Page 10 THE VILLADOM TIMES III • January 18, 2012 Waldwick The Waldwick Community Alliance has finally received a long-awaited grant towards the restoration of the historic Waldwick Train Station. Funding came through the 2010 Bergen County Open Space, Recreation, Farmland & Historic Preservation Trust Fund program. The $293,862 award had been anticipated for months, but the Bergen County Board of Chosen Freeholders finally voted for it at its first meeting of 2012. WCA Vice President Doug Cowie, along with members Community Alliance’s $293,862 county grant is official Community Alliance received, by far, the most out of any group. “I have been told the Waldwick Community Alliance’s extensive planning and preparation, desirability of the project as well as its ability to raise the required 25 percent matching funds was a major deciding factor in awarding it such a large grant,” Cowie said. He stressed, however, that since the award is through a reimbursement program, funds are needed up front to do the work and pay for it before filing for reimbursement on the completed portion. “This is why it is so important that the community continues to donate towards this project to make sure we have enough funding to keep the it going. The WCA does have access to a line of credit to allow us to make payments to the contractors and for other professional services, but the interest payments made on the line is not reimbursable through the grant program,” he said. “And while the grant has been awarded, it will likely be several months before we receive any reimbursement. It will be several weeks before county attorneys draft the official grant agreement. At this point the WCA can submit receipts for reimbursement for any work already completed. Once submitted, the county has 90 days to pay,” he explained. The first grant award will go towards the replacement of the entire roof, repair of any structural framing, the replacement and recreation of the original, more ornate chimney, the repair of the masonry foundation, the installation of a copper Yankee Gutter System, and the total replacement of the rotted sill plate. This portion of the project totals $244,000. After this work is completed, the WCA will sit down with the contractors and architect to determine the next step based upon left over funding. This will likely of the Meadowlands Museum, another grant recipient, pressed the freeholders to stop the delays and finally vote on the projects due to the dire need for funds to stabilize their respective buildings. “With winter pressing, we wanted to make sure we did not go another year without a roof,” Cowie said. “The freeholders understood our dilemma and agreed to vote on all of the historic preservation projects.” With a total of $661,487 in historic preservation funds awarded, the Waldwick Left: A worker does repairs the building’s interior. Top: A bird’s eye view of the job site. Above: A worker fixes the foundation. include repair and replacement of any damaged siding, the restoration of the windows, the recreation of the original doors, and re- grading of the site to allow for better storm water runoff. (continued on page 18)