* 41 17 Herald - Lantern - Dispatch 19 February '86 . _ nerdiu Ldiucni - unpan.ii ■ ? icuiuai J

9 Incinerator, Grant To Council Monday

SUNSET BEACH »- Will Council accept state money to preserve 90 acres of the closed magnesite plant here? Will Council also approve plans for an incinerator at that bayfront site? "I feel that anyone with any common sense at all would be willing to support this project for Lower Township," Mayor Robert Fothergill, chief proponent of the related proposals, said last week. He and his Courted colleagues are expected to decide after an 8 p.m.

public hearing Monday whether to accept a 5224,455 Green Acres grant and a $673,000 loan toward acquisition of the HarbisonWalker Refractories tract from Dresser Industries of Texas. "Yes, we have to go into the grant acceptance (question)...," said the mayor, "but that does not mean we have to spend the money." Fothergill said Council also will be asked to act on a "preliminary study" from INDE-Power of Feasterville, Pa., for leasing five acres of the plant property from Lower where the company would burn recyclables in a trash-to-energy incinerator and sublease parcels to industrial and environmental tenants. •I HAVE TO GET COUNCIL to support the project so INDE-Power can go to work," the mayor said of more detailed plans. "We're stuck with an abandonded industrial complex." he said of the magnesite plant that closed in late 1983. "And at least now we've got private money

that's willing to go down there." In the fall of 1983, Fothergill unveiled plans for a township-owned and operated waste-to-energy incinerator at the magnesite plant that could save Lower and adjoining municipalities money in landfill dumping fees by burning their trash. When the county MUA, which operates that landfill in Woodbine, claimed a franchise on all trash in the county, Fothergill founded Lower's Incinerator Authority to explore ways of operating a municipal incinerator anyway. What revived an incinerator project that appeared all but buried by the MUA franchise until late last year? "Privatization." Fothergill replied when presenting INDE-Power's proposal during a December public hearing. He prefers that to a $4 million incinerator alternative frowned upon by the MUA. "THAT MADE THE WHOLE THING feasible." Township Solicitor Bruce Gorman said of INDE-Power's proposal to burn recyclables controlled by the

township rather than other trash claimed by the MUA. Howard Farleen. INDE-Power consultant from Tropical Technologies Associates, said the owners of a three- or four-unit modular incinerator would buy recyclables from Lower and other municipalities if available. If not, the incinerator could — and would if need be — burn wood or other combustibles to produce power, Farleen said. "You know that the township recyclables alone won't make your plant go? Gorman asked Greg A. Anderson, INDE-Power sales and marketing director. "We know that," he replied. "We plan to subcontract different processes on the site" fqr agriculture and aquiculture, Anderson said of INDEPower's $4 million designs for the fiveacre parcel, some of its buildings, and huge tanks that could be used to breed and research sealife. "THAT WOULD BE A BIG selling point," said Robert Rusch. a Bureau of Green Trust Management (BGTM) supervisor and its liason with the Division of Coastal Resources. Both are sections of the state Department of Environmental _ Protection (DEP). Faced with the possible loss of a Sea Grants program in Sandy Hook to Delaware. Rusch saw^ possibilities in INDE-Power's lease and subleases of the five-acre tract "I'm optimistic about what you've just described to us." he told Anderson at the December hearing, inviting him to meet and discuss the ideas with the DEP commissioner. Rusch told Council earlier that Lcwer's application last year to preserve the bayfront tract was rated highest of those received for environmental project funding. That funding was for preservation, however BGTM officials still must decide if they can go along with INDE-Power's proposal. PRESERVATION IS REASON enough to acquire the property, according to Fothergill. But, besides incinerator-pow-ered industrial and environmental facilities, he wants to see some of the tract used for recreation — camping, boat

ramps etc. — with user fees (discounted for township residents) helping to defray acquisition costs. Lease payments from INDE-Power would also put a dent in those costs, but the property's assessed at more than $2.3 million and Dresser. Fothergill has said, wants to build condominiums on the indus-trially-zoned land To acquire it. Lower would probably have to condemn. (During a joint Republican clubs' meeting about the project in Cape May last week, Eric Gaver of Sunset Beach, Dresser's local attorney, said his client opposes the incinerator plan and believes its land is very valuable. If Council accepts Green Acres acquisition money next week. Lower would collect a $224,455 grant and $673,000 loan, payable at 2 percent interest over 20 vears. CAPE MAY MAYOR Arthur Blomkvest and Councilman Adrian Capehart commended Fothergill in April on an earlier incineration plan that's since been replaced by the INDE-Power concept. Both offer Lower's adjoinirtg municipalities the prospect of avoiding at least some of their trash hauling and dumping fees — and a water desalination process, reverse osmosis. Speaking of Cape May "Point, though. Blomkvest told Fothergill last spring: "The people there are afraid of burning and I think that's the prime thing you have to overcome, (see related story)" Point officials, in fact, have adopted a resolution, opposing an incinerator at the magnesite plant. It's also opposed by many residents of West Cape May, Cape May and Lower Township. Lower regular Republican candidates made their opposition and his support for a township incinerator a campaign issue in /* May 1984 when Democrat Fothergill won the mayor's seat by a slim margin. With two regular Republicans on Council now » Robert Conroy and David F Brand Jr.) and another election on the horizon. Fothergill last week was asked if he could muster enough votes to see the Green Acres money accepted and INDE-Power's proposal approved Conroy and Brand often vote with him "I don't have any idea." he replied. "The only thing I can do is give it my best * shot."

Point Primed To Resist

CAPE MAY POINT - Borough residents are primed to make their presence felt against a plan by„Lower Township Mayor Robert Fothergill to build a waste-to-ener-gy incincerator at the closed Harbison - Walker magnesite plant. Sunset Beach Most of the public discussion at last week's borough commission meeting centered on the incinerator and arguments against it. A number of residents said they plan to attend a meeting next Monday night in Lower Township Hall where a public hearing will be held on acceptance a grant — loan from the state's Green Acres program to purchase 90 acres of the plant property. Lower's Council also is expected to act on a proposed feasibility study of a five-acre magnesite plant tract where the incinerator would be built. Opponents at the borough commission meeting cited what they feel are weaknesses in Fothergill's proposal to make the incinerator pay for itself. They cited a report from the county Municipal Utilities Authority (MUA) that the plant won't have access to sufficient quantities of trash to be financially feasible (see related story). The county MUA opposes the plant because it has been designated to prepare a county-wide trash management plan. "I JUST WISH WE COULD reach Lower Township residents and tell them how this is going to hurt them," said one unidentified man.

"There is a lot of opposition to this in Lower Township I don't think it is going to go through," said Cape May Point Mayor Frank S. Rutherford Jr. One woman said that she had spoken to Mid Atlantic Center for the Arts in Cape May. and that organization is prepared to attend next Monday's meeting to object. Opposition to the incinerator in Cape May Point focuses on the fear residents have of fiyash. or residue from the burning process settling on nearby homes. They are also concerned about what they fear would be increased truck traffic along Sunset Boulevard from vehicles hauling trash and the resultant litter. In other business, borough commissioners unanimously approved an ordinance authorizing them to enter into an agreement with West Cape May for joint police protection. Both communities have small police forces that now patrol only about 15 hours a day. Under the joint agreement, both areas will have 24-hour patrols. West Cape May approved the plan about two weeks ago arid, with approval of it in the Point, implementation of the agreement is expected in less than a month. "Among other things, we're getting twice the protection for the same amount of money." said Mayor Rutherford He said the borough would have to double its annual expenditure for police protection from $33,000 to $66,000 to provide 24-hour police coverage.

Home Owners Told Advantages

WILDWOOD — "Now that mortgage interest rates are declining, home ownership once again will be high on the list of opportunities for hiany families," said Joseph R. Pierce. C.R.B..C.R.S.. a Wildwood REALTOR" and president of the Greater Wildwood-Cape May County Board of REALTORS* . Pierce said that owning a home means many things to many people: a place where family members can get together, the reality of the American dream, a symbol of independence, and a comfortable retreat at the end of the day. FOLLOWING ARE a few of the many advantages of home ownership, as listed by Pierce: "A home is an investment — a substantial one — and a safe way to invest.

Home ownership pays attractive rewards almost immediately through income tax deductions on mortgage interest and real estate taxes. "There are also many long-range benefits available through income deferments and exemptions in the event you sell your home and have capital gains," he added. You can live better for less. t "WHILE YOU'RE investing you also are providing for the largest single item in your budget, shelter." Pierce said. "But, since payments remain virtually the same throughout the period of the mortgage, the percen tage allotted for shelter continues to decrease " In addition to the home itself, the land on which the

home is built also appreciates in value — and at an even more rapid pace. Pierce added. "Owning a home makes the owner a solid part of the community. It gives the owner a feeling of solidarity with the community of belonging. The owner now has a substantial stake in how the community grows and prospers," he noted. "Home ownership is a major indicator of financial integrity. Owning a home is the best and quickest way to establish a good credit rating." he declared. Pierce urges potential buyers tolake that first important step: buy now. "Next," Pierce says, "find a real estate salesperson who will show you the types of homes to meet your family's needs. "

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