Kinnelon Applies for Funding for Hurricane-Damaged Road

With the help of Borough Engineer Paul Darmofalski, the is applying for funding to cover some of the costs of repairs to Forge Road, which was damaged by the

partially collapsed after the storm. A temporary roadway is currently in place.

Mayor Bob Collins told the council Thursday that Gov. Chris Christie has promised $7.5 million to be disbursed to municipalities throughout the state that will match Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) funding.

"[The state] didn't want municipalities to have an impact on their taxes," Collins said.

But Darmofalski reminded the council that since the money is spread throughout the state, Kinnelon may not necessarily receive the amount to cover the borough's needs. He encouraged the council to apply for additional funding and provided applications to councilmembers so that they could authorize them and Darmofalski could begin the grant application process.

On Sept. 2, Darmofalski's colleague, Tom Boorady, said the Forge Road repairs could cost up to $1.2 million.

"Seven and a half million dollars sounds like a lot, but it's not a lot spread throughout the state of New Jersey," Darmofalski said.

Darmofalski said the engineers have already begun a hydraulic survey on the road with DMC Associates Inc., of Butler, which will take about two weeks. The contractor doing some of the road repair work, Mike Fitzpatrick & Son, has been instructed to stabilize the upstream bank.

"We're within the budget that was established for that," Darmofalski said.

Currently, are in place on Forge Road, which Darmofalski said he agrees with.

Collins said he would also like to continue to stress to Morris County that the repairs of which also collapsed near Lake Rickabear, should be prioritized.

Collins wrote a letter to the county after the council's requesting that the county allow temporary one-lane access on Kinnelon Road, but has not yet heard back. Currently, detours are in effect and, through a mutual aid agreement, Boonton Township is responding to emergency service calls in the area of Kinnelon cut off by the closure.