By Greg Ellison

Staff Writer

(Dec. 12, 2019) Among the capital purchases the Ocean Pines Association Board of Directors approved last Wednesday were an audio system for the community center, a turf tractor and cart path repairs at the golf course.

In addition, the board voted to replace the rubber safety surface at the Swim and Racquet Splash Pad and Mumford’s Landing Pool, and to proceed with long-delayed bulkhead repairs.

Because the board recently experienced audio problems during its meetings broadcasts, General Manager John Viola asked to spend roughly $16,000 to buy new sound equipment from Mid-South Audio.

“They’ve been a top vendor for … over two decades,” he said. “With this change, from an operational standpoint, we are estimating approximately $17,000 in savings.”

Although the item was not included in this year’s budget, Viola said several pieces of audio gear currently used could be sold to partially offset costs.

Shifting to golf course concerns, Viola asked to spend roughly $12,000 to purchase a Dakota 410 turf tender and more than $17,000 for a John Deere ProGator.

“There was damage done to the greens this year caused by the current vehicle,” he said. “The current vehicle needs constant maintenance, is very old, and does need to be replaced.”

The board also signed off on spending more than $39,000 in unbudgeted money with Chesapeake Paving to repair sections of the golf cart pathway.

Viola said Chesapeake Paving had been the low bidder for other recent road paving projects in Ocean Pines and plans to return soon to complete repairs on Golf Course Road.

“They are not finished with Golf Course Road so we can get a good price,” he said. “They’re giving us a guaranteed same price as their current contract to continue on and to do the cart path.”

Viola said of the three bids received for road paving work, Chesapeake provided the lowest asphalt price.

“If I try to get somebody in just to do that, it’s a small job and it would be more,” he said. “I’m looking at economies of scale.”

Board member Tom Janasek asked about the scope of work included.

“They’re going to actually dig the roots out?” he said.

Viola said the cost would cover only the most damaged sections of the cart pathway.

“They will go in and mill it just like they did on the roads,” he said. “They’ll be able to seamlessly put that with the rest of the path.”

While noting the cost to replace the whole pathway would top $200,000, Viola said ignoring the problem areas would cause problems with the golf carts.

“It will cost us more in maintenance,” he said.

The board also agreed to spend more than $31,000 to replace rubber safety surfacing at the Swim and Racquet Splash Pad and Mumford’s Landing Pool.

“The area around Mumford’s and the splash pad have started to break apart, causing tripping hazards,” he said. “The [Worcester County] health department told us we needed to repair it prior to opening Summer 2020.”

To complete the repair using Rubaroc brand flooring would require half the cost paid up front, Viola said.

“In order to get this done by the spring we do need to have a deposit,” he said.

Noting the quick deterioration of the current surface, Janasek asked if the new layer would come with any guarantees.

“Is there any warranty?” he said. “We just put this stuff in three years ago at the swim and racquet.”

“Rubaroc will do it right and will warranty it,” he said.

The board also approved boosting spending for bulkhead repairs by roughly $500,000.

“In 2018/19, and the prior years, we really didn’t get that much done in bulkheads,” he said. “This should have been spent in the prior year.”

In addition to approving $325,000 for Fisher Marine to repair the bulkhead along the OPA-owned portions of Ocean Parkway, the board also gave the nod to spending more than $140,000 with McGinty’s Marine Construction for lots 2,4,6 and 8 in the area from Wood Duck to Mallard Drive west.

Viola said the contractor options were somewhat limited but ongoing work also helped secure improved pricing.

“These were the two [marine contractors] that were able to bid on it [as] the other two are doing other work for us,” he said. “The price that they gave us is within the prices that we’re getting for all the other contracts.”

Board member Larry Perrone asked if the more than $450,000 proposed would increase the sums already dedicated to bulkhead work.

“This is in addition to the $70,000 that were spending?” he said. “We do have the money in the bulkheads reserve so that’s not an issue.”

Viola confirmed the entire sum would be come from the bulkhead reserve fund.

“I believe the amount budgeted for this year was $1.3 million and we’re probably going to come in at about $1.6 million,” he said.

Speaking by phone, Board member Frank Daly asked if the extra expenditures would make up for past delays.

“We had this two-year hiatus in doing bulkhead work,” he said. “With these additional contracts, how close are we to what I call being on schedule?”

“We’re pretty close,” Viola replied. “Definitely by next year we’d be on track.”

OPA Board member Tom Janasek drilled down for details regarding milling procedures for proposed cart path repairs at the golf course during the directors meeting on Dec. 4.