Ocean City Council Gives Final Approval to Dredging Project

The funding is in place to begin dredging lagoons and bayfront areas too shallow for boating that had been put on hold for some time.

Ocean City Council unanimously approved an ordinance that appropriates $5 million and borrow $4,750,000 for the dredging project.

Business Administrator Jim Mallon said all the money set aside would be used for the project, which would dump the dredge spoils at Site 83, located near 34th Street.

The site is currently filled, but the ordinance allows the City to empty the site in preparation for the project, and bids for that portion of the project began to come in on Thursday, according to Chief Financial Officer Frank Donato.

Dredging had been on hold due to a lack of sites to dump the spoils. The City has permits for preferable sites with the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection, but it doesn’t have the permission to use those sites.

Mayor Jay Gillian continues to work on gaining use of those sites, and Councilman Keith Hartzell questioned what would happen if more sites came open or if the possibility of dredging more areas this year became a reality.

While the administration said it doesn’t foresee additional dredging this year, Donato said there can be an amendment in that case, and the City can borrow money from the fund balance if necessary.

Gillian said he doesn’t want to “throw out wild numbers” in anticipation of something that may not materialize.

Council approved the ordinance with a 6-0 vote. Councilman Peter Madden was absent.

July 1 is the likely date for the start of the project.

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