Park Updates And Busing On Officials’ Minds

JACKSON – Township officials updated the public on park project plans, the status of courtesy busing in the school district and noted the loss of a young resident during a recent Township Council meeting.

Johnson and Wood Lane parks have been finalized with color schemes that have approved by the township, Council President Jennifer Kuhn reported during that meeting.

Plans will be finalized for another of the township’s park this month she added. “We do not have a start date but everything has been ordered to the company for delivery,”

She noted that the Department of Public Works, “wanted everybody know that the spray park is up and running. It has been fixed and is good to go.”

Garbage Container Permit

Kuhn also talked about the process of applying for a garbage container permit, something she had to do recently. She said she went to the township’s website and used the portal and filled out the required information as to where the container, often referred to by the trade name Dumpster, would be placed. After a brief time, “I now have my permit.”

“I thought the process was easy. There was one little glitch and I just made a call to make sure the administration was aware of it said I still required a survey and I knew we didn’t need that. As soon as you put where your Dumpster will be you get your permit sent to you in an e-mail,” the council president added.

Meeting With The BOE

She also discussed a meeting that she attended involving the Board of Education that focused on transportation. Councilman Mordechai Burnstein and the township’s traffic engineer also attended that meeting.

“We all went there to meet with the Board of Education over the concerns of courtesy busing and grant programs that they submitted. We were looking for an answer that our kids won’t be walking to school. The town is not prepared for that. It is not safe,” Kuhn said.

The district lost a lot of state aid, and courtesy busing was on the chopping block.

“I have a seven- and 10-year-old niece, they are not walking to Johnson School. We don’t have enough curbs or sidewalks,” Kuhn said.

The School District did confirm with The Jackson Times previously that courtesy busing would not be impacted due to the $2.5 million that the district will receive from the state and part of it will be used to restore busing for students within the district.

She noted that the Board said parents weren’t immediately notified of that news by the district, “because the check isn’t in our hands.”

Township Business Administrator Terence Wall spoke with 12th District Assemblyman Alex Sauickie asking for confirmation that those funds were guaranteed to the district.

Kuhn said that $1.5 million of that $2.5 million will be used to restore the busing while the remaining million will be used for infrastructure. Wall said the township will match funds needed for curb and sidewalk infrastructure work.

Loss Of Bright Star

Council Vice President Scott Sargent spoke about the loss of Madison Marie Gross, “a 21-year-old bright star of Jackson. The family is heartbroken and all our prayers go out to the family.” She died on July 22, surrounded by her family. She was a lifelong resident of Jackson.

She attended Misericordia University studying Diagnostic Medical Sonography and according to her obituary, during her time there she was a member of the dance team, a Community Assistant and was a co-founder of For the Kids Cancer Foundation (Misericordia Chapter).

She was also involved in many other clubs and organizations throughout the campus. She was a member of the Jackson Dance Center throughout her childhood and continued to volunteer at the studio for years afterward.

Gross loved going to the beach and driving with her sunroof open with her country music blasting. She loved surrounding herself with her family and friends and being in the moment.