Dear Friends,
As I reported on Wednesday, we have a green light to start the long-awaited neighborhood drainage project in the Third Ward. Project managers tell me that A.E. Stone will start work on Monday.
The contractor will provide weekly updates on where work will take place, and they will be posted at ocnj.us/projectupdate. You also can sign up for e-mail alerts by checking the “project updates” box on our e-mail notification page.
I know property owners in the neighborhood are invested in the success of this project. I’m confident that any short-term inconveniences from construction will be outweighed by the long-term success of the drainage improvements. I look forward to holding a town hall meeting soon to present plans for our next major pumping station project – in the area between First Street and Eighth Street.
I’m happy to report that the owners of the former Getty Station at the corner of Ninth Street and Bay Avenue have demolished the building there and are removing gas tanks in preparation for soil testing. The three abandoned gas stations that greeted visitors at the gateway to Ocean City have now been removed. Ocean City remains in negotiations on the purchase of the Getty Station, and it’s our hope to have an open space park there by summer.
Saturday’s forecast looks sunny, and I encourage you all to attend the Doo Dah Parade, which starts at noon, runs along downtown Asbury Avenue and finishes on the boardwalk at the Ocean City Music Pier. The Great Egg Hunt for children 7-and-under takes place on the beach between 11th Street and 14th Street at 2:30 p.m. Regis Philbin will be grand marshal for the parade, and he’ll return to host the Mr. Mature America Pageant at 7 p.m. Saturday on the Ocean City Music Pier. If you’ve never seen the pageant, this would be a great year to attend. Tickets will be available at the Music Pier Box Office.
Warm regards,
Jay A. Gillian
Mayor
