PLUMSTED — Faced with a new state water management law to label each stormwater catch basin along township roads with decal warnings, “Only Rain In The Drain,” and no state funds to pay for it, a local Boy Scout will undertake the project as part of his Eagle Scout community badge.
Mayor Ron Dance said that if residents notice someone scouting out the locations of roadway storm-water catch basins in the neighborhoods of Plumsted, it is Boy Scout Patrick Seiler of New Egypt, with a hand-held global positioning system (GPS) device to record the latitude and longitude bearings of the storm-water basins on a township map.
In other news, Dancer said Ocean County officials have awarded a bid for the reconstruction of the Route 539 and Route 528 intersection and work is expected to begin this summer. In an effort to minimize the use of detour routes, alternating lanes of traffic will be in effect during the project to keep the intersection open.
However, there will be 12 days maximum by contract to close the intersection and use detour routes while the hill in the center of the intersection is graded down to improve sight distance and driver safety.
Dancer said the township has obtained a copy of the detour map route that will be in effect for the 12-day period. Anyone who wants to review the detour map may contact the Plumsted municipal clerk’s office.
And, the Plumsted Township Council for the Arts is sponsoring events monthly on every “First Saturday.” The First Saturday events are being held at various sites in downtown New Egypt. These events are an opportunity for not only local art enthusiasts to meet and socialize, but to heighten public awareness and interest in the visual and performing arts.
The First Saturday event for Aug. 1 will be a country line dance to be held at Oakford Lake Park beginning at 7 p.m. Admission is free and the public is invited. The Ocean County Cultural and Heritage Commission has awarded Plumsted a $1,000 grant to financially assist in the promotion of First Saturday events.
Area farmers are reminded that the annually required farmland property tax assessment applications must be completed and filed with the local tax assessor on or before Aug. 1.
The next regularly scheduled public meeting of the Township Committee will be held onAug. 5 at 8 p.m.