By Tara Fischer

Staff Writer

Ocean Pines Association’s General Manager John Viola presented his monthly update during the community’s board of directors meeting this week, outlining progress on upcoming capital projects, holiday beautification efforts, and early budget development.

Viola said the long-anticipated replacement of the association’s outdated South Side fire station remains on track to break ground this winter, around January or February. After months of pre-construction steps, the association has received all contractor bids and is currently reviewing them to prepare a recommendation for the board at its December meeting.

“That’s a big one,” Viola said. “We got all the bids. We are leveling them as we speak. We hope in the next week or two to have everything and an update on it.”

Slides shared during the meeting confirmed that shovels are still expected to hit the ground sometime this winter, with Viola noting he is “thinking January” for a likely start, but no later than February. The work was initially scheduled to begin in fall 2025, but staff said at a September meeting that winter 2026 was a more realistic expectation.

The new South Station will replace the deteriorating facility at 911 Ocean Parkway, originally built in 1981 and now considered inadequate for modern needs. Ocean Pines Volunteer Fire Department President Joe Enste said during a public hearing this summer that the firehouse has not undergone structural improvements since the late 1980s, despite leaks, drainage issues, mold, and engine bay doors too narrow for today’s larger fire trucks.

The future station will feature proper decontamination facilities, larger equipment bays, and gender-separate bunk rooms able to support overnight staffing. The improvements are intended to bring the department up to safety and service standards.

“This [project] is a big one for Ocean Pines,” Viola said in September.

Also during his regular report, Viola turned to the community’s seasonal efforts. The general manager announced that holiday beautification across Ocean Pines is well underway.

“I drove around last night to see how it is,” he said at Saturday’s meeting. “We’ve said every year we will enhance beautification, especially for the holidays. We’ve done it, we’ve lit up almost every building so far. It looked pretty nice to me last night. We’re going to continue to do more.”

This year’s enhancements include sponsored illuminated decorations placed in roadway medians, along with expanded lighting on all buildings within Ocean Pines, to create a cheerful, seasonal aesthetic for community residents and visitors.

Viola’s presentation during the meeting also highlighted progress on the fiscal year budget. All departments have already completed bottom-up proposed budgets. Viola added that increased public safety costs are expected to represent about 42% of the community assessment. That rise includes the costs associated with the creation of the new fire department facility.

Viola said that officials are awaiting the final reserve draft study, expected by the end of November, to finalize the budget. A budget and finance team meeting and a board review will be scheduled for separate dates in December upon receipt of the reserve  information.