Arnone Report: Bridge Rehab in Long Branch and Support for Brookdale

By Freeholder Director Tom Arnone

Monmouth County Freeholder Director Tom Arnone

Hello everyone!

While I could say the last few weeks have been very busy, the truth of the matter is that the County stays busy around the year with ongoing projects and initiatives.

I would like to provide a few updates from the departments I oversee, including the County’s Department of Public Works and Engineering. I’m proud to serve as the liaison to this department and cannot praise enough the tremendous work these – and all – County employees do on a daily basis to maintain the high quality of life we enjoy in Monmouth County. Read the rest of this entry »

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Arnone to hold public meeting about dump odors in Tinton Falls

photo courtesy of Monmouth County Citizens for Environmental Health and Safety facebook group

Freeholder Director Tom Arnone announced that a public meeting regarding the County government’s efforts to remediate the odors emitting from the Monmouth County Reclamation Center will be held on Monday, May 13, 7 p.m., at the Tinton Falls Municipal Building, 556 Tinton Avenue.

“At this meeting, I look forward to providing an in-person update on the progress that has been made as well as the current work being done at the landfill. I will be addressing specific questions and concerns that have been raised and discussing the next steps the County will be taking over the coming weeks,” Arnone said in an email to Tinton Falls residents.

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Arnone Report: County supporting business and education, keeping the roads safe and clean

By Tom Arnone, Monmouth County Freeholder Director

Freeholder Director Tom Arnone

I hope everyone is having a happy holiday season! It’s hard to believe the first day of winter is right around the corner when it feels like we just celebrated the end of summer!

As liaison to the department of public works and engineering, I want to ensure everyone that our employees have been preparing for any potential storms during the upcoming winter season. We have the best crews around who all have the same goal in mind – to keep our residents safe during any inclement weather. Our number one priority always has been and always will be safety.

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Monmouth County is prepared for weekend snow

Monmouth County Public Works crews readied all of its snow removal equipment Friday, March 18 in advance of the snow predicted for the weekend.

You’ve probably packed away your shovels and snowblowers.  Many landscapers have removed the plows from their pickups.  March came in like a lamb but might show us some lion Saturday night and Sunday.

The National Weather Service said at 4:39 this morning that the probability of hazardous weather conditions is low for Saturday, day and night, but that a coastal storm could bring snow accumulations on Sunday afternoon and night.

The Monmouth County Department of Public Works is ready for whatever the first day of Spring brings.

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Monmouth County Debt Rated AAA for the 16th consecutive year

Freeholder Deputy Director Gary Rich and Freeholder Director Lillian Burry at the Italian American Festival in Ocean Township last week.

Monmouth County has received a new AAA bond rating from all three major rating agencies for the 16th consecutive year, according to a statement by the Monmouth County Board of Freeholders.

“This is the 16^th straight year the County has been awarded AAA status from Fitch, Moody’s and Standard and Poor’s,” said Freeholder Deputy Director Gary J. Rich, Sr., liaison to the County’s Finance Department. “Monmouth County continues to be top-rated in how it manages taxpayer money.”

The three rating agencies rated the upcoming Monmouth County Improvement Authority’s (MCIA) governmental refunding bond series and reaffirmed the ratings of the County’s outstanding debt.

“Monmouth County continues its demonstration of sound, fiscal management. The County has been careful in its spending and continues to maintain low debt levels,” said Freeholder Director Lillian G. Burry. “As a result, we are able to have greater flexibility in delivering quality services to our residents. It shows how well the County is managing its resources and planning for the future.”

Monmouth County is the only county in New Jersey and one of less than three dozen counties in the nation that can claim to have received the highest score from all three rating agencies.  The AAA rating is higher than that of the State of New Jersey and the United States of America.

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The Arnone Report

By Monmouth County Freeholder Tom Arnone

Freeholder Tom Arone

Recently a Mayor’s Luncheon was held in Belmar for the purpose of giving Belmar businesses a forum to meet and discuss tourism and how it benefits businesses at the Jersey Shore. I was happy to attend and join Belmar Mayor Matt Doherty in greeting the local business owners and to share with them what the County Tourism Division does to promote the industry. The luncheon was held at Ollie Klein’s Waterside Café located on River Road in Belmar.

Additionally, we are currently working toward entering into a shared services agreement with Hightstown to utilize the Monmouth County Vehicle Wash facilities. This is yet another approach to help reduce costs and redundancies in the delivery of public services, while adding some additional revenue for the county to help offset our operational costs. Because Hightstown already has a shared services agreement with Roosevelt Borough for trash collection which is hauled to the Monmouth County Reclamation Center, it makes good sense for them to utilize the county vehicle wash facilities as a value added shared services while they are in the area. Howell Township has just been added to our MODIV property tax assessment shared services system. This system has been recognized for innovation and excellence in public service by the Harvard Kennedy School and Moody’s Investor’s Service for its role in streamlining the delivery and implementation of the tax assessment process. Certain municipalities have seen savings of up to 65% through this shared service.

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