Feds Won't Give Belmar $600K For Outfall Pipe

BELMAR – The federal government has rejected Belmar's attempt to recoup expenses for an outfall pipe.

Mayor Mark Walsifer told the council on Tuesday that the borough will instead seek to issue a $1.3 million bond to help pay for expenses for the Lake Como outfall pipe.

Walsifer said the borough could pursue the matter through litigation.

The mayor said the borough and Rep. Chris Smith made the request to recoup $600,000 that could be applied toward engineering fees toward the project, which is supposed to alleviate flooding around the lake.

The federal government rejected the request because of how the engineering consultation was set up, he said.

Walsifer said the borough is "taking a few other steps to see if we can still get some of that money" but he declined to elaborate.