New Turf Field Included Among $2.7M In Capital Improvements
The Fort Lee Mayor and Council approved a long list of improvements for various borough departments Thursday and about $2.5 million in bonding to finance them.
The Fort Lee Mayor and Council last week approved nearly $2.7 million in capital improvements and more than $2.5 million in negotiable bonds to pay for them.
The $134,650 difference in the two amounts represents down payments for a litany of improvements approved in the ordinance passed at the governing body’s regular meeting Thursday, including the Fort Lee Ambulance Corps, OEM, Building Department, Fire Department, Senior Center, Cultural and Heritage Affairs, Communications Center, Police Department, DPW, Community Center, Recreation Department, Van Fleet Park and Administration.
The biggest single-ticket item on the list is re-turfing at Van Fleet Park. That project is estimated at $459,752, of which officials estimate $436,765 would be financed through bonds or notes with a 15-year “period of usefulness.”
The issue of giving General Van Fleet Park the makeover came up during an executive session in early June, when borough officials estimated the cost at about $320,000 to re-turf the roughly 10-year-old field used by hundreds of Fort Lee children to play soccer and softball.
“They said if you get eight years, nine years, be happy,” Fort Lee Mayor Mark Sokolich said at the time. “If you get 10, you’re on borrowed time.”
He added, “We’re now over 10, and it’s evident.”
“It’s ripped; it’s torn; it’s lost its fluff; it’s all matted,” Sokolich said. “And there’s a reason for that … that field is used as much as any field in the county.”
After the park, the next biggest appropriation in the ordinance is for a new ambulance, a power stretcher and power lift devices for the Fort Lee Ambulance Corps at an estimated cost of $305,735 and an “estimated maximum” bonding of $290,449 for 15 years.
The cost for milling and paving of streets, in addition to new storm basins for the Public Works and Parks departments is estimated at $299,931 ($284,934; 10 years), and Storz connections for fire hydrants, rescue tools, garage doors, replacement of generators and installation of fiber optic equipment for the Fort Lee Fire Department will come at an estimated cost of $287,345 ($272,978; 15 years).
Improvements to municipal buildings and facilities, which come with a price tag of about $258,611 and for which bonding is estimated at $245,680 for 15 years, round out the capital improvements costing in excess of $200,000.
A complete breakdown of the capital improvements and estimated bonding approved by the Fort Lee Mayor and Council Thursday follows:
| Purpose | Appropriation/Estimated Cost | Estimated Maximum Bonds/Notes | Period of Usefulness |
|
Ambulance Corps Ambulance, power stretcher, power lift devices |
$305,735 | $290,449 | 15 years |
| Emergency Management Generator, portable generators, radio equipment | $11,494 | $10,919 | 10 years |
| Building Department Computers | $8,620 | $8,189 | 5 years |
| Fire Department Storz connections, rescue tools, garage doors, generator replacement, fiber optic equipment installation | $287,345 | $272,978 | 15 years |
| Senior Center Computer system for tracking participation, classes and membership, flat screen TVs, mounts, speakers, AV receiver | $11,494 | $10,919 | 5 years |
| Cultural & Heritage Affairs Replacement of projection equipment at the community center | $57,469 | $54,596 | 5 years |
|
Communications Center Furniture |
$80,457 | $76,434 | 5 years |
| Police Department Upgrades to camera system, video recorders in patrol vehicles, body microphones for officers, automated license plate recognition devices | $188,401 | $178,981 | 10 years |
|
Police Department Computer upgrades, Microsoft Office Professional licensing, laptops for patrol vehicles |
$156,414 | $148,593 | 5 years |
| Public Works & Parks Generators, upgrades to Westview Park pool | $165,568 | $157,290 | 15 years |
| Public Works & Parks Milling and paving of streets, new storm basins |
$299,931 | $284,934 | 10 years |
| Public Works & Parks Replacement of sewer pick up trucks |
$80,457 | $76,434 | 5 years |
| Community Center Staging roof new design, replacement of lights and outdoor fountain | $114,938 | $109,191 | 10 years |
| Recreation Tables, folding chairs and storing cart | $5,172 | $4,914 | 5 years |
| Van Fleet Park Re-turfing field | $459,752 | $436,765 | 15 years |
| Administration Improvements to municipal buildings and facilities | $258,611 | $245,680 | 15 years |
| Administration Computers |
$86,204 | $81,893 | 5 years |
| Administration Vehicles |
$114,938 | $109,191 | 5 years |
Total appropriations and estimated costs approved under the ordinance come in at $2,693,000, and the total estimated maximum amount of bonds or notes is $2,558,350.
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Howard L. Pearl
9:34 am on Wednesday, July 25, 2012
Sports bring the children of a Community together. Maintaining the fields is critical in that effort. Van Fleet was a great addition a decade ago and needs to be returfed. One hopes that next year, the Council can raise some capital to create a turf field for the Fort Lee National Little League to complement the fine American Little League Field that was upgraded several years ago.
Jerry Wish
12:53 pm on Wednesday, July 25, 2012
Howard: The Board of Education owns the National League Field, a little while back the president of the Board of Education had the football and baseball field converted to turf; however, because of his former position as an American Little League Trustee he decided not to have the National League field done.
Baba O'Riley
2:35 pm on Wednesday, July 25, 2012
Hey Fort Lee taxpayers! Who do you think has to pay these bonds back (with interest)?
Donna Straub Medaglia
8:04 pm on Wednesday, July 25, 2012
FYI The BOE owns the field and the Borough owns the club house and area around club house.
Luca D.
10:51 am on Thursday, July 26, 2012
With an annual budget that is close to $70 million, there is no need for bonding that will require payment in excess of the usefulness of the line item. It is irresponsible.
Jimmy Nelson
2:11 pm on Monday, July 30, 2012
And i thought the obama administration was reckless with spending !!!