Page 4 THE VILLADOM TIMES I • August 17, 2011 Wyckoff Grant does not include any money from local taxpayers by John Koster The Wyckoff Township Committee recently explained that the $1,000 environmental grant for which Wyckoff has applied under the Sustainable New Jersey program will not impose even a marginal nibble on local property taxes. The money is being provided by Wal-Mart. Several members of the community pointed out that grants from the state are indirectly funded by local tax money and that it all comes from the taxpayer in the long run. Wyckoff Mayor Kevin Rooney and Township Committeeman Brian Scanlan told several Tea Party delegates this grant is not like other grants as the retail giant will be putting up the money. The wording of the grant application states: “One of the purposes of the Sustainable New Jersey program is to provide resources to municipalities to make progress on sustainability issues, and they have created a grant program called Sustainable New Jersey Small Grants funded by Wal-Mart.” Wyckoff Township Committee members said they realize that state and county grants are funded by property taxes, but that this particular grant is funded by free enterprise on a voluntary basis. Wyckoff, with the stated goal of “Nifty Fifty” – a push to have half of all household waste recycled rather than put out with the garbage -- has a bronze certifi- cation with the Sustainable New Jersey program. The township officers commingled recycling, operates a recycling area for display of large items such as tree limbs, and has urged residents to recycling grass clippings by leaving them on the lawns as clean mulch or composting them for flower and vegetable gardens instead of discarding the clippings at the curb. “Compost leaves and grass clippings,” a recent Wyckoff directive suggested. “Using compost will return valuable nutrients to the soil and reduce the need for fertilizer.” Residents were recently urged to seek car washes that recycle water, to use phosphate-free cleaning products such as baking soda and white vinegar, and to service their cars regularly so fluid leaks in driveways and on road surfaces don’t contaminate the ground water. The Wyckoff Police Department will launch a special enforcement campaign against drunk drivers funded by a $4,400 grant from the New Jersey Division of Highway Traffic Safety. This effort will begin on Aug. 19 and continue through Sept. 5 (Labor Day). The grant money from the state will fund overtime patrols and keep additional officers on the street looking for motorists who appear to be intoxicated. The police will also send out roving patrols and set up a DWI checkpoint at an undisclosed location. This campaign is called “Over the Limit, Under Arrest.” Wyckoff Police Chief Benjamin Fox warns that motorists who are caught driving while under the influence of alcohol will be arrested, and that conviction brings with it a license suspension, heavy fines, and insurance surcharges. Second offenses can lead to a Township begins DWI enforcement campaign two-year license suspension and possible jail time, and third offenses bring prison sentences and license revocation. “It is impossible to operate a motor vehicle safely if you have consumed too much alcohol,” Chief Fox said. “For that reason alone, if you drink and drive, the Wyckoff Police Department will make every effort to get you off the roadways. We owe that to all the other motorists who expect to get to their destination safely. The state-funded program is part of a national effort to help awareness about the dangers of drunk driving through high-visibility of enforcement and through public education. The program, which began in 1999, is conducted during the busiest driving times of the year. J. KOSTER