JACKSON – The intersection of Cambridge and Buckingham drives in Jackson will be closed until at least mid- November as work to replace a culvert and relocate a water main gets set to start. The project, which is about 100 feet from the intersection, cuts into a residential property.
“We are going to be affecting the lives of these residents for a while,” Township Engineer Dan Burke said. “Our objective is to substantively get everything done before Thanksgiving.”
In order to make room for the new culvert, the water main will be installed deeper underground.
“Because of the type of replacement structure we are putting in, the footprint of [the water main] will be deeper,” Burke said.
Other utilities in the vicinity of the project site — such as gas lines — have already been relocated.
At its meeting on Sept. 27, the Jackson Township Council approved changes to the municipal code in regard to graffiti and the penalties associated with the creation of graffiti.
Following the council’s decision, anyone found guilty of spraying graffiti could be subject to a maximum of $1,000 in fines for each offense and/or 90 days in the Ocean County Jail; however, the ordinance suggests that community service be issued in lieu of jail time.
The ordinance was adopted with a 4-1 vote.
Councilman Scott Martin, Councilwoman Bobbie Rivere, council President Ken Bressi and Councilwoman Ann Updegrave voted for the measure. Councilman Michael Kafton voted no.
“I feel the penalties for first offenders are too harsh and that was my concern and why I voted no,” Kafton said at the Sept. 27 meeting. “I would hope that if the person who committed the crime is caught, the homeowner would be able to be reimbursed by them.”
Business owners are also affected by the ordinance, because they will have up to 90 days to remove any graffiti that has been placed on their property. Department of Transportation properties will have that timeframe extended to 120 days.
Failure to remove the graffiti within the required timeframe will cause the township to remove the graffiti and the owner of the property will be billed for the work provided.
Failure to pay the bill promptly will result in the township placing a lien on the property, as well as fining the property owner up to $2,000.