June 10, 2016
Dear Friends,
Last night, Jim Mallon informed City Council that we will proceed with the north end pump station project with an outfall basin at the end of Sixth Street.
The $8.7 million drainage project aims to bring relief to thousands of residents affected by some of the worst flooding in Ocean City, and it takes advantage of a $5 million grant from FEMA.
After hearing the concerns of some Sixth Street neighbors in the fall, my administration made every effort to get permission to move the outfall site to the Bayside Center. But it’s now clear that the change will delay the project extensively with no guarantee it ever will be approved. The property owners in the project area deserve better than to wait years for a solution. I’m confident that the project design will make a dramatic difference in the quality of life for the neighborhood, and that any concerns will be addressed in the state permitting process. If all goes well with permits, the work could begin as early as this winter.
Just a reminder that one lane of the bridges on the Route 52 causeway will be closed 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday to Friday as the state Department of Transportation completes inspections. The parking lot at the beach at 59th Street also will be closed starting on Monday. This will be the final stage of a beach and dune restoration project for the south end.
If you were not able to attend, I encourage you to watch the “State of the City” address I delivered to the Ocean City Regional Chamber of Commerce. The video is available online or you can watch it on OCTV-97 at 9:30 a.m. Saturday, 7:30 p.m. Tuesday or 7:30 p.m. Thursday.
Finally, I encourage you all to vote for Ocean City in the New Jersey’s Favorite Beach contest and the New Jersey Monthly Shore Town Showdown .
Warm regards,
Jay A. Gillian
Mayor
