Rehoboth OKs Bandstand bollard plan
After more than a year of discussion in executive session, Rehoboth Beach officials recently announced plans for a security project in the area around the Bandstand and the Boardwalk. The project includes the installation of nearly 70 bollards and two swing gates, and is estimated to cost $1.1 million.
City commissioners awarded a contract for about $423,000 to Texas-based Gibraltar Perimeter Security to begin manufacturing the bollards. The remaining portion of the cost is related to installation. Commissioners are expected to award that contract in November.
At the time of the announcement, the city said the contract is the first of at least five phases. Citing security purposes, the city declined to say where additional bollards might be placed. However, it appears the city is preparing to install security measures at the Boardwalk end of a number of streets, from one end of the mile-long structure to the other.
While the city didn’t announce additional locations, there were clues revealed about future locations during the discussion at the meeting. Mayor Stan Mills made a passing comment about having spoken with the people at the Henlopen Condominiums. Additionally, the subject line of the contract from Gibraltar – available on the city website – says, “Boardwalk, Bandstand, Queen Street, Brooklyn Avenue, Virginia Avenue, Surfside Place, Grenoble Place.”
Brooke Thaler, city communication director, said there has been discussion about installing pedestrian safety improvements at those locations over the next five years. More information will be presented and discussed during meetings for next year’s fiscal budget, she said.
Rehoboth’s budget runs April 1 to March 31. Now is the time of year when staff begins to prepare departmental budget recommendations for city commissioners to consider when they start reviewing those recommendations in January.
Thaler declined to say how much money additional security measures are expected to cost and what exactly those measures will be.
Petition against bollards
During the Oct. 17 meeting, a member of the business community expressed concern about having more restrictions in the Bandstand and Boardwalk area.
Alison Blyth, owner of Go Fish, shared her frustration that it didn’t appear the city asked any business owners surrounding the Bandstand for their thoughts on installing the bollards, especially the ones on the sidewalks.
Blyth said there are already employees who don’t like working Friday and Saturday nights because there aren’t as many customers during summer concert series shows. Adding the bollards will make it even more uninviting, she said.
Blyth came to the meeting with a petition signed by other business owners around the Bandstand asking the city to not install the bollards on the sidewalks.
“While we share the municipality’s commitment to public safety and effective traffic management, this proposal would significantly deter customer access to our businesses and create additional pedestrian safety concerns, including potential tripping hazards of bollards on the sidewalks,” reads the petition, which was signed by half a dozen business owners. “We urge the council to pause the current proposal and work collaboratively with local businesses to explore alternative solutions that enhance safety without compromising economic activity and access.”
Despite the request, commissioners moved forward with awarding the contract.
Chris Flood has been working for the Cape Gazette since early 2014. He currently covers Rehoboth Beach and Henlopen Acres, but has also covered Dewey Beach and the state government. He covers environmental stories, business stories and random stories on subjects he finds interesting, and he also writes a column called Choppin’ Wood that runs every other week. He’s a graduate of the University of Maine and the Landing School of Boat Building & Design.
