Ocean City will spend as much as $1.75 million to repair the track and install artificial turf at Carey Stadium, adjacent to Ocean City High School, near Sixth Street and Boardwalk.
In a 6-1 vote Thursday, City Council gave final approval to an ordinance that authorizes funding $1.25 million to install an artificial turf field and to resurface the track at Carey Stadium.
Another $500,000 is already in place for the project.
The potential spending on the city-owned field that serves as home to Ocean City High School teams is part of a larger bond ordinance that calls for $1.44 million in appropriations and $1.36 million in borrowing. The proposed ordinance would include a $150,000 appropriation for purchase of two new Ocean City Fire Department trucks (another $675,000 is already in place) and a $35,000 appropriation for installation of a generator at the fire department’s 46th Street station.
The property, located between Ocean City High School and the Ocean City Boardwalk between Fifth and Sixth streets, is owned and maintained by the City of Ocean City.
If the ordinance passes, work on the track and field could begin later this fall and be ready for the spring sports seasons, according to Jim Mallon, assistant to Mayor Jay Gillian. Earlier this month, City Council approved advertising for bids from contractors to complete the job.
In public comment, Wesley Avenue resident John Feairheller warned of the surprise costs and considerations of the project. He said he was the engineer for turf field projects in Atlantic City.
He said the city should plan on five months of construction, the displacement of spring or fall sports and even the potential relocation of graduation. He said the city will need a staging area for a lot of dirt — the "carpet" of artificial turf sits on two feet of stone. The stone sits atop drainage that will need to be tied into existing outfall pipes, raising cost and capacity issues — "the numbers are always extra," he said.
Feairheller raised other issues. In track, javelin throws can't pierce the turf field and discus tosses ding the material. Superstorm Sandy was not friendly to the fields in Atlantic City, he said.
Feairheller said he doesn't support or oppose the project. He just wanted the city to be aware of the potential costs.
"I see no problem with putting the funding in place," Councilman Mike DeVlieger said.
Council members said the ordinance authorizes the spending but does not yet approve the work on the project.
"We'll do our homework along the way," Council President Tony Wilson said.
Councilman Pete Guinosso cast the dissenting vote.
More from Thursday's City Council meeting:
__________
Sign up for OCNJ Daily’s free newsletter and breaking news alerts
“Like” us on Facebook
