MARGATE – The Board of Commissioners Dec. 4 introduced two bond ordinances totaling $16,425,000 to fund general and utility capital improvements. The bonds allow the municipality to borrow money when needed to finance projects, such as the proposed replacement of the Department of Public Works building.
Bond Ordinance 21-2025 appropriates $8,925,000 for various capital improvements, including $1,239,600 roadway improvements along Amherst, Coolidge and Decatur avenues, and reconstruction of Winchester Avenue. Other expenditures are $130,000 for Phase 1 of the citywide dredging project, including surveying, engineering, plans and specifications, permits, bidding documents and construction inspection and administration. Also, $395,000 for drainage projects at the planned Amherst Avenue pump station and the Brunswick Avenue street end replacement; $378,000 for repairs to the deck at the Bloom Pavilion and an addition to Beach Patrol Headquarters; $365,000 for lighting along a walkway at the ball fields and construction of a shade structure; $338,000 for information technology; $80,000 to update the city’s Master Plan; $200,000 to purchase vehicles for the Police Department; $181,000 for Public Works equipment; $108,000 for vehicles and equipment for the Fire Department; and $25,000 for vehicles and equipment for the Beach Patrol.
A major portion of the general capital budget, $5,485,000 will be used to fund the construction of a new Public Works building, including materials and construction, surveying, construction planning, engineering, plans and specifications, permits, bid documents and construction inspection and administration. The general capital bond covers about half the cost of the project. The remainder, $5,577,000 will come from the city’s Utility capital ordinance, which was also introduced at the meeting.
Bond Ordinance 22-2025 appropriates a total of $7.5 million for various improvements to the Water and Sewer Department. In addition to the $5,577,000 reserved for the new DPW building, the bond includes $1,838,000 to fund the utility portion of the Winchester Avenue road project, and $85,000 for exterior painting of the Gladstone Avenue water tower.
The general capital bond ordinance requires a $446,250 cash down payment from the city’s Capital Improvement Fund. Payback of borrowed funds can be made over 31.2 years.
There is no down payment required for the utility bond, which can be paid back over 32.64 years.
Commissioner Maury Blumberg requested the cost of the Public Works building be removed from the ordinances and included in a separate bond issue to be introduced after the public has had time to learn more about the city’s “largest undertaking” in decades.
The commissioners agreed to allow the city engineer, Ed Dennis Jr. of Remington & Vernick Engineers to hold another meeting to discuss the project. The meeting was set for 5:30 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 10 at Historic City Hall, 1 S. Washington Ave.
Introductions of the ordinances passed first reading unanimously.
Second readings and public hearings on the bond ordinances will be held 5 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 17 at Historic City Hall.
Copyright Fideri News Network 2025
