Stone Harbor Bulkhead

Stone Harbor wants money from county fund to fix marina bulkhead
By BRIAN IANIERI Staff Writer, (609) 463-6713
Published: Wednesday, March 29, 2006
Updated: Wednesday, March 29, 2006

STONE HARBOR — The borough wants to replace and raise the bulkhead — a popular fishing location — near the bayside marina on 81st Street.

To do so, it is turning to Cape May County and a new program to fund municipal projects through county tax dollars.

Stone Harbor Mayor Suzanne Walters said the borough is applying to the county to fund about half of the $900,000 project.

Walters said the bulkhead would be replaced and raised about 2 ½ feet.

Walters said a larger bulkhead will help prevent flooding there during severe weather and high tides.

It would also act as a table-sized barrier from the bay for people who fish there, she said.

“We realized we were going to have to do something. This project came at the perfect time,” Walters said.

Cape May County's 16 municipalities are eligible for a combined $3.8 million of surplus funds to towns to help fund public projects.

Middle Township, for example, has expressed interest in using county funding to enlarge its bike path.

Walters said the marina work involves acquiring the required environmental permits. And Borough Council would also have to vote on spending its share of the money. Councilman Barry Mastrangelo said the marina area becomes a popular summertime spot.

“It's used by everyone in the county, as well as local people and the tourists coming to town. A nice day in the summer time, that place will be lined with people fishing,” Mastrangelo said.

Earlier this month, Cape May County Freeholders approved the 2006 Municipal Public Improvements Pooled Financing Program. The funding to municipalities will not be awarded until this summer.

County officials have said the program allows the county to return some of its surplus without further cutting the tax rate. Officials have said cutting taxes too deep will hurt future budgets because state laws put an incremental cap on the amount a county can raise taxes each year.

Also in Stone Harbor: Walters said the repaving of 96th Street may finish in a week, placing work almost a month ahead of schedule due to advantageous weather.

Lanes entering and leaving Stone Harbor have been alternately shut down, and downtown traffic detoured from the work.

Walters said the rest of the so-called Gateway Project, which includes streetlights and landscaping to the 300 block of 96th Street, is scheduled to finish by Memorial Day.

To e-mail Brian Ianieri at The Press:BIanieri@pressofac.com