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Commission hears storm after-action: DPW reports 84 tons salt used, 35 water meters replaced; boardwalk work to open by May 31
Summary
Officials detailed extensive storm response and infrastructure work, including 84 tons of road salt used, 35 broken water meters replaced, 515 overtime hours, and plans to replace lead service lines; staff said boardwalk reconstruction saved roughly $1 million through construction changes and should reopen by May 31.
City officials used the Feb. 12 meeting to give a detailed after-action report on a recent severe storm and to update residents on infrastructure projects.
DPW and public safety reported heavy storm impacts. DPW briefed the commission that crews used 84 tons of road salt, 1,500 gallons of brine on main corridors, and 6,000 pounds of sidewalk ice melt; the department replaced 35 broken water meters and logged 515 overtime hours during the emergency response period. DPW also reported 67 resident assistance calls where crews performed vehicle or property rescues and moved roughly 88 dump-truck loads of snow to staging locations.
“These guys are working just like the fire department…they’re exhausted,” Lance said while outlining overtime and equipment damage, and he encouraged residents to be patient about side-street clearing because the city lacks capacity for full side-street plowing and storage to hold more salt. Staff noted that road salt is ineffective at very low temperatures and that the city’s 50-ton storage capacity constrains large-scale pre-storm stockpiles.
Boardwalk reconstruction was the other major operations update. Staff reported nearly a full block of decking installed north of the pier, a shift from an angled herringbone pattern to straight boards that saved about $1 million in labor and materials, and an anticipated reopening to the public by May 31 for the summer season.
Water infrastructure: staff announced a Feb. 21 public seminar about mandated lead service-line replacement. Ventnor’s testing history shows low measured lead (approximately 2 parts per billion versus the 15 ppb regulatory threshold), but state rules require a citywide replacement program; staff estimated the overall project at $65–70 million and said Ventnor is first or second in line to receive up to $20 million in initial funding from state sources and the iBank.
What residents should know: DPW will prioritize main corridors and emergency access; side streets and sidewalks remain limited by equipment and environmental restrictions on alternate de-icing products. The lead-service-line program will have public meetings and funding updates.
