LAKEHURST – Members of the governing body discussed how some town property is in disrepair during a recent Borough Council meeting.
Councilman Gary Lowe reported on problems concerning a gym facility that had been created for certain municipal staff. “We are having issues with the heater. We repaired the one downstairs but to repair the one upstairs would be extremely expensive.”
“The only reason to even have it on is that there are bathrooms downstairs. So what we are going to do is replace the urinal with a toilet that will be used as a bathroom. That way we can turn off the water upstairs and we won’t have to worry about it freezing,” Lowe added. “That can save us so that down the road when we have the funds, we can repair the heater up there because as of right now there is no reason to have it on or spend the money to replace it as our fund is too small.”
On the subject of restrooms, Lowe also reported on the status of the Horicon Lake bathroom repairs. The new metallic bathrooms were put into use this past summer and were vandalized in the fall. “They finally got the order out. They had a problem in the shipping of the material for outside and it is in transit.”
Following the vandalism at the lake the governing body decided to purchase cameras, some of which would be installed by the restrooms. “The cameras have been put up at the bathrooms and at Borough Hall,” Lowe added.
He also noted problems with vehicle maintenance. “We’ve been going through quite a number of tires in the last couple of months due to the landfill. Hopefully, we are over those hurdles. We had to replace four tires and they can be very expensive.”
Councilman James Davis reported on concerns from the leadership of the Public Works Department fearing the governing body was seeing it as “bleeding money. We have the four tires, and the repowering of the backhoe, and the heaters in public works are not working, so trying to keep those buildings heated is becoming a bit of a chore because they are older and they need to get parts.”
Davis also reported, “the pavilion was damaged. It occurred some significant damage. A tree fell on it and it is roped off.”
Mayor Harry Robbins said that he assumed the insurance company would provide a quote in relation to its repair.
“Everything is showing its age right now,” Davis added.
He and Lowe noted that an online auction of discarded/unused borough property went well.
Councilman Robert McCarthy reported that the Lakehurst Board of Education had received word of a $20,000 grant from the state that would provide for additional security.
