FREEHOLD TOWNSHIP – Municipal officials are planning to appropriate $8.47 million for capital improvements in Freehold Township.
On May 28, the Township Committee introduced a bond ordinance that, if adopted, will authorize the issuance of $7.68 million in bonds or notes to finance part of the costs.
Expected grants of $240,000 from the New Jersey Department of Transportation (DOT), $150,000 from Monmouth County and $12,000 from the Monmouth County Historic Commission will also support the improvements, according to the ordinance. The remaining costs will be covered by a down payment of $385,500.
A public hearing on the ordinance is scheduled for June 25 and committee members may adopt the ordinance that evening.
Of the planned improvements, $5.83 million ($5.32 million estimated in bonds or notes) will provide for road improvements, including but not limited to bituminous concrete overlay for various roads, the reconstruction (design) of Silvers Road, work on Iron Bridge Road and GIS (global information system) database upgrades, according to the ordinance. The $240,000 grant expected from the DOT will be dedicated toward these improvements.
Officials said $1.28 million ($1.08 million estimated in bonds or notes) will provide for recreation improvements, including but not limited to playground equipment at various parks, the resurfacing of various courts, the replacement of bleachers at various parks, improvements to various buildings and structures, dugout and ballfield renovations at various parks, the installation of lighting at the Michael J. Tighe Park lacrosse field, the construction of a new maintenance shop building and improvements to the Freehold Township Senior Center.
According to the ordinance, various municipal building improvements, including but not limited to lighting improvements, heating, ventilation and air conditioning improvements, renovations to the Freehold Township Police Department firing range, underground storage tank remediation at the historic Oakley house, the acquisition of a generator for the police department and paving of the parking area for the Department of Public Works building will be provided for by $1.12 million ($1.07 million estimated in bonds or notes).
The purchase of equipment, including but not limited to the acquisition of computers, mobile data terminals, license plate readers, a telephone recording system, a file and storage indexing system and upgrades to radios including GPS will be provided for by $165,000 ($157,100 estimated in bonds or notes).
For the purchase of vehicles and equipment, including but not limited to zero-turn lawn mowers, leaf vacuum and Vicon (pendulum) spreaders, $42,000 will be appropriated ($40,000 estimated in bonds or notes), along with a portion of the $150,000 grant from the county.
According to the ordinance, the remaining $24,000 ($11,400 estimated in bonds or notes) will be appropriated toward improvements to the historic one-room West Freehold School.
