Town Touts Sandy Recovery Ahead Of Five Year Anniversary

Five years after Hurricane Sandy destroyed a protective coastal bulkhead in Point Lookout, Hempstead Town Supervisor Anthony J. Santino watched as town workers replaced sections of the sea wall that were ravaged by the storm.

And it's not just repairing damaged infrastructure. According to Santino, by using town workers to replace the bulkhead, the town saved $525,000 compared to using private contractors to do the work.

"Protecting the public and our infrastructure from storm damage, while maintaining our coastal areas for public enjoyment, is an important priority for our government," said Santino. "We are rebuilding storm-damaged bulkheads along the waterfront in Point Lookout. In addition to safeguarding buildings and other infrastructure, this location is an access point for a popular public fishing pier."

The town’s workforce has already completed more than 400 feet of bulkheading on this project, and is now engaged in replacing another 300 feet in the hamlet of Point Lookout. The construction site is along the north shore of the Point Lookout barrier island, west of the Loop Parkway Bridge near the wind turbine. The sea wall fortification, which borders Reynolds Channel, continues west from the turbine, running along the northern boundary of the township’s renewable energy park and the Conservation and Waterways Department administration building. The dock work will terminate just east of the local West Marina.

The estimated cost of materials for the project will amount to $315,000, averaging $450 per linear foot. The town says that utilizing a private-sector contractor to perform the work would have cost an estimated $1,200 per linear foot, totaling $840,000 for the entire 700-foot project.

The cost for an outside building company includes both labor and materials. The cost for the town project is only comprised of material costs since there is no additional cost to the town for the municipal laborers who are performing the work. Also, no additional employees were hired to perform this work, and the crew of craftsmen performs a host of other duties at town marinas and conservation facilities when not engaged in dock building.

The new dock will have an estimated useful life of more than 50 years. The bulkhead sheathing consists of heavy gauge extruded vinyl, which is secured by wooden piles that are driven into the bay bottom.

The bulkheading project began in late April. While the first 400 feet are completed, the second phase, comprised of 300 feet of bulkhead, is underway. The town anticipates completion of this phase by mid-winter, depending on weather conditions.

However, the announcement of this project did not come without some controversy. Santino invited Council members Dorothy Goosby, Anthony D'Esposito and Dennis Dunne to the bulkhead unveiling. Not invited was Councilwoman Erin King Sweeney, who represents Point Lookout. King Sweeney said she was excluded from the press conference.

Santino has been feuding with King Sweeney for months. Just last week, Santino and other council members walked out of a hearing before King Sweeney and her fellow council member, Bruce Blakeman, could ask questions about the town budget.

Photo: Town of Hempstead