Hugin: Menendez failed with closure of Fort Monmouth

Republican U.S. Senate candidate Bob Hugin was joined by Monmouth County Freeholders Pat Impreveduto and Gerry Scharfenberger at Fort Monmouth this afternoon to highlight the failure of Senator Bob Menendez in letting the fort close.

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FMERA Chairman Endorses Burry’s Reelection As Freeholder

By James V. Gorman

FMERA Chairman James Gorman and Freeholder Director Lillian Burry commemorate the opening of Rt 537 in Fort Monmouth, Jan 17, 2017 . -photo Art Gallagher

Due to the long term working relationship I have enjoyed with Freeholder Director Lillian Burry, it is my pleasure to endorse and support her re-election to the Monmouth County Board of Chosen Freeholders. Read the rest of this entry »

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Fort Monmouth memorabilia to go to public auction

OCEANPORT — The public can own a piece of military history when thousands of items from Fort Monmouth go to auction next month. Souvenirs and memorabilia from the closed military base will be offered for sale at a public on Sept. 23 as work continues to redevelop the 1,128-acre former Army post in Oceanport, Eatontown and… Read the rest of this entry »

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Fort Monmouth Reopens Between Eatontown and Oceanport

Freeholder Tom Arnone and Freeholder Director Lillian Burry commemorate the reopening of County Road 537 in Fort Monmouth

Less than two months after Monmouth County financed the purchase of the remaining available acreage of Fort Monmouth, thereby removing federal red tape from the redevelopment decisions of the property, the gates were removed from the entrances on Route 35 in Eatontown and Oceanport Ave in Oceanport as County Road 537 opened for vehicular traffic.

County, state and local officials gathered at the fort on Tuesday morning to commemorate the reopening.

“Government usually doesn’t work this fast.  In Monmouth County it does,” declared Freeholder Tom Arnone as he acknowledged the men and women of the County Department of Public Works and Engineering and their director, John Tobia, for their work in opening the road.

The road was closed to the public in 2011 when the U.S. Army moved the operations of the fort to Aberdeen, Maryland following the 2005 decision by the federal BRAC (base realignment and closure) commission decision to close the historic facility.

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Monmouth County: A FINANCIAL FORCE MULTIPLIER

By Freeholder Lillian G. Burry

Freeholders Tom Arnone and Lillian Burry complete the purchase of Ft. Monmouth with Noreen Dresser, Chief of Real Estate, U.S. Army Corp of Engineers, NY Distirct

Anyone living in Monmouth County is likely to be aware of the many good things County government provides including our roads, parks and library system.  One of the most important and valuable things the County provides, however, is known to relatively few residents. That’s the role the County plays in enhancing the financial resources of others and it’s a role that’s played quietly, sometimes indirectly, and always with unwavering expertise.

Sometimes it takes the form of a direct payment, providing the County share of the price for preserving farmland that brings far larger amounts of state dollars to a deal. At other times it’s providing a mix of funding and in-kind staff resources as a match for Green Acres dollars used to acquire or develop additional open space or some other worthy grant funded project. And sometimes it’s taking advantage of the AAA bond rating of the County – a rating held by fewer than two dozen of the more than three thousand American counties – to help others borrow money through the Monmouth County Improvement Authority (MCIA) at interest rates that can save significant amounts of dollars in interest payments over the life of a loan.

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The Arnone Report: Fort Monmouth Progress, Monmouth Park needs help

By Freeholder Director Tom Arnone

Hello Monmouth County! What an incredible few weeks it has been here throughout our beautiful county. The weather has been near perfect, providing great opportunities to visit all the wonderful places and activities we have to offer.

I have some very exciting news to share about the Former Fort Monmouth property. The Monmouth County Board of Chosen Freeholders provided final approval last week to guarantee $35 million in notes and bonds through the Monmouth County Improvement Authority (MCIA). The funding will be used to revitalize the property which has been closed since 2011 and the potential impact of this redevelopment on our residents is enormous. It was the right thing to do for the region.

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Freeholders approve $35 million in bonds for Fort Monmouth acquisition

Freeholder John Curley, Deputy Freeholder Director Serena DiMaso, Freeholder Lillian Burry and Freeholder Director Tom Arnone

The Monmouth County Board of Chosen Freeholders agreed to back up the acquisition of the 560 acres at Fort Monmouth that is not already controlled by the Fort Monmouth Economic Revitalization Authority (FMERA) with a $35 million bond guarantee.  The Freeholders voted 4-1, with John Curley opposing the guarantee, at their meeting last night which was held in Ocean Township.

The Freeholders’ action enables the Monmouth County Improvement Authority to guarantee bonds issued by FMERA.  With the AAA bond rating of MCIA, the bonds will have the lowest interest rate available in the market.  FMERA will use the proceeds to purchase the land, valued at $90 million, from the Department of the Army for roughly $35 million.  The bonds will be secured by the land.

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Curley: Control of Fort Monmouth should transfer to County, Towns along with the deed

By Monmouth County Freeholder John P. Curley

Freeholder John P. Curley

In 2010, Governor Chris Christie signed into law the Fort Monmouth Revitalization Authority Act therefore, evolving into the Fort Monmouth Revitalization Authority, FMERA. As stated in their annual report, FMERA is to “provide investment continuity and economic growth to the communities impacted by the federal government’s decision to close Fort Monmouth”. The original plan addressed the 1126 acres in Eatontown, Oceanport, and Tinton Falls.

The Monmouth County Improvement Authority will be sanctioned by the Monmouth County Board of Chosen Freeholders to bond 33 million dollars for the Phase II redevelopment effort at Fort Monmouth. This bonding will provide for a direct purchase (transfer) of the remaining 560 acres in the Borough of Oceanport and the Borough of Eatontown, from the Department of the Army to a state created entity, the Fort Monmouth Economic Revitalization Authority, FMERA.

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Monmouth Legislators: No more Ebola Patients at Fort Monmouth

The legislators representing Monmouth County from the 11th and 13th Districts want the New Jersey Department of Human Services to stop housing asymptomatic Ebola patients at Fort Monmouth at then end of this month when the current agreement to do so expires and they are calling on the members of the Fort Monmouth Economic Revitalization Authority to reject DHS’s request to extend the arrangement.

Senators Joe Kyrillos and Jennifer Beck joined with Assembly Members Amy Handlin, Declan O’Scanlon, Mary Pat Angelini and Caroline Casagrande in issuing the following statement:

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More than 600 monitored in N.J. since October for Ebola fears

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