Listen to Margate Commissioners getting boxed into a corner, forced to sign a deal with the devil. A beach & outfall drainage project that was never needed. An extended dune-boggle that will likely disrupt a portion of Summer 2018.
Fixing Margate beach drainage problems that never existed before the July 2017 Army Corp invasion.
Mr. Christie directed his DEP hammer, Bob Martin, to unleash the Army Corp of Engineers on this ‘selfish’ little town of Margate.
Ugly, Expensive, Wasteful, One-Sided Deal Between NJ DEP & Margate.
Listen to clips from Margate Commissioners meeting, OCT 19, 2017:
The three Margate commissioners seemingly had no choice. It was a unanimous vote for the supremely fugly, beach and outfall drainage deal. The NJ Department of Environmental Protection claimed another victory on this evening of October 19, 2017. Another deal that keeps the Army Corps of Engineers cashing in for the next few decades.
Revenge. Spite. Payback for Margate having the gall to push back against a seriously flawed, beach plan. The City of Margate publicly and brutally punished by the NJ Governor with a 15% approval rating.
Highlights from Margate & NJ DEP Beach & Dune Deal:
All parties understand and agree that the intent of this Project is to provide shoreline stabilization and storm damage reduction along the Atlantic Ocean in the City of Margate. This Project has been designed by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and reviewed and approved by the DEP.
The Army Corps’ long-term stormwater management system consists of constructing a system of manifolded pipes that will direct the stormwater through outfall pipes that discharge into the Atlantic Ocean.
DEP and Margate agree to utilize their best efforts to try to persuade the Army Corps not to disrupt the 2018 summer season which is understood to commence May 25, 2018 and end September 4, 2018, such disruption to be determined by Margate depending on the drainage project’s construction progress.
The parties recognize that, pursuant to the PPA (Project Partnership Agreement) the Army Corps has sole control over the construction contract and schedule. Initial construction, periodic re-nourishment and construction of shore protection for 50 years.
Due to natural forces and/or changing conditions, there is no guarantee that the beachfill will persist or maintain its engineering integrity and effectiveness post construction.
The cost of the Margate beach project may also increase due to municipality-requested additional work.
The final cost for any municipally-requested additional work will be based on actual cost as documented by records maintained by the DEP and the Corps. The DEP will invoice Margate for their share of the cost of the Municipally-requested additional work, if any.
Watch video. See how lobbyists influence members of Congress, like Frank LoBiondo, and the Army Corps of Engineers. Observe the questionable infrastructure projects that the unit takes on:
In the event of periodic re-nourishment, 75% of the non-federal share will be paid by the DEP and the remaining 25% will be paid by Margate, and will be subject to the availability of Municipal, Federal, and State funding.
Funding shall only be authorized through the execution of a future State Aid Agreement between DEP and Margate
Margate’s pre existing stormwater system, which caused problems with beach ponding prior to the Project that had to be remediated through trenching to the Atlantic Ocean, would not be feasible after the construction of the Project.
Bulldozing, excavation or mechanical alteration of any Margate beach and dune is prohibited.
Margate shall not conduct or allow obstructions or encroachments that reduce the level of protection of the Project or hinder operation and maintenance of the Project.
Beach raking is prohibited from the landward limit of the dune or seawall to the mean high water line from May 15 to December 1.
Sand scraping or other mechanical manipulation of the beach is prohibited year round.
The DEP and the Army Corps will address Margate’s pre-existing ponding problem as well as any potential exacerbated ponding that may be caused by the Project’s construction.
Army Corps will pay 100% of the Long-Term Stormwater Management System’s construction costs for those portions of the system that are seaward of the pre-existing bulkhead.
To the extent Margate desires to install separate municipal elements that may integrate into and/or complement the System landward of the pre-existing bulkhead, such construction costs will be paid 100% by the DEP, subject to DEP’s approval of all bid specifications and acceptance of the bid and Margate shall be fully reimbursed 100% by DEP for all such expenditures, not to exceed $500,000.
Margate agrees to operate and maintain the project, including the Long Term Stormwater Management System, upon the completion of its construction.
Margate shall pay 100% of the operation and maintenance costs for the Project and the System.
In the event of necessary capital repairs within the federal Project area, the DEP and Margate shall partner on a solution, which may include the sharing of said costs.
All project costs are estimates subject to adjustment by the Federal Government, increases or decreases in equipment and material costs, and inflation, and are not to be construed as the total financial responsibilities of the Federal government, the State as the Non-Federal Sponsor and Margate.
The Corps has agreed to complete the design of its Long-Term Stormwater Management System and to construct the System in Margate at 100% federal cost.
Margate shall be responsible for all operation and maintenance of the Project as the functional segments of the Project and the System’s construction have been completed.
Margate agrees that it shall bear all costs associated with its operation and maintenance responsibilities and shall not seek reimbursement from the DEP for any maintenance costs.
Margate understands and agrees that the Long-Term Stormwater Management System cannot be constructed until the State and/or the Army Corps have secured all of the necessary perpetual property rights and/or permits needed, if any. Margate further agrees to cooperate with the State and the Army Corps to secure all necessary permits, if any.
Nothing in this agreement shall be construed to mandate or otherwise require Margate to implement or otherwise participate in any additional replenishment work or other dune project.
Margate explicitly agrees not to trench, dig, bulldoze, excavate, demolish, level, raze, destroy, or otherwise artificially impact the Project, particularly the engineered dune.
Ugly, Expensive, Wasteful, One-Sided Deal Between NJ DEP & Margate.