GM report includes drainage, marina, new pickleball courts

(June 24, 2022) General Manager John Viola discussed drainage issues, a temporary fuel outage at the marina, and construction of new pickleball courts during his monthly report to the Board, last Wednesday.  

Viola said the Association recently addressed drainage projects at Bainbridge Park and on the fourteenth hole of the Golf Club. He said many drainage issues had been neglected for 15 years or more. 

"There's an intricate system of drainage throughout Ocean Pines and a lot of it goes through the Golf course," he said. "We're working on it [and] these are the last ones in the three or four years that we need to address – and we're addressing them now." 

Viola said part of overhauling drainage infrastructure is maintaining the drainage ditches. In some areas, he's received reports of flooding two and three feet during major storms and contractors were brought in to help clean ditches. However, he said a disturbing trend has emerged.  

Some of those ditches have been filled in by three feet or more of leaves, and homeowners have built bridges and walkways over the ditches without permission.  

Viola said there are some areas "where we have cleaned [leaves and debris], twice, and people just keep filling them up," he said, adding the Association would reach out to homeowners in those areas. "We've got to do something ... I want everybody to understand, there is a major cost to this. And we're going back when I'm trying to go forward." 

Viola said there have been several issues at the marina during the last few weeks associated with the higher cost of fuel. The gears for the pricing display had to be updated because they did not go as high as $5.  

"I guess, back in the day, nobody anticipated that," Viola said. "So, we were without service for a few days." Shortly afterward, gas prices went over $6, and the gears had to be updated again.  

Viola said one of the storage tanks also had a line leak. 

"It was identified quickly [and] we notified the proper authorities and got the proper company in there to assist," he said. "Anything that spilled into the water was taken care of [and] the pipe was shut down." 

Viola said the Marina should be able to meet the demand for fuel, going forward.  

"So far, I am being told that we are able to handle the amount of boats that are coming in," Viola said. "But we will be without those pumps for the remainder of this season." 

Viola said he will approach the Board for approval of pipe replacement, after the summer season. 

"We are operational, but it did have some effect as far as the budget ... but the team is doing everything possible [and] we are meeting demand," Viola said.  

Construction of four new pickleball courts is still on schedule. Public Works recently finished the subbase and contractor ATC did a base and a four-inch paving pass, and installed footers for fencing and nets. ATC will next put in surface asphalt, and the courts will be coated and painted after the asphalt and concrete cures.  

The project is still on target to finish by the end of July and Viola has sent weekly construction updates to pickleball members.  

"Our team, along with the contractors and along with the pickleball members ... we're trying to ensure that we always have some amount of courts operational this summer," Viola said. 

Viola said four pole lights for the North Gate Bridge will be installed after the Fourth of July. Six lower lights on each side will be replaced at a later date. 

"In the meantime, with the four main lights up, we will always have light on the bridge," he said.  

Teak benches, originally purchased for the Golf Club in 2008, are being cleaned and refurbished by Public Works. Viola said the benches had not been maintained. 

Of the 15 benches, Viola said one was used for parts and the other 14 were power washed, sanded and oiled, and they're now being returned to the Golf course.  

"This is something that was said would be no longer useful. We probably would have had a $12,000 write-off,” Viola said. “Now we have benches that probably last another 15 years, if we maintain them. Compliments to the team [for] a can-do attitude.” 

Viola said staff shortages at the pools had forced changes to hours of operation. The new hours are communicated each week through an e-blast to about 8,000 people and posted on the website and social media. Staff also posts signage for the new hours at each pool. To sign up for the e-blast, visit https://lp.constantcontactpages.com/su/WyIaXID/thisweekinthepines.  

"We do have staff shortages. We had it last year at the pools, not inconsistent with everywhere else. This is across the country," Viola said. "That's where we're at now. We will consistently communicate this." 

Viola said auditors were in Ocean Pines during the first two weeks of June to start the annual audit. He said staff continued to work with auditors this week to review financial statements, supplemental schedules, and prospective footnotes. No significant issues have been found. A preliminary draft report will be released in July and completed prior to the annual meeting in August.  

Senior Executive Office Manager Linda Martin said backfilling for new bulkheads finished the week of June 13 and sod was installed on June 17. The project is expected to finish this week.  

The 2022-2023 bulkhead schedule includes areas of North Pintail Drive and Pintail Park.  

Martin said county permits for dredging were issued in June and contractor work will occur in July.  

Cleanup of mailbox clusters and pedestals continues. High priority locations were determined, and materials will be installed as soon as they arrive.  

Pedestals will be replaced first at White Horse Park, Lookout Point, Sundial Circle, Crest Haven Drive, Offshore Lane, Tail of the Fox Drive, Royal Oaks Drive, Bridgewater Road, Brandywine Drive, Cannon Drive, Fairway Lane, and Charleston Road. Mailboxes will be replaced first on Royal Oaks Drive, Boston Drive, and Cannon Drive. 

A monthly financial report released on Friday showed a $371,347 positive operating fund variance for May. 

To view the report, visit /documents/20124/118434/OPA%20May%202022%20Financials.pdf/9af52ba5-6089-9a46-cf08-ecc34de6b0fb. 

To view slides from the GM report, visit /documents/20124/122622/6-22-22%20Meeting%20Power%20Point.pptx/09b52d7a-c6ed-c847-f308-d5939893c318.