August 21, 2013 THE VILLADOM TIMES III • Page 7 Waldwick Council authorizes Phase II of brook project Waldwick officials anticipate that the second phase of the Ho-Ho-Kus Brook bank restoration project could be under way in the winter of 2013 and the spring 2014. Last week, the borough council adopted Ordinance 11- 13, a capital ordinance authorizing the Phase II work and appropriating $95,063 to be funded by proceeds received from the Emergency Watershed Protection Program of the United States Department of Agriculture Natural Resources Conservation Services program. The total cost of this phase is approximately $104,000. “We’re putting together the paperwork for the state per- mits. Once we receive the permits then we will go out to bid,” Waldwick Borough Administrator Gary Kratz told Villadom TIMES. He acknowledged that Phase II could be a winter/spring project. Plans call for the removal of several sandbars north of the Wyckoff Avenue Bridge in the area of the Riverside Condominiums. The sandbars, which have built up over time, were exacerbated by Hurricane Sandy, which hit New Jersey on Oct. 29, 2012. In a previous interview, Kratz noted that removing the sandbars would improve the flow of water, which can otherwise back up and cause flooding. The borough originally received $80,438 for this proj- ect. According to grant guidelines, that award was to have covered 75 percent of the estimated total cost of the project, with the borough committed to providing the remaining 25 percent. The program provides funding to municipal governments to address watershed impairments created by natural disasters that “pose imminent threats to lives and property.” Last week, Kratz noted that the federal government had increased its participation level to 90 percent of the project cost. The administrator added that the borough was pleased to have received the pledge of 75 percent of the total cost, and is “ecstatic” at the increase to 90 percent funding. Work on the first phase of the project was completed earlier this year at a bid price of $132,000, which was well below estimates. Phase I included the stabilization of the east bank of the brook with rip-rap in the area of Dow Avenue, where the brook follows an S-path and two major sections had been washed out. Cleaning and de-snagging of the stream channel at the flood-prone Wyckoff Avenue Bridge, including sandbar removal, were also included. Ready to rock The borough learned about the Natural Resources Conservation Service grant too late to apply for relief from Hurricane Irene’s damage in 2011, but was ready to apply when Sandy hit last year. Representatives from the agency previously surveyed the site and indicated that the work on the brook would be an eligible project. Music is in the air at The Little School of Waldwick Summer Camp. In addition to learning about music notes and rhythm, campers created their very own instruments to play in The Little School Band.