Borough Council Gets Landfill Remediation Update

WOODBINE – Borough Council opened its June 19 meeting with a presentation on environmental remediation of the former landfill site. Thomas Mayer and Joe Russo of engineering firm Taylor Wiseman & Taylor explained the results of recent testing at the site, as well as plans for future monitoring and potential development.
A study conducted at the site in 2008 identified four areas of concern: debris/trash areas, stained soil caused by dumping during and after operation as a landfill, stained soil at the site of a former maintenance building, and a groundwater plume beneath the landfill.
Testing conducted this year found elevated levels of ammonia, metals, and chlorinated solvents, all common among landfill sites. Mayer explained that the groundwater moves in a southeasterly direction, towards Woodbine Municipal Airport. Homes upland of the site, on nearby Fidler Hill Road, have been outfitted with water monitoring and filtration devices as a precaution. Russo said that water and soil vapor monitoring will continue as part of the remediation required to obtain state permits to eventually develop the property for potential industrial use.
Mayer also gave an update on the environmental remediation at the former hat factory site at Adams and DeHirsch avenues. The overall remediation project is 50 percent complete, with the first round of sampling already finished. The second round of sampling is scheduled for July 3, and will focus on areas southeast of Adams and DeHirsch avenues, including portions of the county MUA property. Plans to develop the northwestern portion of the property into a paved parking lot should be underway within the next 12 months.
Garbage Contract
Council voted to assign the garbage and recycling collection contract from Blue Diamond Inc. to Choice Environmental. Blue Diamond will remain responsible for the contract until Dec. 31.
Drainage project
It was also announced that South State Inc. has been awarded the contract for the grant-funded roadway drainage project. Borough Engineer Bruce Graham explained that the drainage project is vital to future grant applications, and construction will begin in July.
School Graduates and Loan
Council member Michael Benson congratulated the 17 graduates of Woodbine Elementary School. He also announced that the school district has been approved for a New Jersey Board of Education loan in the amount of $650,000 to be paid back over 10 years.
Bids for Off Road Vehicle Park
Mayor William Pikolycky reported that three prospective bidders attended the pre-bid conference on June 18 for operation of the Woodbine Off Road Vehicle (OVR) Park. The N.J. Department of Environmental Protection owns the park. Deadline for final proposals is July 11. Pikolycky also announced that the county MUA has fully executed contracts with Clean Energy, a California-based company, to build and operate a compressed natural gas station near the MUA entrance on Dennisville-Petersburg Road.
Police to Host Back to School Event
Station commander Doug Pierson of the New Jersey State Police Woodbine State Police Barracks, announced that along with his unit, Borough Council, and First Baptist Church of Woodbine, will be hosting a back-to-school event for the community Aug. 27.
The event will be a casual gathering of students and community members to help the children prepare for the upcoming school year.
Visits by McGruff the Crime Dog and Smokey the Bear are expected. Students will also have a chance to check out a State Police helicopter.
To contact Don Tozer, email dtozer@cmcherald.com.