The beach community of North Wildwood is locked in a heated battle with the state over repairs to beach erosion from a fall storm.

New Jersey officials say the repairs were made in defiance of a state order.

North Wildwood Mayor Patrick Rosenello says the town will place material to build a prohibited bulkhead on the sand next week and promises to build a wall if a storm predicted for this weekend causes the temporarily repaired dune to collapse.

The state argues it's not necessary, adding there is no imminent danger to communities. Officials say the town's work could just make the situation worse in the long run.

In addition, other real estate related legal battles kept North Wildwood from being included when most of the Jersey Shore's 127-mile coastline got replenished beaches in the years after Superstorm Sandy. The town is instead spending millions a year having sand trucked in.

A court date is set for Jan. 17. A judge declined to issue an injunction immediately barring the town from installing the bulkhead or carrying out other emergency repairs.