OCEAN CITY – At the City Council meeting Monday evening, the Mayor and Council met to discuss a variety of issues that included, the extension of the annual concrete contract, the request to purchase bus shelters and the request to submit an unsolicited proposal to sell a terragator to Rehoboth Beach, Del.
Concrete Contract Renewed
The Mayor and Council voted Monday evening to extend the current concrete contract with Worth Construction for one more year.
Ocean City Public Works Director Hal Adkins came before the Mayor and Council to request an extension of the current Worth Construction one-year contract.
Adkins explained that in 2006 the council awarded the annual concrete contract to Worth Construction. The contract is essentially a sidewalk maintenance contract that includes concrete repair and replacement.
According to Adkins, with the one-year contract coming to an end, Worth Construction approached him with the wish to extend the contract for another year.
“They are willing to extend and roll-over their current pricing for another 12-month period,” Adkins said.
Adkins added that he had been pleased with the first year with Worth Construction and wished to continue the contract.
“I do, in fact, recommend you accept it,” he advised the Mayor and Council. “I don’t feel you’re going to find a better price.”
Councilman Jim Hall supported the request for the extended contract.
“They just finished the Bayshore extensive concrete work and they did a good job on it, and all the work I’ve seen them do is excellent,” he said.
Adkins agreed that the work on Bayshore was a success and added that the company had just successfully completed work on Baltimore Ave. in front of the Plim Plaza Hotel on 2nd Street.
The council voted unanimously, with Councilman Lloyd Martin absent, to approve the request to extend the contract for another year.
Two Bus Shelters Approved
The number of bus shelters positioned throughout town for the convenience of bus passengers will be growing by two after the Mayor and Council approved the request Monday.
George Thornes, Superintendent of Transportation, came before the Mayor and Council Monday evening to request the purchasing of one small passenger shelter and one large passenger shelter from Columbia Equipment Company.
In May, the council approved the request to conduct the bidding for the shelters, and since that time, has gone to bid with three companies.
Thornes suggested that the council approve the Columbia Equipment bid despite the fact that it was the second highest bidder.
Thornes explained that the 44 bus shelters in Ocean City are all from Columbia Equipment. He explained the importance of purchasing interchangeable shelters that are identical in dimension and similar in style.
“In order to keep things more uniform, I recommend we award to Columbia Equipment,” Thornes said.
Councilwoman Nancy Howard noted that the shelters are funded by a MTA grant and would only cost the town roughly $1,500.
Thornes added that at this time the city does not have a set location for the shelters, but he said officials would be looking at all the bus stops this winter to see where any shelters may be needed and if any need to be relocated.
“Do you find the shelters are abused in any way? Are they damaged?” Councilwoman Margaret Pillas asked.
Thornes explained that while the shelters do take some abuse, they are still beneficial to the town and the bus passengers.
“It shows a commitment from the town to the transportation system that the town wants the transportation system to grow,” he said. “I think it is a worthwhile venture.”
The council voted unanimously, with Councilman Lloyd Martin absent, to approve the request for two additional bus shelters.
Terragator To Be Sold To Rehoboth Beach
After numerous attempts to sell two sludge injector terragators, the City Council has approved the recent bid from Rehoboth Beach, Del. for one of the two terragators.
Ocean City Public Works Director Hal Adkins explained that in February 2005 the council gave permission to dispose of or sell excess equipment. That equipment included two 6,000-gallon tankers and two sludge injector terragators.
“We were successful at selling the tankers, we were unsuccessful at selling the sludge injector terragators,” Adkins said, adding that the city had tried numerous methods of advertisement to sell the two terragators.
According to Adkins, the town had received bids of $16,600 and $20,000 for both terragators, but it was decided that the bids were two low.
Currently, there is a written offer from the city of Rehoboth Beach for one of the machines in the amount of $40,000.
“I think it’s the best we’re going to get,” Adkins said, advising the council to accept the bid for the machine.
The council voted unanimously, with Councilman Lloyd Martin absent, to accept the request to sell the terragator to Rehoboth Beach.