Infrastructure improvements throughout Monmouth County and the purchase of equipment for county departments will be paid for through a bond ordinance that has been adopted by the Monmouth County Board of Freeholders.
During a meeting on May 24, the freeholders took action to appropriate $57.42 million for various improvements in the county. The freeholders authorized the issuance of $54.64 million in bonds or notes to help finance the improvements. The county will provide a down payment of $2.78 million to help pay for the improvements and the purchase of equipment.
The improvements approved by the freeholders include:
• The acquisition of information technology equipment at a cost of $3.54 million. The equipment will include computers, scanners, monitors, audio visual equipment and network infrastructure and recording system;
• The acquisition of equipment for the Recreation Commission at a cost of $1.97 million. The purchases will include vehicles and maintenance equipment;
• The acquisition of equipment and vehicles for the Department of Public Works at a cost of $7.2 million;
• The acquisition of equipment for the Sheriff’s Department at a cost of $3.35 million, including servers, computers and software, monitors, voice recorder upgrade, radio equipment, metal detector, shields, vests and other equipment;
• Various improvements at a cost of $16.16 million, including work at the Monmouth County Courthouse, libraries, the Fort Monmouth adult homeless shelter, and more;
• Various park improvements at a cost of $3.51 million, including demolition/cleanup of buildings and structures, replacement of roofs, accessibility upgrades, vegetation management, utility system and building upgrades, playground and sports court improvements, trail construction, and more;
• Park improvements at a cost of $3.05 million at Hartshorne Woods Park-Rocky Point, Seven Presidents Oceanfront Park, Big Brook Park, Wolf Hill Recreation Area and Freneau Woods Park;
• Road improvements, road resurfacing and bridge improvements at a cost of $18.64 million in, among other municipalities, Manalapan, Howell, Upper Freehold Township, Colts Neck and Millstone Township.