VOLUME XVII, NUMBER 3

A BIG PROJECT

When the Green Brook Flood Control Project was authorized by Congress in 1997, the estimated cost was about $330 million.

Because of continuing inflation, that number will probably become more like $400 million by the time the Project is finished some years from now.

WHY SO LONG?

The history of large water related Federal public works projects such as this is:
The Federal Government likes to see the work spread out over a number of years.
In the case of the Green Brook Flood Control Project, the original plan was to spread it out from 1997 to 2009.

We don't know why the Federal Government likes to spread out projects like this over such a long period. We only know that's what the Federal Government does.
Maybe it is to help smooth out the economic cycle. Perhaps to speed up construction in periods of recession.

The result: Every year Congress and the President decide how much to allocate for the next year.

THE HISTORY OF CONGRESSIONAL APPROPRIATIONS

As the chart on the reverse side shows, Congress has thus far provided $40 to $50 million. That does not make much of a dent in a Project which will total $400 million or more. The Green Brook Flood Control Commission would like to see the pace increased. The work now nearly complete in eastern Bound Brook Borough is a very good start. But...

BOUND BROOK BOROUGH IS NOT YET PROTECTED

Bound Brook Borough will not be protected until the ring is closed. That means building the levees and floodwalls along the Middle Brook in western Bound Brook.

And along the Raritan River from the Middle Brook to the Green Brook.
Bound Brook Borough has suffered grievously from repeated flooding. Bound Brook deserves to have its protection finished as quickly as possible.

That's why the Commission wants Congress to appropriate enough money for next year to allow the Federal Engineer's to continue as rapidly as they are capable.

ONLY CONGRESS CAN HELP

This is not the time to slow down. It's the time to speed up.

The Commission is urging our elected leaders in the US Senate and the House of Representatives to provide $10 million to the Federal Engineers for 2004.

The Commission wants protection to move forward as quickly as possible.

Bound Brook Borough needs protection. Bound Brook Borough deserves protection.

AN APPEAL TO CONGRESS

It can be done. But only Congress can make it happen.
Please do what only Congress can do.

VERNON A. NOBLE, Chairman
111 GREENBROOK ROAD, GREEN BROOK, NEW JERSEY 08812 • (732) 968-2018