ELIZABETHTOWN — An idea in the works for several years now is finally getting its feet wet.
At Monday’s regular Elizabethtown Town Council meeting, board members learned from town staff the boardwalk planned for Tory Hole Park will not only be getting underway soon, but will be completed much sooner than anticipated. After going out for bids, the town received feedback from two companies — one that priced the job at nearly $80,000, and TJ’s Marine Contracting, which said it could do the project for $42,740.
“And you’re comfortable with (the company)?” questioned Mayor Sylvia Campbell at the noon session.
“He understands what he’s doing,” responded Town Architect Rod Fritz.
“This has been a monkey on our back for a while,” added Asst. Town Manager Pat DeVane. “We met with (TJ’s Marine Contracting) and, after meeting with him and talking about how he works in salt marshes, he’s absolutely the guy we would recommend. He does these projects all the time.”
The company has done work in the area previously. TJ’s Marine Contracting, according to DeVane, built the fishing pier at Lock & Dam No. 2.
“That’s quality construction that has withstood I don’t know how many floods,” DeVane remarked.
The project includes a 125 x6-foot boardwalk section, a 140×6-foot boardwalk section, and a 12×24-foot overlook deck. It was originally broken up into two phases for financial reasons. However, with the low bid, town staff expect to be finished sooner than originally thought.
“Because of square-foot bid pricing, we’ll likely be able to work within the budget to make sure Phase I and Phase II get completed … all the way to the river,” Fritz explained.
Fritz said he hopes construction to begin in May and be complete mid-summer.
In other business, the board:
— Welcomed James Davis and Aaron Brisson to the Elizabethtown Police Department at the noon planning session. Chief Tony Parrish said the hiring means the staff is now full.
— Approved rezoning property on Martin Street near Lloyd Park from medium-density residential to high-density residential. No protest petitions were received, and the rezoning was previously approved by the Planning Board.
— Approved an ordinance allowing for columbariums at the town cemetery.
— Instituted an advisory board for the Pork & Beats Festival and approved seven members. Serving three-year terms will be Mike Shaw, Billie Hall, Mark Gillespie and Dawn Maynard. A two-year seat will be occupied by Karen Barnhart, and Becky Spearman and Sandra Cain will serve one-year terms.
— Approved a work order for construction management, grant administration, construction administration, and close-out services for the airport taxiway project. Total cost for professional engineering services is $181,000.
Chrysta Carroll can be reached by calling 910-862-4163 or emailing ccarroll@bladenjournal.com.