WALL TOWNSHIP — The Wall Township Committee met last Wednesday, implementing the voter-approved tax increase for open space preservation, discussing Quail Ridge Golf World and eminent domain, and providing a brief Civics 101 lesson by Mayor Tim Clayton.
Open space tax
The committee adopted an ordinance implementing the voter-approved increase to the annual collection rate of the Wall Township Open Space Trust Fund, after 60% of voters in November’s election approved the small increase.
Township Attorney Sean Kean spoke on the ordinance and tax increase to preserve open space in the township.
“The governing body last year passed an ordinance that put this on the November ballot, and the residents of Wall voted in the affirmative to implement an open space tax,” Kean said. “That tax, which we are putting into effect this evening, would increase the tax rate by $0.15 per $100 of tax ratables, and the money would be put aside in a separate fund that could only be for specific purposes such as acquiring property, bonding to acquire property and to make some improvements on township property. The purpose of the tax is to keep open space.”
Mayor Clayton also spoke about public support for the ordinance. “It was passed by the voters,” he said. “It was a 60% approval, which is basically a mandate by the voters.”
Quail Ridge Golf World
During public comment, resident Keith Hunsinger, who ran as an independent in November against incumbent Committeeman Timothy Farrell for a committee seat, asked about the township’s introduction of a measure to use eminent domain to acquire Quail Ridge Golf World at 4130 W. Hurley Pond Road.
“When are we going to get any updates on that?” Hunsinger said.
Committeeman Farrell spoke on the use of eminent domain, saying it would only be utilized to prevent any development on the property.
“I’d just like to say about Quail Ridge, Mr. Mueller tried to sell Quail Ridge twice to developers,” Farrell said. “One was to build homes, and the other was warehouses. It’s one of the best pieces of property in the town, and we aren’t going to allow that to happen. We want to keep it as is. It’s a landmark in Wall Township, and in the county for that matter. That’s why we are doing what we are doing. We didn’t want to do eminent domain, we negotiated for nine months, and it looked like everything was going great. All of a sudden a tire went flat, and we are where we are at right now. We are not going to let him sell that to a developer.”
Routine business, upcoming events
The committee also introduced an ordinance establishing a cap bank, which is done annually by the committee. A cap bank refers to the accumulated unused portion of the allowable increase in appropriations that a municipality can carry over from one year to the next. A second reading and public hearing is set for April 23.
Deputy Mayor Dan Becht reported on crime being down in the township, after talking with Wall Township Police Chief Sean O’Halloran.
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