Ocean City Mayor Jay Gillian
Dear Friends,
We have been working tirelessly with our federal and state partners throughout the year to secure a much-need replenishment project for our north-end beaches, and today we learned that Ocean City will be first in line.
Congressman Jeff Van Drew and Assistant Secretary of the Army for Civil Works Adam Telle visited Ocean City this afternoon to announce that they have identified a source of short-term funding and hope to be able to start work within months.
At the same time, Congressman Van Drew is sponsoring bipartisan legislation that would establish a permanent source of funding to protect all of our nation’s coastline.
I want to thank our congressman and the assistant secretary for their advocacy on behalf of all shore towns, and I look forward to working together with the Army Corps of Engineers and the state Department of Environmental Protection on this project.
The ongoing Army Corps beach replenishment program is essential to protecting lives, property and our local economy. I will provide further updates as more information on the funding, design and construction timeline becomes available.
In the meantime, we are continuing to harvest and stockpile sand. When the winter and early-spring storms pass, we will be ready to shore up eroded beaches along the Boardwalk. One way or the other, we will be ready for summer.
It’s always a pleasure to visit the Senior Center, and today I was able to stop by for their Valentine’s Day celebration. This crew knows how to have fun, and part of the festivities included the Senior Center’s edition of the “The Newlywed Show.” Happy Valentine's Day to all of our seniors.
I’m sad to report on the passing of Ocean City’s Joseph P. Devine. Joe was a Marine veteran and past commander of the Veterans of Foreign Wars post in Ocean City, and he had a distinguished career in accounting and finance. Please join Michele and me in extending deepest condolences to Joe’s family and friends.
Check out this week’s edition of “Inside City Hall” below to get a look at Ocean City Beach Patrol pre-season preparations, plans for a new flood mitigation project for 18th Street to 26th Street, the South Shore Transportation Summit, Roosevelt Boulevard construction, and an OCHS girls’ swim team playoff meet.
I hope you have a great holiday weekend. Don’t forget about our Nature & the Environment Family Fun Day from 9:30 a.m. to noon on Saturday (Feb. 14) in the Ocean City High School cafeteria, and the “Love Is in the Air: Broadway Love Songs Cabaret” at 2 p.m. Saturday (Feb. 14) at the Ocean City Music Pier.
Happy Valentine’s Day to all.
Warm regards,
Mayor Jay A. Gillian
