Fisherman's Cove Jetty Repairs Approved

Manasquan expects to spend no more than $4,600 on a contract to fund the repair of a jetty at Fisherman's Cove, with the bulk of the project's cost absorbed by the state and county.

Manasquan Borough Council approved a resolution at its regular meeting Tuesday night that authorizes the borough's participation in a cost-sharing arrangement to restore and reconstruct the west terminus of the jetty, which was damaged in Hurricane Irene and has only deteriorated further within the past year.

"It's showing signs of distress," borough Engineer Charles Rooney said. "With the settlement of the west section... there is concern about the stability of the jetty."

The resolution authorizes a $92,498 contract for Bird Construction to repair the west end of the jetty, in a state-county-municipal cost-sharing arrangement in which the state pays 75 percent, the county 20 percent and Manasquan 5 percent.

"It's very favorable to the borough," Rooney said. Mayor George Dempsey agreed, saying "financially it's good for the borough."

It's possible the borough will not even have to pay its 5 percent share, or $4,600, Administrator Joseph DeIorio said.

The borough has funded professional services contracts within the past few years in association with the long-delayed Fisherman's Cove project and may already have essentially paid for its share of Bird Construction's contract, he said.

"The $4,600 may or may not be borne by the borough of Manasquan," DeIorio said. "The most our exposure will be is the $4,600."

The borough had hoped the Army Corps of Engineers would pick up the cost of the jetty repair project but were notified earlier this year that it , which was not included in the original Fisherman's Cove price. 

"It doesn't meet their criteria for funding this year," Rooney said.

The engineer said he would report Manasquan's contract approval to the state Department of Environmental Protection, which suggested the borough add the repairs to the project, while Monmouth County already has indicated its approval of the cost of jetty repairs.

Had council not approved the contract, its only option would have been to rope the jetty off to visitors because of safety concerns.

Rooney said Bird Construction could get started as soon as the week of Sept. 17.

"Aesthetically, it will help the area," Councilman Owen McCarthy said.

The total project price now stands at $1,129,393, Rooney told the council.