New Parking Kiosks on the Way

By DONALD WITTKOWSKI Here’s a question that is likely to stump just about everyone: What is the average lifespan for a parking kiosk in Sea Isle City? Sorry, no prizes will be handed out if you’re lucky enough to guess right. The answer is five to seven years. Well, eight of Sea Isle’s parking kiosks have hit seven years old and are about to be retired. But before any wild celebrations break out among everyone who hates paying for parking, Sea Isle has plans to replace the old kiosks with new models. The new kiosks are part of $109,000 in capital improvements approved this week by City Council. The money will also be used to buy a new Polaris ATV and a Sea-Doo personal watercraft and trailer for the Sea Isle Beach Patrol. “The new equipment for the SICBP is to replace older equipment,” city spokeswoman Katherine Custer said. “As you know, the salt air and sand take a toll on everything here at the shore – especially items made of metal – and sometimes items needs to be replaced.” Custer noted it is important that all the gear used by municipal employees be reliable and work properly, especially the lifesaving equipment for the beach patrol. “(When) there is an emergency, it’s particularly important that our first responders have all the tools they need,” she said. The Sea Isle City Beach Patrol, based at its headquarters at 44th Street and the Promenade, is getting some new equipment. Just like with the beach patrol equipment, the salt air also causes corrosion with the metal parking kiosks over the years, so they need to be replaced from time to time, Custer said. Starting last year, the city began draping the 49 parking kiosks around town with heavy fabric covers during the off-season to protect them from the harsh winter weather. Police Chief Tom McQuillen explained that not only do the covers protect the kiosks from severe weather, they are also a reminder that parking fees are not in effect during the off-season months. Sea Isle’s parking fees run from May 15 to Labor Day, coinciding with the summer tourism season. The city stops charging for parking after Labor Day as a money-saving perk for residents and visitors who are still in town after the bustling summer vacation season gives way to the quieter autumn months. Like with other shore towns, the coronavirus pandemic has shut down Sea Isle’s beaches, Promenade and playgrounds, so it is not clear when the city will reopen for the vacation season. Mayor Leonard Desiderio announced Friday that he will be working with municipal officials, the county, the state and the local business community to begin planning for the reopening of Sea Isle’s attractions at some point. “Please know that these words about businesses reopening and people returning to work do not supersede our primary objective, which is to preserve the health and safety of all people,” Desiderio said. He added, “I thoroughly understand that everyone wants to return to their familiar routines, interact freely with one another and put the restrictions of this pandemic behind us, but that cannot happen unless we all continue to do our part by staying at home whenever possible, practicing social distancing, and following all directives from our state and county health officials.” Read the mayor’s full statement at https://seaislenews.com/mayors-message-covid-19-update/