Ocean City Council Approves Contract for Flooding Survey and Design

Ocean City Council awarded a $642,420 contract to Michael Baker International Company for survey and preliminary designs for a roadway and drainage improvement project for 26th to 34th streets, West Avenue to Bay Avenue, Thursday night.

The contract paves the way for a project to improve flooding issues in what is seen as the worst part of the island a week after a devastating storm brought further flooding to Ocean City.

Separate from the Baker contract, Ocean City will conduct a tip-to-tip assessment of the island using in-house resources. Baker may be consulted in conjunction with this assessment.

Suzanne Hornick, from the Ocean City Flooding community group, suggested monthly meetings with Baker that would include volunteer members of the community from each ward and and city representatives to help expedite the process and maintain transparency.

Ocean City Councilman Peter Guinosso wanted to ensure that the project doesn’t have a negative impact on other portions of the city.

“30th and Haven is the lowest point in the city,” Guinosso said. “If we raise it, water could flow out of there onto the properties nearby.”

“That’s why we have professionals working on it,” Ocean City Business Administrator Jim Mallon said.

He added concerns such as that are why Baker conducted an advance study.

“We’re not spending money unless we’re absolutely sure,” Ocean City Mayor Jay Gillian said. “This is very important. They know how to get things done.”

Mallon said the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and the Department of Environmental Protection are continuing their analysis of the island following last week’s storm.

“Early indications are that the north end was hit hard, and it may affect how much sand we need to pump in” during the upcoming replenishment project, Mallon said. “The south end is not that bad.”

The south end beach replenishment project concluded days before the storm last week. Great Lakes Bay and Dredging pumped 1.5 million cubic yards of sand into the south end. The same company will handle the north end replenishment project.

One resident said she was marooned during last week’s flooding.

“I live there by myself,” she said. “It was scary. There was water all around and there was no place to go.”

“We got these big tanks for this kind of situation,” Gillian said. “If you are marooned, call us. Call CIty Hall or call the police and we’ll come get you.”

The attached image is a Patch file photo