Mount Ephraim $3 Million Fire Station Project Moves Forward
By Bill Bates
NEWS Correspondent
Three ordinances were read and approved authorizing the guaranty of a bond from the Camden County Improvement Authority in an agreement principal amount not to exceed $3,000,000, a second ordinance authorizing the execution of a loan agreement with the Camden County Improvement Authority and the third was authorizing the acquisition of certain property from the Mount Ephraim Fire Department.
Fire Department President Richard Holmes was on hand along with Deputy Fire Chief Brian Gilmore to thank the Mayor and Commissioners for all of their assistance and the professionals involved in this project for their services over the past months.
President Holmes also wanted to announce that the fire department will be holding two Public Information Meetings to be held at the Bell Road Firehouse located at 200 Bell Road & James Street. The dates and times of these meetings will be announced via the town bulletin board in front of Mary Bray School, Community Channel 19, and the local newspaper.
The fire department will be meeting on Wednesday, March 19 at 7 pm with the residents within 200 feet of the proposed site which will be located to the rear of the existing facility on Bell Road.
"These Public Information Meetings will be to inform the residents on the what, when, where, and why of the project as well as to answer any questions" said President Holmes whose organization is 80 plus strong with members of fire explorers, firefighters, active members, and ladies auxiliary.
In other news Commissioner Andy Gilmore read the fire department report for the month of February reporting 37 calls were answered and 2 drills were conducted. The police department received 518 calls, some highlights were answering 44 emergency medical services calls, 15 motor vehicle accidents, and 11 drug offenses. 66 out of town warrants were served. 43 adult arrests were made with 12 being for possession of a controlled dangerous substance and 3 for assault on a police officer. 4 juvenile arrests were made, 2 for curfew and 2 for simple assault.
Commissioner Bruce Greenwald reported that 12 construction permits were issued totaling $1,226.00. 52,500 lbs. of Single Stream Recycling was collected by the department of public works. Starting in April the borough will also be collecting electronics for recycling. More information will be available in the town newsletter that will be hitting the mailboxes around the end of the month.
Commissioner Greenwald also announced that the Celebrations Committee along with the Christine Eberle Foundation will be holding their annual Easter Egg Hunt on Saturday, March 15 commencing at 1 pm at the Shining Star Park located at Harding and Winthrop Avenues. Categories will be held in all ages for kids. Rain date will be Saturday, March 22.
Mayor Joe Wolk read his financial report for the month. He regretfully announced that the borough would be one of the towns affected if Governor Corzine's does cut municipal aid, since the borough currently has less then 5,000 residences. Mayor Wolk further explained that the town would lose $258,829 to be exact affecting the 2009 budget. The commissioners and chief financial officer will be working very diligently over the next few weeks to find ways to reduce spending and to see what cuts can be made without eliminating any services nor raising taxes. The annual budget has to be submitted to the state in the upcoming weeks. Mayor Wolk promised to keep everyone updated on this very important issue.
Mayor Wolk also announced that he is getting the run around from the Postal Service on why the facility is not open yet. The facility was scheduled to open in November, then pushed back to December and here we are starting the third month of the year and no post office yet. Mayor Wolk reached out to Congressman Andrew's office to receive some additional assistance and to see if this project can be wrapped up quickly to get our new post office open for the residents.
The Third Avenue re-surfacing project is scheduled to start on March 24th and take approximately 45 days to complete. This project is being completed with a $112,000 grant that was secured to the borough. Shortly after that is complete the Fifth Avenue re-surfacing project would be underway.
Mayor Wolk on behalf of the borough employees and board of commissioners wished everyone a Happy Easter break. The next meeting will be held on Thursday, April 3 commencing at 8 pm in the borough hall meeting room.
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