Dear Friends,
Members of City Council met recently with neighbors about flooding in the area of Third Street and Bay Avenue. I want everybody to know that the city is expected to go out to bid this summer for a contractor to complete a multimillion-dollar pumping station project that will bring relief to this neighborhood. Work should begin by the end of the fall.
The project will not be able to prevent all flooding. But as in a successful project in Merion Park, it will help streets drain much more quickly after flooding events. During the highest tides of the year, water from the bay can cross Bay Avenue and contribute to the problem, which is related to about a half-block of maritime businesses where bulkheads have never existed.
The city has long been aware of the issue and is studying options as part of the upcoming drainage project. The solution is not simple. The properties are privately owned and existing structures sit atop what would be the bulkhead line. State regulations prohibit filling in areas of the bay to move the line. Council members, representatives of Baker International Engineering and I will schedule a neighborhood meeting to share information about the possibilities.
Work to empty and repair Site 83 off Roosevelt Boulevard to make room for new bayside dredging projects continues to see good progress, and we’re on schedule to dredge Carnival Bayou, Sunny Harbor and South Harbor starting in September. Private owners interested in dredging their own slips can now consult a new FAQ at www.ocnj.us/dredgingfaq. It explains the responsibilities of individual owners, the city and the state when it comes to completing this type of work
Road crews suspended work on Bay Avenue, and South Jersey Gas contractors finished paving a number of other streets this week. That will represent the end of any major road work until after Labor Day. Some work will continue on Waterway Road and Bayland Drive as part of the Fourth Ward drainage project. See project update at www.ocnj.us/projectupdate.
Ocean City’s 12 new Pickleball courts are now open for play. Soon after I took office as mayor in 2010, an Ocean City resident named Don Hepner began visiting City Council meetings to urge the city to provide a facility for a sport that none of us knew at the time. Though I’ve heard health issues have prevented him from playing, I think we all owe a debt of gratitude for Don’s tireless efforts. The new courts are a valuable addition to the city. For information on how to use the courts, click here.
The Ocean City Music Pier will be host to two great shows this week. Vanessa Williams will be featured in the Ocean City Pops season opener on Sunday (June 25) and the Motown legend Temptations will perform on Monday (June 26). Stop by the Music Pier Box Office for tickets to either show. Vanessa Williams tickets are available online at www.oceancityvacation.com/boxoffice.
One final note: I just learned that Tow Boat US in conjunction with the U.S. Coast Guard will conduct a flare exercise on Monday (June 26) from about 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. in the ocean approximately three miles off Great Egg Harbor Inlet. Please know that the flares you may see in the sky will be part of the training.
Warm regards,
Jay A. Gillian
Mayor
