HOWELL – Municipal officials will apply for a Monmouth County Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) to be used for a project that would resurface a portion of Casino Drive and the intersection of Casino Drive, Peskin Road and Southard Avenue in Howell.
The Howell CDBG Citizens Participation Group conducted a public hearing on Oct. 9 for the purpose of submitting ideas for municipal projects. A presentation on the issue was given to the Township Council later that evening.
“We narrowed it down to an application that we think is the most feasible and reasonable to accomplish,” said Jim Herrman, Howell’s director of community development.
Christopher Gulics, the chairman of the Citizens Participation Group, presented the idea to resurface a portion of Casino Drive and the intersection of Casino Drive, Peskin Road and Southard Avenue.
“On Aug. 15, the group met to discuss a few projects associated with this grant, eligible projects for the eligible project areas,” Gulics said.
He said several projects were discussed, including sidewalk installation in Howell’s Adelphia section, the paving of Georgia Tavern Road between West Farms Road and Casino Drive, and the the paving of Maxim Road between Oak Glen Road and Preventorium Road.
Gulics said those involved in the discussions believed the best option was to pave Casino Drive and the intersection of Casino Drive, Peskin Road and Southard Avenue. The project would also include drainage improvements.
“We felt it would best qualify for the funding and the fact Howell was awarded $131,774 in 2017 under the block grant,” Gulics said.
Mayor Theresa Berger asked if the CDBG would be a matching grant. Herrman said the township would not be required to match the grant.
“If we expanded the limits or presented a project that went beyond the grant amount, then we would be required to cover those costs,” Herrman said.
Officials will request the maximum amount of the grant, which is $200,000.
