Lacey Estimates $400K on Sandy Expenses Thus Far

Lacey has expended approximately $400,000 in costs on manpower, debris cleanup, brush cleanup and tree removal since Hurricane Sandy, township Administrator and Municipal Clerk Veronica Laureigh estimates.

Lacey officials were notified of its FEMA application process on Tuesday. The township, along with all Ocean County municipalities, will be meeting with FEMA this week, she said.

Up to Friday, some items of FEMA reimbursement were at 100 percent while others were at 75 percent, she said.

With Hurricane Irene, it was six months before the township had a FEMA meeting and submitted paperwork.

“It could take up to 18 months to get reimbursed,” Laureigh said. “We are currently spending money on debris, overtime, cleanup, etc. and are anticipating some reimbursement. We can’t do nothing just because we may not get reimbursed.”

For overtime, the township spent $101,000 for the Police Department and Department of Public Works just the week of the storm, she said.

The township has taken approximately 900 tons to the landfill in storm debris from resident’s homes, she said.

“The DPW is still working on debris and brush clean up throughout the community,” she said. “And then, we still need to focus on our public property such as the parks and road infrastructure that was damaged.”

There is about $40,000 in fence damage throughout the township and the end of the Laurel Boulevard roadway has been compromised approximately $25,000. There has also been damage to the curbing on Laurel Boulevard in the Newport Bay Club, which the township is awaiting a price for, as well as the Bayfront Park walkway, gazebo and playground area.

“In fact, the gazebo is nonexistent,” she said.

The Recreation Building’s gutters and fascia also sustained some damage.

“The lists keeps getting longer as we thoroughly inspect our sites,” she said.