Water tank removal impacts resort’s internet connections

Before Ocean City can consider demolishing the two aging water tanks on Worcester Avenue and 15th Street, it needs to decide how to maintain the Internet connection that both towers provide.

Currently, city government’s network travels through a wireless connection provided by antennas on the water tanks. The 15th Street water tower, which juts out of the Ocean City Fire Department headquarters, is the access point of City Hall’s backup Internet connection. The Beach Patrol’s office and the Dorchester fire station link to the tank on Worcester Street.

For years, the resort has been looking to replace those 50-year-old tanks with the beach ball water tower on First Street. But before the tower started to take shape, City Engineer Terry McGean began planning to ensure critical city facilities were still online. At his request, the council last April agreed to set aside $135,000 in the fiscal year 2017 budget for this project.

Ocean City had solicited requests for proposals, which asks companies to pitch how they would complete the job and what the cost would be. During the Nov. 29 work session, the council accepted seven proposals and remanded them to staff for review.

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