Next Steps in Squan's Sandy Cleanup Decided

Manasquan's Borough Council unanimously approved the solicitation of bids for two post-Sandy recovery jobs at its meeting Monday night.

The borough will accept proposals for the reconstruction of beach access ways as well as the services of sand sifting equipment so displaced sand can have debris sifted out of it, then redeposited back on the beach.

Several local communities, including Point Pleasant Beach, Brick and Toms River, have been using similar pieces of heavy equipment.

(A picture of Brick's sand sifter is included with this story.)

Now that Manasquan has set aside $7.4 million to rebuild its beaches, the work can get started in earnest, said Councilman Michael Mangan.

"Now, we're going to see all these things going out to competitive bids," said Mangan. "Sometimes, in an emergency, you can't do that, but that is now over and done with, and we want to get as many bids as possible."

The borough council will begin having its annual Saturday morning budget meetings this weekend, Mangan said.

"If you are curious about government in any way, and how this all works, this is where we get into the nitty gritty, and the meat of everything," he said.