City Council on Thursday awarded a 642,420 contract to design drainage improvements in one of the city’s most flood-prone neighborhoods, but here are several other items that might be of interest:
- Pickleball Courts: City Council voted unanimously to authorize a $165,500 contract with All Surface Asphalt Paving Inc. of Point Pleasant to build five Pickleball courts on an existing municipal parking lot on Shelter Road (near the Ocean City Humane Society off Tennessee Avenue). The contract also will include new surfaces for basketball and street hockey facilities near the Ocean City Sports and Civic Center (at Sixth Street and Boardwalk) and the replacement of the artificial grass surface on the tennis courts near the Ocean City Intermediate School (at 18th Street and Haven Avenue). An earlier bid of more than $600,000 for a similar project was rejected in June.
- Ocean City Theatre Company: City Council voted on seeking bids to make improvements at city-owned property at 1501 West Avenue — including but not limited to installing a fireproof door and some fireproof sheetrock. The Greater Ocean City Theatre Company has an “as is” lease on the property for $1 a year, but the city recently spent $47,000 to fix the building before the tenants moved in. The city spent more for an architect to design the safety improvements. “It’s hard to fathom ‘as is’ doesn’t end a financial arrangement,” Ocean City resident Bill Hartranft said in questioning the ongoing costs to taxpayers. “Any time we can provide a place for our kids to thrive in our community, we have an obligation to do that,” Councilman Tony Wilson said later.
- Bike Path Behind Primary School: Council authorized applying for a grant to reconstruct the bike path that runs between Fifth Street and Sixth Street behind Ocean City Primary School. The path is part of an island-wide safe bicycle route.
- Tennessee Avenue Improvements: Council authorized applying for a grant to reconstruct Tennessee Avenue and improve drainage, curbs and sidewalks there.
- Madden Appointments: City Council appointed Pete Madden as replacement to Mike Allegretto as council representative to the Tourist Development Commission and the Business and Neighborhood Development Association.
- Building Heights: Council approved the first reading of an ordinance designating base flood elevation plus one as the starting point for calculating building heights in certain commercial zones. A similar ordinance affecting other commercial zones already has passed.
- “Healthy Living”: Council changed the name of the Advisory Council on Physical Fitness and Sports to the Ocean City Healthy Living Advisory Council.
