Middlesex County Freeholder Director Ronald G. Rios said county government has experienced great progress in 2015 in many different areas.
“This has been a year of great progress and continued promise,” Rios said during the 2015 State of the County Address last month. “Middlesex County has introduced even greater efficiencies in the workplace, completed numerous infrastructure projects for the safety and enjoyment of our residents, enhanced programming and has celebrated the people who make this county the Greatest County in the Land.”
For the 12th year in a row, the county was affirmed its Triple A rating, the highest rating attainable. It is estimated that the county’s excellent bond rating has saved taxpayers more than $35 million over the last 15 years.
“These savings allow us to fund our Capital Improvement Master Plan. This plan enables us to methodically repair, replace, improve or build bridges, culverts, roads and academic and recreational facilities,” Rios said.
In 2015, several culverts, traffic lights and roadways were repaired and 23 sections of county roads, using more than 52,000 tons of material, were paved.
Rios added that the Capital Improvement Master Plan also helped the county complete several projects in parks this year, including resurfacing nearly two miles of walking paths in Thomas Edison County Park in Edison and improving tennis and basketball courts at the county’s oldest park, Roosevelt Park in Edison.
“This plan also enables us to invest in new technology that continues to help us streamline processes and enhance service and responsiveness to our residents and businesses,” he said.
For example, the county is working to automate all funds’ movement to allow online payments. Soon the county will begin accepting credit card payments for various services and is moving toward electronic wires to pay outside vendors, which will greatly reduce paper and time-consuming manual processing.
There is also enhanced technology on the county’s new website that will enable residents next month to more easily see election results for races at the local, state and national levels.
In 2015, the county also implemented new tools for its GIS platform that more effectively showcase the unique attributes of the county to retain its current businesses and attract new ones. The platform also carries expanded resources for our municipal and redevelopment partners.
“By helping our current businesses grow and attracting new businesses, we are setting the table to bring new jobs to the county,” Rios said. “This year alone, shipping giant FedEx and online retailer Amazon hired thousands of employees at their new sites in Woodbridge and Carteret. With the deepening of the Panama Canal and the raising of the Bayonne Bridge to accommodate larger cargo ships, Middlesex County is in the perfect geographical location to welcome new manufacturing and distribution companies.
Rios said the freeholders, with the assistance of county staff, cut costs by more than $10 million in 2015 through introducing new technology and processes that allow “us to offer the same quality services.”
Leading the way are energy costs: the 25,000-panel solar field built at the county’s North Brunswick complex continues to produce $1 million in energy savings each year.
“The county continues to lead the way in using alternative energy sources by partnering with the Middlesex County Utilities Authority, which is building a solar panel field that will help power the Middlesex County Fire Academy,” Rios said.
Operationally, the county consolidated and relocated offices this year to save taxpayer dollars. The Office of Planning and the Office of Engineering were moved into shared space inside the county Administration Building, while the Board of Taxation was also moved into rental space to better align it with the Finance Department. The Middlesex County Board of Elections Office was moved to East Brunswick, and the county eliminated its central warehouse facility, saving an estimated $500,000 annually.
The county has also worked continually to preserve and protect open space. In 2015, the county purchased and saved more than 100 acres of open lands, including land in the environmentally sensitive Dismal Swamp.
The total number of acres in the county’s Farmland Preservation Program to date is 4,926. With the addition of farmland preserved with the help of municipal partners and the State of New Jersey, the total farmland preserved is 5,437 acres.
One of the accomplishments Rios is most proud of is the national recognition received by the county’s efforts to assist homeless veterans and those on the verge of being homeless.
Since its inception in December 2013, more than 232 veterans and their families have been helped with more than a quarter of a million dollars in assistance through this program. Many other veterans have received referrals and other help.
Rios also cited 2015 as the Year of the Volunteer.
In a direct attempt to enhance the ranks of volunteer fire firefighters and emergency medical responders, the county partnered with Middlesex County College, the Chamber of Commerce and volunteer organizations to provide educational and financial incentives to volunteers.
“As you can see, Middlesex County has completed much in the last 12 months. I thank my fellow freeholders, our county administration and staff for their hard work and efforts. For without them, none of this would be possible.
“I also wish to thank the people of Middlesex County, who have consistently told us what they want and need. As public servants it is our duty and pleasure to ensure they are met,” Rios said.