SEA ISLE CITY – The Sea Isle City Council has amended its five-year capital spending plan because bids for the beach replenishment project came in higher than expected.
The previous plan, adopted in December, allocated $2 million as the city’s share of the replenishment project. The amended version puts the city’s contribution at $3.2 million.
The actual amount that will be spent will not be known until the sand is on the beaches. Mayor Leonard Desiderio said he is not certain the entire $3.2 million will be needed, but the city wants to be prepared if it is.
The bids received by the Army Corps of Engineers for the project, which came in at about $33.8 million and $43.9 million, exceeded the expected expense, $29.3 million, and further beach erosion accelerated the need for fresh sand.
The amendment to Sea Isle’s capital plan for 2023 to 2027 provides another look at the total planned $36.5 million in capital spending. Of that amount, the largest share goes to roads and drainage at $16.8 million, with flood mitigation and pump stations the projected recipients of $13 million of that $16.8 million.
Next is the $9.2 million projected expense for the Beach, Bay and Promenade Corridor. This category contains the $3.2 million for the 2023 beach replenishment and another $2 million projected for a replenishment in 2027. It also allots $1.5 million for bay dredging in 2026.
These two categories account for over 70% of the total projected capital spending.
Equipment and vehicles account for $5.1 million, with the largest share, $1.8 million, allocated for a fire truck.
Facilities and buildings account for $4.5 million, spread out over 14 different projects, of which the only one greater than $1 million is decorative lighting citywide, projected at $700,000 in 2023 and $500,000 in 2027.
Spending for docks at the marina totals $20,000, and a $790,000 expense for operations and office equipment includes information technology and office equipment at $245,000 and fire department equipment at $350,000 over the five-year span.
Aside from the $36.5 million capital spending plan, the water and sewer needs of the city are projected at $4.6 million over the five years. The biggest items are $1 million for the north end sewer extension and $1 million for a new Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition system, both pegged for 2024.
Contact the author, Vince Conti, at vconti@cmcherald.com.
