Costs May Increase to Replace Surf Club Wall

In just a few days, the town expects to open bids for the reconstruction of the retaining wall in front of the Surf Club. A portion of the wall was destroyed when Tropical Storm Irene roared through town in late August. The town had expected the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to reimburse 75 percent of the estimated $250,000 replacement costs, but learned recently that will not be the case.

First Selectman Fillmore McPherson told the Board of Selectmen Monday that FEMA will reimburse the costs for replacement of only the damaged section of the retaining wall-about 130 feet of the total 260-foot replacement the town has planned.

"Since that entire section of the retaining wall protects the Surf Club building, Town Engineer Mike Ott and I agree that the town would be well served to replace the whole piece," McPherson said.

Ott explained that the present seawall is approximately 600 feet in total and that the town was interested in replacing only 260 feet. Of the 260 feet, only about half was destroyed by Irene. Under FEMA regulations, the town will be reimbursed for 75 percent of the replacement cost for only the damaged section, not the full 260 feet, as the town once assumed.

The new section of seawall will be designed "very differently" from the one it will replace, Ott said. The new 260-foot replacement will be "thicker, deeper, well reinforced," and with more stable footings.

"The present wall has footings that are too shallow and the construction is not the type that is proper." To provide adequate flood protection for the building, the new retaining wall should include the full 260 feet, he said.

"It only makes sense to do the complete job while we have a construction crew on site replacing the damaged section of the wall," McPherson said, although the costs may be more than originally anticipated.

Both the Board of Selectmen and the Board of Finance have approved a request for a special appropriation to cover the costs of the reconstruction. That figure may change now, McPherson said. The town will wait to see what the construction bids reveal.

"Because both boards approved the earlier request, I thought it would be appropriate to discuss this change," McPherson said. The two boards have agreed that replacement of the full 260-foot section of retaining wall "makes sense," even with the new ruling from FEMA.

A special town meeting has been set for Monday, April 2 at 7 p.m. at the Town Campus for residents to vote on this special appropriation and a second, which is a request for $450,000 for reconstruction of a damaged section of Middle Beach Road, another victim of Irene.

Read more here:
Costs May Increase to Replace Surf Club Wall