HOWELL — The Township Council has adopted an ordinance that authorizes funding for capital improvements such as road projects to be completed throughout Howell.
On May 18, the council adopted an ordinance appropriating $13 million and authorizing the issuance of $12.21 million in bonds and notes for various projects including road improvements and renovations to several municipal buildings, including the senior center.
According to the ordinance, $141,464 in grant funds is expected to be received from the Monmouth County Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) program. A total of $650,000 is expected to be made as the down payment for the various purposes of the improvement program, as required by the local bond law.
The 2015 road program will consist of improvements to roads and curbs, including full depth road reclamation, road milling and overlay, curb replacement, paving and crosswalk improvements, patching, and improvements to Kent Road as part of the Municipal Road Aid Program. The total appropriation and estimated cost of the project is $6.27 million.
Another improvement listed in the ordinance is the continuation of the 2014 road program including reconstruction of a curve on Kent Road, Blake Drive drainage (phase two), construction to Larrabee Boulevard, Shetland Avenue, Station Place and Waverly Place, and patching and improvements to Georgia Tavern Road. The estimated cost is $4.38 million.
Officials are planning to implement traffic control lighting upgrades at a cost of $350,000.
Projects at Howell parks will include improving the accessibility to the facilities at a cost of $300,000; the dredging of Lake Louise and Aldrich Lake at a cost of $91,000; and improvements to a trail at a cost of $75,000.
The replacement of sports field lighting at Oak Glen Park will be completed at an estimated cost of $600,000. A pipe replacement and lining program is also within the proposed capital improvements with an estimated cost of $225,000.
Other improvements include conversions to natural gas; flooring and a hearth for the Echo Lake Pavilion at the newly renamed Alfred Sauer Park at Echo Lake; door, floor and ramp replacements at the senior center on Preventorium Road; garage roof replacement at the Department of Public Works; and completion of the Office of Emergency Management. The total cost is $704,000.