All of Long Beach Island, including Beach Haven, will receive free beach replenishment via the Long Beach Island Coastal Storm Damage Reduction project, Richard Crane, Beach Haven borough manager, announced during the monthly town council meeting on Monday, Dec. 8. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has awarded a $128 million contract to Great Lakes Dredge and Dock Co. for the project, a joint effort between the Army Corps’ Philadelphia District and the N.J. Department of Environmental Protection.
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| Photo by Jack Reynolds The beach replenishment is expected to be completed by May 2016. |
According to a press release, the work will involve dredging approximately eight million cubic yards of sand from an approved borrow area approximately three miles offshore of LBI. The sand will be pumped through a series of pipes onto the beaches within the municipalities of Beach Haven, Long Beach Township, Ship Bottom and a small section of Surf City over a length of 12.7 miles. The sand will then be built into a dune and berm system designed to reduce potential damages to infrastructure, businesses and homes that can occur from coastal storm events. The contract includes the construction of dune crossovers, placement of sand fencing and dune grass plantings.
The project was partially completed when Superstorm Sandy hit the Shore in 2012. The Army Corps completed the initial construction of the project in Surf City in 2006; Harvey Cedars in 2010; and Brant Beach between 31st and 57th streets in Long Beach Township in 2012. The Army Corps repaired beaches in Surf City and Harvey Cedars in 2012 after Hurricane Irene, and fully restored the beaches within all three communities after Sandy in 2013. The restoration and repair work was fully funded through the Army Corps’ Flood Control and Coastal Emergencies program.
The Army Corps is expected to issue a Notice to Proceed prior to the end of this year, after which the contractor will have 480 days to complete the project, Crane explained. Work is expected to be completed by May 2016.
Construction will be funded entirely by the federal government through the 2013 Disaster Relief Appropriations Act, commonly referred to as the Hurricane Sandy Relief Bill. Following the completion of initial construction, the project will be eligible for continued periodic nourishment.
It was also announced during the town council meeting that two companies associated with the state Neighborhood Preservation Grant program regarding reconstruction of Beach Haven's municipal building and renovation of its emergency operations center came out last week to do environmental studies of the buildings.
“We’re anxiously awaiting the results, so hopefully we can move on to the next level of the process,” Crane said.
Also last week, the borough received bids for two projects on the bayside of Coral Street. The replacement of the water main, anticipated to begin in January, received eight bids with the lowest from P&A Construction of Colonia for $243,462.30. The state Department of Transportation Road Reconstruction Program project, expected to begin in the springtime following drainage work, received seven bids, the lowest of which came from Earle Asphalt in Farmingdale at $414,313.13.
Councilman James White announced that, due to the strain on the local first aid squad, some members of the Beach Haven Volunteer Fire Co. are expected to begin working “hand in glove” with the EMTs.
“It looks like it’s going to take off, and it should solve the problem of the volunteers on that squad that are really under a burden right now,” he said.
During public comment, the council members addressed the issue regarding tent weddings in residential neighborhoods by saying they are continuing to work among themselves and with a lawyer on the best way to proceed.
“I think that there’s still some things we need to discuss, and council, I don’t think we exactly all feel the same about this issue,” said Councilwoman Nancy Taggart Davis.
Technically, she explained, the way a number of pertaining ordinances are now written, tent affairs can be held in a residential area only if they are for personal use, something which has not been fully enforced. If the ordinances are going to be changed, it needs to be done “very rapidly” so that people who have booked weddings in the area can make accommodations.
The council also praised the recent holiday events in town, many of which have been orchestrated by Beach Haven Future as well as the Long Beach Island Historical Museum.
In other meeting news, the council adopted an amendment to increase the dog license fee by 30 cents. Another amendment, which changed the deadline for purchasing a preseason tennis pass to June 15, was also adopted. A revision to clarify the six-trash-receptacle limit for business and commercial establishments was adopted, too.
An ordinance amendment pertaining to special events and block parties held in the borough, including bonfires, was passed on introduction.
“We made a lot of subtle changes here and there,” Sherry Mason, borough clerk, told The SandPaper. Changes range from insurance limits to fixed and waived fees as well as guidelines for security deposits.
At the close of the meeting, Councilman Edward Kohlmeir, who is leaving the council at the end of the year, expressed his gratitude in working with the town.
“This is my last official meeting that I’ll be attending, and I want to say, ‘thank you,’ to everyone on this council,” he said. “It has been a wonderful, wonderful 4 1/2 years. I’ve given 9 1/2 years to the borough’s service, and I’m looking forward still to continue to serve the borough. But I can tell everyone in this town that you have four other individuals on this council that are excellent, excellent people.”
— Kelley Anne Essinger
This article was published in The SandPaper.
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