$3.6 Million in Traders Cove Contracts up for Vote Friday

Among the items on the agenda for a 10 a.m. end-of-year township council meeting Friday is the award of approximately $3.6 million worth of contract work for the Traders Cove Marina project.

The contracts that the council will presumably vote on are separated into two items: a $3 million contract for the second phase of work at the site, including sod and an irrigation system, and a $643,200 contract for the installation of a splash park at the site.

The larger contract would be awarded to Eagle Construction of Burlington for work on several features, including the installation of a boardwalk, parking lot and other park features, Mayor Stephen C. Acropolis said in June, when the council first voted to seek bids for the project.

The smaller contract would be awarded to Stone Ridge Aquatic Construction of Feasterville, Pa., and include construction of a splash park at the site, to which the township would sell passes in order to generate revenue, officials have said. That contract would include the installation of a pump house and the other equipment needed to power the splash park.

The bids for both of the the contracts were received Dec. 13, according to copies of the resolutions for each agenda item. The bids were reviewed by T&M Engineering, the same documents said.

The vote could prove to be controversial. A number of new council members, all Democrats, balked at the idea of bond measures for Traders Cove being acted upon last month. They argued that they should have a say in such matters since they will represent the council majority after the new year. In the end, the bond measures were tabled. Until the

The funds for the second phase of the Traders Cove project were included in the 2009 and 2010 capital budgets, however, Acropolis has said.

The former derelict marina at the foot of the Mantoloking Bridge is being turned into a bayfront park by township officials. The first phase of development at the site is now complete. The township purchased the Traders Cove site in 2005 with help from county and state funding sources.