20

Herald A Lantern 9 September St

. .'V

Funding Cut Hit By MCA

5’

SWA INTON Th* county could suffer a Iom of construction funds for wastewater treatment facilities under a proposed state plan to ■ phase in' 1 funding because of a *70 million cut in federal money

The state Dept of Environmental Pror>wtion announced.last week that it is con entering spreading the remgmirtg Ii89 5 ‘ million in federal wastewater funds among the 22 projects ^emft built or ready to be

built

t'MiKH- TllK PROPOSAL the county Municipal Utilities Authority would, receive onl» *« fi million in federal'funds instead of the,*15 t million'it had expected to build the Cape May Region wastewater

treatn^nt plant

’ The MCA a’lsQ was expecting *7.2 million for the composting facilities in Middle •Twp Under the state plan (he authority

would receive only *3 2 million

FEDERAL FUNDS have historically provided 75 percent of all. construction costs The proposed state plan would result in a funding level of 40 percent of the 75 percent • Cape May County MUA Chairman John Vinci said he will vigorously oppose the DEP plan. % 'They are now pushing projects onto the priority list that were not there before and are months away from going out to bid," Vinci stated HE NOTED the MUA is ready to accept bids on both the Cape May and Middle Township projects next month. • What DEP is proposing,” vinci said, vis to add projects and spread out the money.” He said'he is willing to urge that the MUA build both projects with the limited federal funds but only if the state will reimburse thtf' authority if and when

federal funds become available. According"to Vinci, 4he state wants the MUA to build until ltd funds run out and then put the project, on hold until the federal funds materialize.. •WE CAN’T DO that," Vinci remarked, "it would be-impossible to obtain financing for a project under those conditions." Vinci pointed out that he had already directed his staff to work up contingency plans, one if there are reduced funds and the second if there are no funds available. He also reiterated the fact that many county communities are under court orders to clean up. wastewater treatment facilities that have beeri_pollutihg the rcean and backbays for yedt-s. "

getting projects Started.'"The Cape May plant would be operating now if it weren't for the federal red tape the authority had to contend with," the chairman noted. The MUA will testify in opposition to the -'DeP proposal at a public hearing scheduled for Sept. 23 in’Ewing Twp. VINCI NOTED the authority must still build regional plants in the Lower/Wildwoods region and in the Seven Mile/Midle region. A plant in Ocean CUy currently under construction, will open this fall.

Vinci

"WE HAVE AN Immediate proolen-

inci §aid. "T ‘

ft hat federal and

bureaucracy^iad caused long delays in

heed to build now ‘

He added' that federal and state

The DEP calls its proposal "phase funding," since a project would be funded only partially and would run out of money before it-is completed. 'Either the authority would have to complete the project with its own funds or wait for th^'federal government to allocate more money. . • ,

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42 Weekends

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* STONE J1 ARBOR: Thq Chamber of Commerce's plans to extend tlje season into September have been received with so much enthusiasm' by local merchants and prospective visitors/^hat two weekends are planned.

Councilman R. Jack Fitzpatrick stated the All American Travel Club had plans to bring some 300 to 500 visitors to Stone Harbor for the weekend of Sept. 1820. However, due to the demand for rooms from the Travel Club members they have decided to bring the groups down for two weekends. The visitors wfll take over the Shelter Have and Concord Motels for. Sept. 18-20 and Sept. 25-27.

ACCORDING TO Jack Bradley of the travel club many activities, are planned for the guests. There will be a Grand Slam Derby with a trophy going to the winner, tennis on 14 courts, * dancing hightly, gourmet dinipg and golf on the nearby country club links. x

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In addition, 17 stores have announced they will offer discounts to the visitors in- varying amounts. A coupon booklet is being printed and each visitor will receive a copy. Souvenir bags are being prepared for the guests and items from seven businesses will be included . included in a carry-all bag. Arrangements are also being made to have a charter boat ride and a movie show.