Moorestown Council Approves $840K In Bond Ordinances

MOORESTOWN, NJ — Moorestown Council approved three proposed bond ordinances totaling $840,000 when it met Monday night. The proposals cover vehicles for police and public works, as well as for playground equipment.

They were all approved following public hearings and final discussion by council, but no additional comments were made by either members of council or the public.

The first calls for the township to set aside $240,000, including the borrowing of $280,000, for the purchase of police vehicles and equipment. This includes a down payment of $12,000.

Three front line patrol vehicles and one criminal investigative vehicle will be replaced with four Ford Explorer hybrid vehicles, according to the memo attached to the proposed ordinance.

"Police vehicles generally take about a year to be delivered and placed in service from the date of order," Township Manager Tom Merchel said in the memo. "By the time these vehicles are received they will be used to replace existing vehicles that exceed 100,000 odometer miles."

The second proposed bond ordinance calls for the township to set aside $475,000, including the borrowing of $451,250, for the purchase of public works vehicles and equipment. This includes a down payment of $23,750.

Seven vehicles that have reached the end of their life cycle would be replaced, including:

• A 1989 Ford F-800 Grappler truck at an estimated cost of about $175,887;
• A 1999 Ford F-350 pick-up truck with plow at an estimated cost of $38,000;
• A 2002 Ford F-350 dump truck with plow at an estimated cost of $55,000;
• A 1994 Ford Backhoe at an estimated cost of $120,000;
• A 2006 Ford F-350 Dump truck with plow at an estimated cost of $55,000;
• A 2006 F-350 pick-up truck with plow at an estimated cost of $58,000; and
• A 2008 F-250 pick-up truck with plow at an estimated cost of $45,000.

The final proposed bond ordinance calls for the township to set aside $125,000, including the borrowing of $118,750, for the purchase and installation of playground equipment at Strawbridge Lake. This includes a down payment of $6,250.

The playground equipment that was there was removed in 2018 for safety reasons, according to the memo attached to the proposal. The equipment at the old playground was a mix of f playground pieces that ranged between 20 and 40 years old.

A new wood mulch surface is among the items that would be included in the new playground, which would be installed in the same location.