In Ringwood, Questions Arise About Money to Fix Sinkholes

Questions about state funding to the borough for the sinkhole problem and where it was spent have been raised at Borough Council meetings and CAG gatherings.

Richard Osworth, director of Housing and Community Resources from the Department of Community Affairs, said at a CAG meeting that his department has handed over "a total of $475,000 in grants for the area, and no more payments will be made." He said they were given at two separate times, one for $238,000 and one for $237,000.

Borough officials claim they received $70,000 less. But because the grants were subsequently restricted to particular uses, the two sides are going over exactly how much was awarded.

Borough Clerk Kelly Rohde said the town also has received a $180,000 state Department of Transportation grant and another $165,000 from DCA.

From that money, $210,000 was used to repair Sheehan Drive, which collapsed when testing was done on a nearby property. The rest was used for seismic testing, engineering costs, fencing and emergency housing costs. Ringwood additionally has paid $153,000 in local money toward housing costs.

The borough also is going to use an old $200,000 revolving Community Economic Development Block grant to fund housing. In the past, the grant was used as a loan for local businesses to create jobs and then repaid with 2 percent interest. If it is used for rental costs, it will not be paid back.

"We were told by the state that a permanent solution is coming and we’re hoping we don’t have to use too much of it before that happens," Rohde said. "What that solution is, I don’t know they haven’t told me but I’m hoping it comes fast."

Barbara Williams

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