Water drainage issues in Beach Haven hopefully will be remedied soon as local officials will be meeting with county engineers to discuss ways to resolve the various problems, which have plagued the town for months. The town and county’s drainage systems are “intricately meshed together” with the main drains running down Bay Avenue and the county’s outfall pipes running into the bay, Borough Manager Richard Crane explained at the town council’s monthly meeting Monday, Aug. 8.
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| Photo by Ryan Morrill Icebergs float down the main drag in Beach Haven when Winter Storm Jonas clobbered LBI in January. |
“When they don’t work, we don’t drain,” he stated.
At first, town officials hadn’t been getting much help from the county engineer’s office, so Crane reached out to Freeholder Deputy Director Gerry P. Little, who’s now helping to move the process along.
Crane noted that an outfall pipe at Ocean Street, where drainage has been “really, really bad,” had been fixed by county engineers when it collapsed during the winter, though drainage is still a problem in that region.
“It’s probably the worst area in town,” he said, adding that televising the system will hopefully help diagnose the issue.
Russel Hill, who lives at the corner of Ocean Street, told council members he’s been keeping a record of the drainage and he’d like to be involved in the discussions. The mayor said it would be “very helpful” for officials to look over his documents.
In other meeting news, Council Preisident Jim White said the lifeguards have been “inundated” with rescues due to rip currents. He shared details of a recent save of an unresponsive, 58-year-old male who was rescued from the water by lifeguards at Pearl Street with help from the local police and first aid squad.
“We’re so lucky to have them,” White said as the audience clapped in agreement.
Crane noted lifeguard rescues through Aug. 7 totaled 158, with six EMS activation on-beach incidents, 13 EMS first-responder incidents and 139 first aid calls.
Mayor Nancy Taggart Davis said many people are getting hurt riding the waves, which are breaking closer to shore due to beach replenishment. Though the issue will resolve itself over time, she said, the town may re-create a bay beach for toddlers and other small children to swim safely.
The mayor also suggested the town expand its lifeguard barracks since the housing has helped the borough secure well-trained individuals who otherwise wouldn’t be able to afford the high cost of living on LBI.
Crane noted the total of sales for beach badges through Aug. 4 was $426,810. Though this may seem like a lot, the borough manager said last year’s total around this time of the season was nearly $20,000 more.
Resident Scott Cunningham said he was “sorry” to hear the town has not accrued as much of a profit on beach badges, though he thinks it’s “not too much to ask” for locals to get a free badge.
He also suggested construction on Saturdays from June 15 to Sept. 15 begin at 8 a.m. as opposed to the current 7 a.m. allowed start since many people are spending thousands of dollars a week to vacation in town.
Crane noted the rebidding for construction of the new municipal building project, which has been reworked to lower costs, has been pushed back a week, to Tuesday, Aug. 16, at 1 p.m., at the request of several of the bidders.
Council approved a number of ordinances and ordinance amendments on first reading, including the requirement of property owners to post their house number and the renewal of an agreement with Verizon to use various public streets for its communication needs, as well as to do away with a local canvass of dogs.
Michael Peeler, who regularly attends the meetings, told council he disapproved of Gov. Christie’s fairness formula, which council showed support for that night via an adopted resolution. Though the proposed solution aims to provide tax fairness as well as better public education, Peeler believes it would adversely affect poorer districts. Davis, who noted the state has the highest property taxes in the country, said the formula should equalize the payments and help lower taxes.
Peeler also said he believes the borough’s recently adopted smoking ban should include higher fines.
Local developer Bill Burris urged council to have the Town Club maintain its property. Burris helped develop the agreement, which he said requires the club to upkeep specific areas in town.
“If public works doesn’t do something and the Town Club doesn’t do something, I’m going to do something, and it’s going to involve all of us because they’re just not doing what they’re supposed to do,” he stated.
Mary Ann Hovan, who’s come before council many times regarding the overgrowth near her Dock Road home due to vacant properties that have not been maintained, thanked “whoever” finally cut the weeds around her house.
Councilman Don Kakstis noted that a fundraiser for Councilman Bob Keeler’s daughter, who was critically injured in a head-on car collision, will be held at Buckalew’s Restaurant and Tavern on Sept. 7, from 6 to 8 p.m. Donations can also be dropped off at borough hall. The mayor noted Keeler’s daughter may have to go through rehabilitation for two years.
— Kelley Anne Essinger
This article was published in The SandPaper.
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