OC Today-Dispaatch NOVEMBER 1, 2024
STUBBORNLY LOCAL, EQUALLY INDEPENDENT
Sign up now for our new, Monday-Friday newsletter. — Page 12
PRICELESS
Politics: it will all be over soon PHOTO COURTESY NICK DENNY
DOCK DOGS The National Sportsmen’s Series was in Ocean City at Sunfest last weekend for the return of the Dock Dogs event. Above, Kona soars high with his eye on the prize Saturday.
OC sues over wind turbines With others joining at co-plaintiffs in federal court, Ocean City believes it has a shot to block wind farm development offshore. — PAGE 15
Tyler Walsh: friends stepping up for him To help him and to help themselves come to terms with his situation, they are pitching in to make his home ready for his return. PAGE 89
Mayor, City Council, school board and national contests wrap up Tuesday, leaving Wednesday for expressions of joy, relief and disappointment. See our special election section inside for the lowdown on mayor, council and school board races.
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OC Today-Dispatch
NOVEMBER 1, 2024
NOVEMBER 1, 2024
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OC Today-Dispatch
Popularity of beach bonfire program reveals new trend Pop-up industry reported on Ocean City beaches; staff questions franchising By Bethany Hooper Associate Editor (Nov. 1, 2024) A growth in beach bonfire setup companies have city officials questioning if such operations should be subject to a franchise agreement. On Tuesday, during an end-of-season report to the Mayor and Council on the city’s beach bonfire program, Fire Marshal Josh Bunting highlighted a new pop-up industry taking shape on Ocean City’s beaches. He said that in the last few years, city staff have shared reports of companies offering to set up beach bonfires and acquire the necessary permits. “They offer services of bringing the wood to the beach, all the way through to getting the permit,” he said. “It is my understanding that that is not covered by the franchise agreement currently, but that might be something that the council wants to consider.” While the city currently has a franchise agreement with the various beach stand operators, Bunting said that agreement does not include beach bonfire companies. He questioned if that was something the council should consider. “If the council wishes to entertain, as part of a growth of the existing franchise agreements that are out on the beach, a separate franchise to allow that, or whether it’s a hard and fast rule of ‘No, we have no interest. People need to get their own bonfire permits,’ that’s not really under my purview,” he said. “But it’s something that the council, I think, should consider. We are seeing it, I would say, more frequently this year.” Bunting added that the fire marshal’s office also witnessed some unruly behavior during the Fourth of July holiday. He also pointed to an ongoing issue in the blocks between 110th and 120th streets. “Those are the areas where we have a large amount of our high rises and there’s large volumes of people out on the beach,” he said. “Those are also where we typically get our responses for people having too much smoke in the area.” To address those smoke complaints, Bunting said his office could adjust the beach bonfire program next year to reduce the frequency of
bonfires within those blocks. While the city’s reservation software allows two bonfires per street, he said it could be reduced to one per street. “I don’t think it’ll have a tremendous impact on the revenue,” he said, “or really a tremendous impact on the program at all.” Despite those three issues, Bunting said the city reported a successful season. In 2024, the city recorded 3,248 bonfires, of which 150 were unpermitted. “That’s about 44 less than last year …,” he said. “The benefit of the program and the digitization of the reservations is that when you meet a person on the beach that doesn’t have a permit, it’s not the end of their night. It’s a matter of get your phone out and get the proper permit.” Bunting also recognized the department’s bonfire inspectors. During the season, 130 nights were staffed with one inspector, 15 nights were staffed with two inspectors, and July 4 was staffed with three inspectors. “It was about 15 nights through the course of the season that we had over 100 bonfires that we needed more inspectors on,” he said. “And then obviously July 4 is kind of an all hands for every city department.” Looking ahead to 2025, Bunting said he was seeking the council’s input on the three issues raised this year. “Those three discussion points I really have is whether the council is interested in reducing the number of bonfires to one per street on 110th through 120th, a consideration given the issues that we have for July 4 – whether we black out that date and not allow any bonfires on the beach – and then obviously the franchise discussion path,” he said. Council President Matt James questioned if the unruly behavior witnessed on the Fourth of a July was from those partaking in bonfire activities. Bunting said he didn’t believe so. “I would say not really …,” he replied. “It’s not been our experience that bonfire permittees are causing the problems.” James also asked for Bunting’s recommendation on limiting the number of bonfires per block uptown. Bunting said his department could try it for next season. “Let him make the decision,” Councilwoman Carol Proctor said. “He heads the department.”
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