By Mary Thurwachter
Beachgoers expect to find water at Lantana’s beach — for swimming and wading and splashing along the shoreline. Historically, they could also expect to wade through water in the parking lot, too, after a rainfall of any significance.
But the parking lot perils are due for a rescue. At its Dec. 9 meeting, the Town Council authorized a $51,000 contract for engineering services for drainage and paving improvements at the beach.
Money for the project will come from both the utility fund ($44,000) and the general fund ($7,000).
Town Manager Deborah Manzo said the work would likely begin in February and continue until July.
The plans, Manzo said, call for removal of the asphalt followed by a buildup of a new baserock section, approximately 7-inch-thick and 5-inch full-depth asphalt pavement.
“A lot of the vegetation around the perimeter of the parking lot will be moved, some to Bicentennial Park and some to other town properties,” Manzo said. “In 2015, we will have to put money in the budget for landscaping.”
Police Chief Sean Scheller said that the town would also be installing two new parking kiosks, possibly ahead of the drainage and paving work, to replace rusting meters.
Currently, some of the parking meters aren’t working. With the new kiosks, customers will be able to pay with coins, bills, credit cards and smartphones. By using the kiosks, police won’t have to spend as much time collecting from the meters, a task they perform three days a week.
In other action:
During December, the council reduced the frequency of meetings for the Nature Preserve Commission from six to two a year. Council members said they did not think the commission needed to meet so often to accomplish its business.
Comments