Community Corner
Colts Neck to Get $2 Million for Sandy Cleanup from FEMA
Colts Neck cleanup costs totaled $2,269,489 after Hurricane Sandy.
Imagine the cost of dealing with 109,400 cubic yards of vegetative materials for almost one year. Imagine the cost of using township employees and equipment to load, move and dispose of 803 cubic yards with 1,164 regular time hours and 446 overtime hours.
Colts Neck Township is about to receive a $2,042,540 check from FEMA for its troubles in the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy.
Federal aid to Colts Neck increased $340,000 above the original federal funding estimate, giving the township a 90 percent reimbursement in hurricane cleanup costs.
Congressman Chris Smith (NJ-04) announced on Wednesday that the new FEMA funding numbers come after a June decision to reimburse townships impacted by Sandy for 90 percent of the costs, rather than 75 percent.
To date, Colts Neck has received less than $50,000 from FEMA. Cleanup costs totaled $2,269,489.
“We welcome the news, and as always Cong. Smith a step ahead for his district,” said Mayor Michael Fitzgerald, according to a news release.
The township borrowed a portion of the cleanup money. Any FEMA reimbursement will pay down the loans.
And the work isn't done. According to a news release from Smith's office, contractors must still remove:
- 18 leaning trees
- 120 hanging limbs
- one stump and 62 trees
- Collecting, grinding, hauling and disposing other potentially hazardous trees by various contractors
“Colts Neck, like other Jersey towns, was heavily impacted by Superstorm Sandy,” said Smith. “This federal assistance will help pay for the immense cost of clean up to the township. Work on this scale is beyond any town’s normal abilities without various outside contractors and federal financial assistance.”
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