County Approves Purchase of Casino Drive Property

The Monmouth County Board of Chosen Freeholders approved the acquisition of a development easement on a 26.47-acre parcel on Casino Drive at their meeting on Sept. 8.

The total cost of the easement is $992,625 with the state paying $595,575, the county paying $238,230 and the township paying $158,820. The property is owned by Thomas and Emily Clayton.

In other news: 

• The freeholders unanimously approved appointments to four county boards.

William Sciarappa, of Neptune City, was appointed to a three-year term at the Monmouth County Agriculture Development Board.

Rachel Aumack, of Keyport; John Booth, of Tinton Falls; John Gagliano, of Fair Haven; Tim McMahon, of Port Monmouth; Linda Silvers, of New Egypt, were appointed to three-year terms on the Monmouth County Workforce Investment Board.

Ming Y. Kao, of Manalapan, was appointed to an unexpired three-year term on the Monmouth County Planning Board.

Carol Abaya, of Marlboro, and Helen Montano, of Eatontown, were appointed to serve three-year terms on the Advisory Council of the Monmouth County Office on Aging.

• The governing body passed a resolution to acquire a .5-acre lot on Schoolhouse Road in Wall for $430,000. 

The land will be added to Shark River Park, according to county Counsel Andrea I. Bazer. The land will be purchased with money from the Monmouth County Open Space, Recreation, Farmland and Historic Preservation. The property is owned by Kurt D. and Barbara W. Theilemann.

• The freeholder board approved a resolution to join in a development easement purchase for the 14-acre Peppadew Fresh property on Harbor Road in the Morganville section of Marlboro. 

The estimated cost of the easement is $315,000, with the state paying $168,000, the county paying $67,200, and the municipality paying $79,800.

• The freeholders authorized eminent domain action against Smithburg Medical Arts, LLC. The county needs to acquire easements on the Freehold Township property as part of the intersection improvement project at Route 537 and Gravel Hill Road.

“This action is necessary because Smithburg is in foreclosure and therefore cannot negotiate a contract with the county,” Bazer said.

The county will acquire the easement on the property for $27,500.

The intersection project involves five stages of construction, according to Monmouth County Engineer Joseph Ettore. The first phase of construction on the south side on Route 537 is near completion, Ettore said. The county will keep one lane of traffic open in each direction throughout all phases of construction, he said.

The county has acquired $1.36 million in property to complete construction on the intersection improvement project.