CAPE MAY — City Council awarded an $8.6 million contract Sept. 15 to Ogren Construction of Vineland for the construction of the Cape May Police Department headquarters.
The police station will be located at the corner of Lafayette and St. Johns streets, in a former part of Lafayette Street Park.
The new building will unite the CMPD, as it is currently divided between two buildings, with one operating out of City Hall and the other at the substation in West Cape May.
The process required a land swimmersion, with the city exchanging 6.6 acres of environmentally sensitive land adjacent to the Sewell Tract for 0.137 acres at the Lafayette Street Park that is part of the state Green Acres program.
Mayor Zack Mullock thanked City Council and the police department for their professionalism and patience.
“As many of you know, this has been years in the making,” Mullock said. “I want to thank the task force that was involved: Jake Stevenson, who is a resident of Cape May, the former police chief in North Wildwood and HPC member; former council member Mike Yeager; Dennis Crowley, who is right across the street on Lafayette, and a member of the Municipal Taxation and Revenue Advisory Committee; and former mayor and police officer Bob Elwell.”
Mullock also thanked Police Chief Dekon Fashaw, the entire command staff, City Manager Paul Dietrich, Deputy Manager Justin Riggs, engineer Vince Orlando, architect Rob Conley and the Cumberland County Development Authority.
“It’s an expensive endeavor to have the taxpayers pay for a building such as this, but [it’s] such an important building to the future of the city and the safety of the citizens,” Mullock said.
Fashaw said he appreciated all of the effort that has gone into the project.
“The council has changed over that time, but we appreciate all the City Council members who weighed in at certain times,” he said.
Fashaw also thanked the residents in the areas surrounding the site, noting that it’s going to be noisy during construction but they will get the job done cleanly.
“It’s going to be an impact daily and I’ve met with them personally on several occasions about different things each resident wants us to do,” he said. “I want to make known to the city residents that are living there and all around, this comes out of your pocket to pay for it, but it’s going to be here way past Zack’s kids living here and my kids being here.”
Resident Jules Rauch asked council if Jersey Central Power & Light (JCP&L) had reviewed the plans and approved them.
Dietrich said JCP&L has been involved through the entire design process.
“They have signed off on the plans and the Department of Environmental Protection has signed off on the design from an archeological and historical review,” Dietrich said.
He added that there are provisions in the contract that during any ground disturbance of a certain depth, JCP&L will be notified and will have an inspector on site to monitor for compliance.
By RACHEL SHUBIN/Special to the Star and Wave
