Dear Friends,Even in the middle of February, work continues on important infrastructure projects throughout town. Our contractor has begun work to install the third and final pumping station for our north end neighborhood drainage project, and we still anticipate restoration of Bay Avenue and a completion date by early spring.Road and drainage improvements south of 55th Street are progressing on schedule. We are working in conjunction with utility companies, and all underground infrastructure has been upgraded. As a result, this project is expected to be complete before Memorial Day Weekend.In the bay, dredging crews are working with owners to dredge private slips and complete city contracts. Crews from the electric and gas companies are making major safety and service upgrades throughout the city.With warmer weather not too far off, other contractors will begin to mobilize on spring road projects throughout town, including new crosswalks for the downtown Asbury Avenue intersections at Sixth Street, Seventh Street and 11th Street.
In addition, work will begin shortly on Sixth Street to replace collapsed drainage pipes at Ocean Avenue and to address flooding issues along the length of the street. All this work is scheduled to be complete by early May, so there is some leeway to clear the roads in plenty of time for the summer season.I want to remind you that the next City Council meeting will be on Feb. 28, and I look forward to presenting our capital plan and our draft budget at that time. I encourage anybody with an interest in our plans to attend.The Ocean City Police Department will hold a swearing-in ceremony for Chief Jay Prettyman, Capt. Bill Campbell, Capt. Charlie Simonson, four lieutenants, five sergeants and 10 new officers at 6 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 13, at the Ocean City Tabernacle. Please join me in congratulating these men and women, and I encourage you to stop by if you get a chance.The Ocean City Free Public Library will celebrate Black History Month throughout February, and two presentations this week will feature a dynamic storyteller – Michelle Washington Wilson. She will present “The Food and the Folks of the Great Migration ” at 6:30 p.m. Monday (Feb. 11) in a program for adults only and “Quilts of Faith ” at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday (Feb. 12). Call the library at 609-399-2434 to register in advance for these events.Warm regards,Mayor Jay A. Gillian
