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City manager outlines spring schedule for canal dredging, paving, dog park opening and boardwalk work
Summary
City Manager reported a mid-April start for canal dredging (with dredged material moved to Wolf River for beneficial-use estuary restoration), progress on paving and a dog-park ribbon cutting April 4; boardwalk and trail projects were also scheduled with construction start dates and estimated completion windows.
The Diamondhead City Manager presented a slate of capital and maintenance projects and gave estimated start and completion timelines for spring and fall work.
On canal dredging, the city manager said contractor documents were received and the contractor is planning to start in mid‑April — "I'd say April 20, but maybe a little earlier than that," he said. The contractor will begin on the main channel and then work into the numbered inland canals; dredged materials will be taken to the Wolf River beneficial-use site to recreate an estuary. The manager mentioned an October completion date (spoken in the meeting as "October 24").
Paving work is under way. The manager said Cherry Hill received base repairs and a full overlay; weather has slowed progress in spots but contractors expect much of the work to be complete by late April or early May, even though some contract end dates list June 18.
The new dog park is nearly finished, with roughly three-quarters of surfacing complete and two of six gates installed. A ribbon-cutting celebration is scheduled for April 4 (parade at 11:00 a.m., ceremony around 11:30 a.m.) with activities organized in part with the East Hancock Library.
On the Jordan River Boardwalk, the city reported a notice to proceed with contractor start on April 20; the boardwalk is a 180-day project with a current anticipated end date stated as October 17. The Montjoy Creek Nature Trail pre-construction meeting is set for the following week and staff expects that contractor work will begin by mid-April as well.
Other items: Fitness Park equipment is scheduled to arrive this week; East Aloha Drive sidewalk design and right-of-way acquisitions are proceeding and must coordinate with MDOT; staff are finalizing egress arrangements with American Towers on West Aloha Drive and reviewing whether that driveway can be turned over to the city; engineers are completing sewer and site designs for the commercial district with design documents expected in the next two to three months and an overall completion estimate of about 13 months.
Council members asked whether canal dredging would interfere with boat traffic and whether the kayak launch would remain open during boardwalk construction. The manager advised boaters to be careful around barges and said the kayak launch "may have to close it down for the first, you know, 50, hundred feet to get kinda started out there," but that it should reopen after the first piers are set. Council members also asked about potential water and sewer issues encountered previously on East Aloha; staff said engineers are aware and that unforeseen conditions may require adjustments during excavation.
No binding policy decisions or new budget appropriations were recorded in the meeting minutes for these projects; the report provided schedules and operational clarifications for ongoing work.
