VOLUME XVII, NUMBER 6

FEDERAL MONEY FOR 2004

Congressman Mike Ferguson recently visited the job site in eastern Bound Brook Borough to see how construction is progressing.

And to report on the decision in Congress concerning money for 2004.

Congressman Ferguson looked over the progress of construction, and went over some of the details with officials of the Corps of Engineers.

Congressman Ferguson was told that construction at the Billian Legion Park area will be completed next Spring.

THE FINAL PIECES FOR EASTERN BOUND BROOK BOROUGH

The remaining work is the completion of the large Pumping Station, located near the new bridge, which will gather up rain water from that part of Bound Brook, and pump it over the levee and into the Green Brook.

The other work in eastern Bound Brook Borough is the Closure Gate which will be rolled across East Street when flooding threatens.

The huge steel gate will move into position along the edge of Vosseller Brook, to close the area of protection for eastern Bound Brook.

THE NEXT STEP

Congressman Ferguson was briefed by the Corps officials aboutr the next construction segment, which will be at the other end of Bound Brook Borough.

An earthen levee and concrete floodwall line of protection will be built along the bank of the Middle Brook.

This next piece of the job is scheduled to being next Spring.

BOUND BROOK BOROUGH URGES EARLY COMPLETION

Bound Brook Mayor Frank Ryan urged Congressman Ferguson to push the Project along as fast as possible.

Bound Brook will not be protected until the last of the construction along the Bound Brook bank of hte Raritan River is completed.  Under present plans, this is still several years in the future.

THE DECISIONS REACHED IN WASHINGTON

Congressman Ferguson reported that the Federal ADministration recommended to Congress that the PRoject should received $6,500,000 in 2004.

In order to speed up the progress, Congressman Rod Frelinghuysen (of Morristown), a key Congressman on the House Appropriations Commitee, had managed to convince that Committee to recommend $8 million for the Project in 2004.

The Senate Appropriations Committe had gone along with the Presidnet's recommendation for $6,500,000.

In the last step, the Conference between the House and the Senate, Congressman Frelinghuysen managed to convince the others that the Green Brook Flood Control Project should receive more.

Congreeman Ferguson reported that the final agreement between the House and the Senate is $7 million for the Green Brook Flood Control Project for 2004.