To the editor:
I attended the June 25th Millstone and Raritan Rivers Flood Control Commission meeting held in Franklin.
It was discussed that the NJDEP needs more time to review the 3 mitigation options they were presented with back in January from the Army Corps ongoing flood study. The "cost-to-benefit ratios" have been developed but not made public at this time. In addition, a fourth plan was recently added called a 10-year flood mitigation option which would help protect homes to a 100+ year level.
Also discussed was a significant change to how future projects get funded from a federal standpoint. The new breakdown is now 65 percent federal and 35 percent state, down from a 75/25 split. In addition, more bad news. Of the 35 percent state, a 75/25 split is applied and a local governing body is now on the hook for 25% of the state’s cost.
The next commission meeting is to be held in Manville on Wednesday, Sept. 24, at 7 p.m. at Borough Hall. I am looking forward to hearing from the NJDEP on plan selection and questioning how we move forward with a sense of urgency.
It has been 43 years since tropical storm Doria hit Manville. We cannot wait much longer before a shovel is in the ground to help mitigate our flood waters and show the residents of Manville that something is finally getting done.
Richard M. Onderko
Borough Councilman
Manville

