March 20, 2024

Greetings,

Wow – hard to believe Spring has arrived (by the calendar, surely not by the weather)!  However, we were thankful for the mild winter.  We look forward to 2024 and plan for a productive year. 

I want to talk about what we have been working on during these past few months. 

We have meet with the County of Ocean Commissioners and Engineering Department.  We are pleased to announce the County will be investing your tax dollars back into our community. 

• The County is resurfacing Lacey Road from GSP to Route 9. 
• Lane widening & reconfiguration of the traffic light at Manchester & Western Boulevard.  This project will be over the summer when school is out so as to not interfere with bus traffic. 
• Lakeside Drive South & Deerhead Lake Drive will be paved this Spring.
• Beach Boulevard will be re-paved from Cape May Drive to Molokai Drive.
• County will look at the pavement issue at Beach Boulevard and Route 9.
• County is performing a traffic study as it relates to the extension of Western Boulevard into Berkeley Township which will possibly connect at Gladney Avenue in Beachwood
• County is also looking to coordinate a meeting with the State Department of Transportation to discuss Route 9 and much needed improvements to the roadway to address traffic flow.  Addressing Route 9 is an issue that will take years to accomplish and to perform the necessary studies and property acquisitions.  So I am not too positive that we will see this in our lifetime.

We thank the County for investing into our community with these projects.  Lacey will be very busy this spring and summer with all this road work.  Please be patient while the work is being performed.  Leave a few minutes earlier to account for some traffic issues.

As we work on the municipal budget, we are pleased to announce the upcoming projects the Township will be doing this year. 

• Paving of Section 1 of Cranberry Hill Roadway Improvements and Paving.  Streets included are: Carr Street & Place, Continental Street & Court, Steuben Avenue, Holland Avenue, Brandywine Avenue, Tarrytown Drive, Stuyvesant Street, Sentinel Drive & Cranberry Court.  (Received DOT grant funding in the amount of $270,000)
• Fixing an issue on Sunrise Boulevard at the end by the Sanctuary.  The roadway is settling and if it is not repaired the road will wash away into the marsh.  
• We plan to perform engineering & design work for Phase 2 of Cranberry Hill Road Improvements and Paving (Steuben, Steuben Court, Stony Pt Drive, Penn Avenue North, Penn Place, Brentwood Place, Wynnewood Road & Adolphus Street)  (Anticipated paving 2025)
• We plan to perform engineering & design for Southwest Barnegat Pines Paving. (Parkside Drive, Pineview Road, Hillwood Road, Deerhead Lake Drive, Whitcomb Road, Serpentine Drive, Emerald Park Drive & Crestwood Place) (Anticipated paving 2025)
• The Township received a $6,000,000 Congressional District Spending Grant for the Completion of the Railroad Avenue Extension from Musket to South Street and From Lacey Road south to connect into Station Drive.  This includes the completion of the trail.  Thank you to Congressman Smith for putting this project forth on our behalf.  He realizes that addressing an alternate north/south corridor to Route 9 is vital in our area.   The township is awaiting communication from the State DOT on the funding guidelines and agreements.      
• We will be Dredging Stouts Creek to address the shoaling issues.  The Township has 5 lagoon areas that we are responsible to maintain.  We realize about every 7-10 years these areas need to be dredged in order to keep the proper depth for boat traffic.   
• Replacement of a portion of the South Docks off of Lakeside Drive East.   
• DEP Requirement to replace the Dam at the Bamber Lake Spillway.    
• We will be repairing the issues with the leaky roof at the Food Bank. 
• Around March 22^nd, Four Square Research will begin the marketing study for the possible indoor recreation center.  Lacey Township and the YMCA are exploring a proposed recreational center to support health and wellness for local residents and families.  A professional firm has been hired to conduct research and gather feedback from the community about the types of programs and activities that might be offered at the center. We’re in the early planning stages, and very much value your input for shaping a new space to foster health and well-being for our community.
• As we are all aware, the traffic light at Haines and Lake Barnegat Drive North is operational.  It has made this intersection much safer. 

The above projects are all part of our 2024 budget proposal.  The budget will be introduced on March 28^th at 6pm.  The public hearing on the budget is planned for April 21, 2024 at 6pm. 

Let’s talk about our beaches and waterfront - recently, there has been a lot of concern at Bayfront Park related to the landscaping and the maintenance of the landscaping.  The Township will be coordinating a meeting with the assistance of Save Barnegat Bay to discuss better management practices along the waterfront of the Barnegat Bay.  The Township continues to address the erosion issues at the south end of Bayfront Park to assist those property owners.  In January, Congressman Smith’s Office with representatives from the Army Corp of Engineers visited the site to see firsthand the issues we are facing.  They also visited the roadways experiencing a tremendous amount of tidal flooding on a daily basis.  These areas have become highly erosional since 2012 due to numerous storm events and abnormally high tides. The waterfront areas are highly regulated for their protection, and it is important that the Township comply with the standards set forth by the appropriate regulatory agencies who have jurisdiction. The Township is coordinating a follow up session with the US Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) on a Beneficial Use Project and the parameters and permitting and costs for such a project.  The answer to Bayside Beach area would be the placement of sand along the shoreline to recapture some of the shoreline but that won’t work alone without the replacement of the groin at the lagoon entrance so the sand does not erode into the lagoon channel.  The Township remains committed to finding solutions to these issues. 

Speaking of beaches we will be investing in Upgrades to the Wibit at Lake Barnegat which will provide additional configuration & some new inflatables.  We will be purchasing Mobility Mats for the Wibit which will increase beach accessibility and provide portable and removable access which is ABA/ADA compliant for individuals of all abilities.  The Wibit is one of the few recreational activities we have that also generates revenue for the Township. 

We have been blessed with several new businesses in town.  The Township Committee is honored to be part of the Ribbon cutting.  We welcome A Piece of My Art, One Step Forward, Beacon Pediatrics, Frazersharp and All Star Bagel to our community.  We wish them success.  Lacey residents are very supportive of small businesses. 

Vetworks has moved to their new location at 102 Station Drive.  Please join Vetworks for a Grand Re-opening to celebrate their 40^th Anniversary on Saturday, May 4^th, 2024 from 10am to 12 noon. (Ribbon cutting at 11am)  Though they have relocated, their unwavering commitment to “Serve Those Who Have Served Us” remains unchanged.  They can boast about the expanded Food Pantry and Transportation Program which now has three vehicles.  Please watch our video:     https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v48oeDjXFW4

We always have exciting, fun-filled community events on the calendar:

Opening Day of Baseball/Softball Season: April 13, 2024.  Little League Event is at Clune Park at 11:30.  Lacey Girls Softball at Gille Park at 10am.

Annual Beach Opening: Lake Barnegat is open for summer with Lifeguards as of June 15, 2024.  Beach Badges are available for sale as of May 1, 2024 at a cost of $8.00 per badge. Ages 5 and older require a badge.  Veterans are provided a badge for free with proof of veteran’s status.

Summer Camp Registration:  Summer Camp registration begins May 1, 2024.  The fee per child is $175.00 (includes 4 camp t-shirts & end of season party). There is a $50.00 late fee for any child not registered before the start of the program which is June 26^th from 9am to 3pm.  The Summer Camp runs through August 10^th, 2024.  A child must be 5 years of age before the first day of camp.  More information can be found here:    https://parksrec.egov.basgov.com/laceynj

Recreation Programs:  Our Recreation Department offers numerous program for participants of all ages.  Please visit the website for more information.  We offer Creative Art classes for the youth, Basic Drawing, Toddler Time, Adult Men’s Basketball, Adult Pickleball, Focus on Fitness, Yoga, and Line Dancing.  We have a few planned Day Trips for Adults to Smithville, Jersey Shore Premium Outlets, Grounds for Sculpture, Columbus Market, Philadelphia Zoo, Medieval Times, and Peddler’s Village.  Please visit our Recreation Department Website to get further details.  https://parksrec.egov.basgov.com/laceynj

Thank you all on behalf of the Mayor and Township Committee for all that you do that makes Lacey a special place to call home. We are small-town America that embodies the American Spirit, where patriotism will NEVER die! Thank you for taking the time to stay connected with us.  See you around town.

Best regards,

Peggy Sue Juliano

Mayor