Current year financials  continue to trend positive, general manager reports

By Greg Ellison

(March 3, 2022) Ocean Pines’ financials and progress reports on other projects were updated by General Manager John Viola at the Board of Directors’ meeting last Wednesday.

Looking at ending numbers from this January, revenues were favorable by $56,000, offset by expenses tracking $19,000 over estimates, for a net operating favorability of $37,000.

Finance Director Steve Phillips reported year-to-date totals through January, which closed one week earlier.

To end January, year-to-date revenues beat the budget by $1.3 million, with expenses coming in $139,000 less than projected for a total surplus of $1.4 million.

With three months remaining in FY22, Viola cautioned that financial bottom line figures could ratchet up or down depending on weather patterns.

“Last year we were in a similar situation and … we didn’t touch it,” he said. “I said, ‘wait until it’s realized.’”

By contrast, Viola outlined proposed allocations for the now fully realized $1.19 million surplus from FY21.

In addition to earmarking $700,000 for a one-time assessment reduction, $350,000 would be directed to replenish road reserves and $60,000  would be used to buy floating T-docks.

“I reviewed all this with the Budget and Finance [Committee] yesterday,” he said.

Among a number of updates on pending initiatives, Viola said progress on addressing mailbox clusters is anticipated in March.

Public Works Office Manager Linda Martin said 10 high priority locations have been identified, with 100 pedestals on order.

“We’re waiting on delivery to begin replacement,” she said.

Martin said the association would coordinate dates with the Postal Service to work on the mailbox clusters.

Also, Martin said a bid request for $75 was received to clean each mailbox section, which would total $4,125 for 55 total spots.

“We will do a test site in March,” she said.

Completion dates remain vague to install four new pickleball courts at the Ocean Pines Racquet Center.

Viola said bid requests were sent on Jan. 21 to more than a handful of contractors with only one response received ahead of a Feb. 18 deadline.

“The bid was only for the courts,” he said. “We requested to have site work also.”

Since that point, association officials have consulted with several contractors, with additional bids anticipated.

Further renovations are slated at the North Gate Bridge following the removal of the long-abandoned guard shack on Feb. 8.

“We removed it in-house at a cost of $2,500,” he said.

Viola said upcoming plans include extending guard rails and potentially adding a third lane.

Bids for replacement lights estimate material costs at $45,000 and $10,000 for labor charges.

“The estimated time to receive materials is 12 weeks,” he said.

Viola said bids for light poles are also forthcoming.

“There will be six lights on poles on each side,” he said. “We are trying to get two other bids.”