doing that themselves, right?” asked Thornton.
“Correct,” answered Lindsay.
A public presentation on the project will be held Oct. 8 at 5:30 p.m. in the Freeholders Meeting Room of the County Administration Building, 4 Moore Road, Court House.
In other action, the board:
* Appointed Jeffrey Stiles as maintenance superintendent in the Facilities and Services Department, effective Aug. 23, 2019.
* Authorized an addendum to the shared services agreement with South Jersey Economic Development District for professional technical assistance for “EDA 16 Regional Innovation Strategy Scope and Application” and New Jersey Economic Development Authority Innovation Challenge Planning grant. The addendum outlines tasks and activities associated with the grant technical assistance and strategic direction, and set a monetary limit not to exceed $10,000.
* Appointed Kathleen Kirchner as contract administrator one in the Engineering Department, effective Aug. 30, 2019.
* Authorized a license agreement between the county Department of Mosquito Control and the U.S. Coast Guard for the use of property located at the Coast Guard Training Center Cape May, 1 Munroe, Ave., Cape May, and Loran Support Unit, 12001 Pacific Ave., Wildwood, for mosquito and surveillance operations. The agreement is effective through Aug. 29, 2024.
* Appointed Judy Startare as administrative secretary/office service manager in the Department of Health, effective Sept. 4, 2019.
*Amended the 2019 budget in the amount of $362,434 for funding to support older adults with services such as home and meal delivery and state health insurance assistance. Funds are a result of a grant from the state Department of Human Services, Division of Aging Services.
* Closed the contract with Lomax Consulting Group, LLC, of Court House, for professional services associated with the Cape May County Park and Zoo wetlands delineation with a final payment of $865.
* Closed the contract with McCormick Taylor, Inc., of Mount Laurel, for professional engineering services for Sea Isle Boulevard Phase II Final Design with a final payment of $232.
* Authorized an addendum to the partnership agreement with Atlantic Cape Community College for the New Jersey Economic Development Authority Innovation Challenge Planning grant. According to the resolution, “the partnership agreement did not identify the efforts of Atlantic Cape to provide services to businesses and in leading the planning, development, and establishment of the bizHub.” The addendum rectified that.