Politics & Government
Long Branch Close to Purchasing Land to Expand Public Works Yard
City will perform environmental test on property before purchasing it.
The Long Branch Department of Public Works (DPW) is in need of more space and is getting closer to acquiring it.
The city council tabled an resolution during its meeting this week that would allow Long Branch to buy the property next to the Long Branch DPW yard at 636 Joline Avenue.
Long Branch Chief Financial Officer Ron Mehlhorn said the resolution was tabled because the city wants to hire a company to perform an environmental test on the property, Russamano Auto Body, before the city agrees to purchase it.
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"We don't want to buy the property and then find out there is a $1 million (environmental) problem there," Mehlhorn said.
Mehlhorn said the city was originally going to buy the property for $800,000 a few years ago, but can now do so for $600,000.
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The city is buying the property from the estate of the property owner, Gerald Russamano Jr., who died in 2004, Mehlhorn said.
The Long Branch DPW is looking to use the property for painting and repairing city vehicles.
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