By Jack Chavez, Staff Writer

(Sept. 29, 2022) Numerous projects are completed, nearing completion, or ready to get underway, according to the latest report from Ocean Pines Association General Manager John Viola.

Viola gave his monthly general manager’s report during Saturday’s Ocean Pines Board of Directors meeting and highlighted several projects.

The $46,391 North Gate bridge lighting project was completed earlier this month and Viola said the feedback has been positive on the changes, which include five lights on either side of the bridge.

He added that the association is looking into other ways to “spruce up the bridge” and is working with the Ocean Pines Garden Club, among others, to brainstorm ideas. He invited anyone in the community to email info@oceanpines.org with any ideas.

Approximately three miles of roads are scheduled to be paved, Viola said, as well as roads to be re-striped.

After giving his report, the board approved Viola’s request to accept a $363,123 bid from Asphalt Maintenance to handle the paving.

Per the agreement, Asphalt has 90 days from the contract signing to complete the work.

Roads to be paved are Barnacle Court, Beach Court, Birdnest Drive, Fosse Grange, Garrett Drive, Ivanhoe Court, Liberty Bell Court, Little John Court, Moonshell Drive, Rabbit Run Lane, Surfers Way, Watergreen Lane and Willow Way.

The bid for road striping was given to Alpha Space Control Company.

On the drainage front, Pelican Underground began cured-in-place pipe lining in August.

Phase one, which costs $187,972, includes pipe work on Juneway Lane, Seagrave Lane, Cannon Drive, Southward Court, Drawbridge Road and Ocean Parkway.

Phase 2, at $235,400, includes Mumford’s Landing Road, Fairway Lane, Whisper Court, Newport Drive and Beaumont Court.

“We doubled up on main pipes that go under main roads,” Viola said. “We didn’t have to dig up the roads.”

Viola also remarked that it’s a “proven process” that they’re utilizing.

He said that Mumford’s Landing Road has been a problem in the past and several years ago bids were submitted in the neighborhood of $450,000 to $650,000, whereas the total cost of the current project is just over $420,000.

“This is way, way favorable to the estimates we got in the past,” Viola said. “(We’ve completed) 30-something major pipes on major roads in the last two years.”

The association’s aquatics amenities experienced staffing shortages throughout the summer that led to some closures, but overall there were 57,295 guests in 2022 compared to 58,824 in 2021 — including nearly 5,000 more members this year over last.

“It was another successful season as far as I’m concerned,” Viola said.

Viola said that his team will be reviewing members-only time during the budget process, which will start soon. He said they’re also looking into ways to address the lifeguard shortage that plagued the association — like many communities nationwide — including raising pay.

The pickleball courts at the Ocean Pines Racquet Center were completed in August and now work is being done on existing courts including power washing and crack repairs, which both began last week. Viola estimated that it will take 15 days, weather permitting, for the work to be completed.

The overall cost of the renovations is around $75,000 and Viola described it as “badly needed.”

“We want to get the infrastructure and maintenance right and make it a good experience for everybody,” he said.

Despite being down to two gas pumps this summer because of a leak, Viola said the Ocean Pines Marina was able to meet demand all season.

“I don’t believe we lost any customers,” he said.

Work still must be done on the gas pump and fuel management system to bring it up to code with the Maryland Department of the Environment.

Renovations at the administration building will be completed by February and will cost around $125,000, Viola said.

“If you’ve been in the admin building outside of the lobby, everything is pretty much up for replacement,” he said. “The HVAC system needs to be replaced as well as the floor, (ceiling and painting).”

A workgroup that Viola spearheaded for the Ocean Pines Volunteer Fire Department to find a fundraising company to raise money for the department is prepared to submit a request for proposal to hire a consultant, Viola said.

He explained that to hire such a company, a consultant is needed to help with a feasibility study.

“What I have today is to let everyone know we’re going forward, we’re going to issue an RFP and we’ll respond to the questions around the middle of October,” Viola said. “The proposals are due at the end of October. We’ll do an evaluation. And this is for this feasibility study and this consultant that will help us with the next stage which will be to do an RFP for the fundraising company. I’ll update the board with a recommendation from the team (in November) and there I will ask for approval and we will have three bids that the team recommended.”

Mailbox and pedestal replacement began in July and, to date, 21 pedestals and 11 mailbox clusters have been replaced, Viola said. There are still 56 pedestals and six mailbox clusters to be replaced in high-priority locations.

The Ocean Pines Public Works Department is also cleaning the mailbox locations.

“We’ve made some good progress,” Viola said.

So far, around $100,000 to $150,000 has been committed by the board for the project, he said.