Wicomico County approves $2.3 million to remove dredge spoils at Sharps Point to keep federal channel open

Wicomico County Council members voted unanimously April 15 to approve Resolution 44-2025, amending the county’s 2025 capital budget to add $2,300,000 for the Sharps Point dredge spoils hauling and relocation project.

County officials said the funding will pay for a contractor to remove about 100,000 cubic yards of dredged material from the Sharps Point containment cells so federal dredging can continue on schedule. ‘‘We are required by the Army Corps of Engineers to get a hundred thousand cubic yards out of Sharps Point by October 1, 2025,’’ Adam Corey, executive director of environmental services, told the council during the public hearing.

County finance director Pam Olin said the $2.3 million reflects actual bids received for the first phase. ‘‘When the bid came in, we notified the county administrator and requested the amount be reduced down to the $2,300,000 off the current bid,’’ Olin said, adding the county still has roughly $1.2 million in previously budgeted dredging funds and is keeping that money to support concurrent planning for future phases. ‘‘Based on our financial analysis, this is affordable and this is the appropriate use of our savings account because it is a one-time capital project,’’ she said.

Nut graf: County staff and the Army Corps of…