Dear Friends,
We endured yet another nor’easter this week, and if you’re like me, you’re ready for some spring weather.
The Cape May County project replacing the West 17th Street Bridge blocked a major outfall pipe before the storm. This caused extensive flooding in the area from the bridge all the way to West Avenue. This is a county project, not a city project, and the county contractor did not follow approved plans. The city team took immediate action when the issue was discovered and required the county’s contractor to find a way to drain the flooded area. This is not acceptable, and I can assure you all that the county contractor will be working late into the evening to install a diversion pipe to fully correct the problem until the bridge project is complete.
At last night’s City Council meeting, Business Administrator Jim Mallon provided an update on the city’s efforts to acquire 903 Bay Avenue, the former Exxon gas station property. A judge in our condemnation proceeding conducted a settlement conference to try to see if we could resolve the litigation without more attorney’s fees and court costs. But the property owner wanted far more than the appraised value of the property, and we were unable to reach an agreement.
In light of what the City would have to pay in combined litigation and acquisition costs, the city voluntarily withdrew its condemnation complaint. We will continue to pursue more cost-effective opportunities for using taxpayer dollars to acquire open space. The owner is now free to pursue whatever plans he has for the property.
All floors of Gardens Plaza have reopened and residents are allowed to return following water damage from a standpipe that burst during the extreme cold of early January. I want to thank our construction code team for expediting permit applications and inspections to aid these residents.
A planned Atlantic City Electric power outage is now scheduled for 9 a.m. Wednesday (March 28). The interruption of service had been postponed a couple times due to the weather. The outage will affect the area between North Street and 13th Street and is expected to last no more than 15 minutes. We will send reminders to residents of the affected area as March 28 approaches.
I want to remind everybody that the Boardwalk Merchants Association will hold the first of two egg hunts on the beach between 11th Street and 14th Street at 2:30 p.m. Saturday (March 24). The event is free for children ages 7 and under, but be sure to arrive early to make sure you don’t miss the action. All parking on streets and municipal lots is free at this time of year, and remember that the 34th Street Bridge is still limited to one lane. The second egg hunt is scheduled for 2:30 p.m. March 31.
I hope you all have a great weekend.
Warm regards,
Jay A. Gillian
Mayor
