OC Today WWW.OCEANCITYTODAY.COM
MARCH 3, 2023
SERVING NORTHERN WORCESTER COUNTY
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Capital improvement plan pending for FY24 in OC as sports complex, Balt. Ave. funds nixed – Page 7
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Close vote advances fire station Council splits 4-3 to OK constructing new 65th St. facility for nearly $10M
MALLORY PANUSKA/OCEAN CITY TODAY
SAFE KEEPING
The question is whether these creatures are penned up to protect the public from them or vice versa? They’re in temporary storage in the corner of a 19th Street lot while their home, a new Nick’s Jurassic Golf, is constructed. The mini golf course is moving from a block over.
By Mallory Panuska Staff Writer (March 3, 2023) Construction of a newer, bigger midtown Ocean City fire station could begin as early as next month after the project cleared a familiar hurdle with the City Council. “I can tell you this station is needed, it’s not wanted,” Fire Chief Richard Bowers said at a work session Tuesday of the new Fire Station 3 planned for construction in front of the public safety building on 65th Street. Council members voted 4-3, with Council President Matt James and Councilmen John Gehrig and Peter Buas opposed, to approve a maximum price contract with Delmarva Veteran Builders for more than $9.8 million for the project. With the approval, City Manager See NEW Page 4
OCDC director Irwin to retire Over 23 years, downtown program grew into major influence in resort By Mallory Panuska Staff Writer (March 3, 2023) When a younger Glenn Irwin trekked up from South Florida in the year 2000 with hopes of becoming the first director of the Ocean City Development Corporation, it was his professionalism, knowledge and experience that tipped the scales in his favor. “His professional attitude. He knew where to look for money from the state and the county and
he had the foresight to go out and find the grants. And that’s what we were looking for,” then-OCDC Board President Buck Mann said of Irwin, who is ending his long tenure as head of the downtown organization at the end of this month. “He showed all of the signs of that’s what we were looking for, and boy has he proved it,” Mann said. The news of Irwin’s retirement plans began circulating publicly last week after the OCDC’s annual presentation to the Worcester County Commissioners. Within the report, Irwin and current board See IRWIN Page 3
MALLOY PANUSKA/OCEAN CITY TODAY
Ocean City Development Corporation Executive Director Glenn Irwin stands in front of a 55-bed employee housing building at 104 Dorchester Street that OCDC helped bring to fruition.