Cape May receives multiple grants to help fund project expected to cost as much as $40 million
CAPE MAY — The city now has all of the necessary permits to move forward with construction of a desalination plant to replace its aging facility that provides fresh water to the city.
During a meeting Jan. 21, City Manager Paul Dietrich reported that the city had received its Coastal Area Facility Review Act (CAFRA) permit. The city had already received a New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection permit in November.
The city’s consultants are lining up grants and loans to replace the plant, a project with a price tag in the range of $36 million to $40 million. The plant was built to address saltwater intrusion into the city’s aquifers.
Dietrich previously said that the city has received several grants for the project, including principal forgiveness from the New Jersey Infrastructure Bank in the amount of $8 million, $2 million from the Department of the Interior and a $500,000 Army Corps of Engineers Water Resource Development Act (WRDA) award. Another WRDA is anticipated in the amount of $9.5 million.
“I’ll be meeting with several council members individually to go over some capital bond projects,” Dietrich said. “We’ve met with bond council and the auditor last week and previously, and we’re anticipating having some bond introduction ordinances to move some of these projects ahead, coming up in February.”
As the city has moved forward in the replacement process for the desalination plant, the reverse osmosis filters had to be replaced this past fall. Every year, the filters are purchased and replaced to refresh during the off-season, but the use was so heavy that it would not last through the summer.
Lifeguard headquarters
Dietrich said the contractor has requested two change orders for the construction at the Cape May Beach Patrol headquarters.
“They’ve been recommended by Rob Conley Architects that the change order one is a total of $15,787.70,” Dietrich said. “That includes removing the solar panels off the roof and some of the work.”
Initially, it was thought the solar panels would not have to be removed, but Dietrich said they all must come off for the work to be done. There is also some minor plumbing work that needs to be completed as part of that change order.
“Change order two is $13,104 for six helical piles along the front of the building, underneath of which will really support the addition of the area underneath the women’s locker room,” Dietrich said. “Once we tore off the old decking, we exposed the pilings that you couldn’t see because there’s deck boards over it, and those pilings are all rotted and need to be secured for structural support.”
Dietrich added that there will be a follow-up at the next meeting with a memorializing resolution and all the documentation. He said he needed authorization during the meeting to keep the contractor moving.
The existing lifeguard headquarters was built in 1988, when the CMBP was made up of almost entirely men. The staff currently is divided nearly evenly. The renovation will greatly expand the facilities for women and refresh the entire interior of the building.
Other business
Dietrich recognized tax collector Deb Lindholm for receiving a higher certification for tax collectors.
“She now holds the highest level of tax collector certification, which from my understanding, there’s not a lot that hold that higher level,” Dietrich said. “She’s now eligible to be a tax collector in all municipalities.”
He added that Lindholm does outstanding work for the city.
By RACHEL SHUBIN/Special to the Star and Wave