Shared services agreement on school parking lot construction project expanded to provide significant savings to Wildwood Crest taxpayers

PRESS RELEASE

WILDWOOD CREST - The Borough of Wildwood Crest has entered into a shared servicers agreement with the Wildwood Crest School District pertaining to a construction project to repave parking lots at Wildwood Crest Elementary School that is expected to provide significant savings to borough taxpayers.

The Wildwood Crest Board of Commissioners passed a resolution to enter into the shared services agreement during its regular bimonthly meeting on May 20. The Wildwood Crest Board of Education, at the recommendation of its business administrator, also voted unanimously for the measure at its regular monthly meeting held May 18.

The agreement calls for Asphalt Paving Systems Inc. to repave two parking lot areas at Crest Memorial Elementary School that are adjacent to and accessible from St. Louis Avenue. The school's parking lot is also expected to gain a minimum of four additional parking spaces through this work.

This work will be done in conjunction with borough street construction work being performed by Asphalt Paving Systems Inc. that has already commenced in the area. The work includes improvements to water mains, sever lines, storm sewers and street surfacing.

As part of the agreement, the borough will absorb costs for engineering, design and inspection services provided by DeBlasio and Associates P.C. engineering firm.

This shared services agreement is expected to save taxpayers in the Borough of Wildwood Crest approximately $100,000.

"The borough is always seeking opportunities to enter into shared services agreements, particularly when the opportunity arises with our school," said Wildwood Crest Mayor Don Cabrera, who also serves as Commissioner of Public Works. "With the borough already invested into a massive street construction project in the area, the resources were already in place for the school to benefit.

"In the long run, the taxpayers of Wildwood Crest will see significant savings through this shared services agreement. We are happy to give the school this opportunity not only to this needed work completed but also to do so at a savings to our taxpayers."

Street construction work along St. Louis Avenue is expected to be complete by the end of June. The repaving of the two school parking lots is expected to be complete by mid-July.

"The school district certainly welcomed the overture from the borough to help offset its costs for this project at our school," said Wildwood Crest Board of Education president Joseph Schiff. "The school district would have paid much more in design, engineering and construction costs had it chosen to have this project done independently.

"This was also an opportune time to get this work done, with the school currently closed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

For more information, contact the Borough of Wildwood Crest at 609-522-5176, the Wildwood Crest Memorial School at 609-522-1522 or DeBlasio and Associates P.C. at 609-854-3311.