Second reading for bond that includes Community Center roof, vehicles, more
OCEAN CITY – Ocean City Council is expected to vote Thursday on final approved of a $10.945 million bond ordinance to cover lagoon and back-bay dredging, fixing city buildings including the Community Center roof, installing artificial turf at the grass soccer fields on Tennessee Avenue and buying for multiple departments.
Council approved the bond ordinance on first reading at the July 21 meeting. Second reading of the ordinance is scheduled for the City Council meeting at 7 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 11.
The biggest expense to be covered by the bond is $2.81 million for a mix of construction, rehabilitation and repair of public facilities. That includes replacing the roof at the Community Center, renovating Beach Patrol facilities, repairing the foundation and stage lighting at the Music Pier, replacing the HVAC system for the Historical Museum and citywide LED lighting improvements.
The bond will cover most of the $2.5 million expense for lagoon and back-back dredging. That includes not only the physical dredging of the area, but also the permitting and engineering and preparing and emptying a disposal (dredge materials) site.
Another $2.275 million will have a substantial impact on the city’s playing fields. That includes replacing the grass fields at the Tennessee Avenue soccer and lacrosse complex with artificial turf. Money also is targeted for Carey Field, the artificial turf playing field at Ocean City High School, along with improvements to other recreation facilities and public areas and citywide landscaping, fencing repair and replacement and irrigation improvements.
There is $1.464 million for buying vehicles, including a police patrol boat. Other vehicles to be purchased include two heavy-duty dump trucks, a life van, extended cab 4×4 pickup, heavy duty 4×4 pickup with snow plow and loader bucker, Beach Patrol 4×5 UTZ and two rescue trucks and a Community Services stake body truck.
The bond has $1.039 million for other equipment for the the police and fire departments, public works and the Beach Patrol and Community Services and the Aquatic and Fitness Center.
Another $610,000 is slated for work on transportation and parking areas, including electric vehicle (EV) charging stations.
There is $92,000 for communications equipment, $80,000 for improvements to the beachfront, including beach mats and paths for better public access, and $75,000 for boardwalk work.
By DAVID NAHAN/Sentinel staff