AROUND THE JERSEY SHORE Ocean County Airport Project Lands On Schedule

By Bob Vosseller OCEAN COUNTY – An apron

rehabilitation project at the airport in Berkeley Township is complete and will provide a smoother and safer area for airplanes to prepare for take-off, and to store following landing.

Director of the Ocean County Board of Commissioners Joseph H. Vicari said, “the last apron repair was done more than 15 years ago and over time we began to see significant surface cracking.” Vicari serves as liaison to the airport.

“Due to the aging of the surface, it was important for us to make these improvements to the apron to improve safety for the pilots and to assure the area was well maintained for the planes,” Vicari added.

The $3,514,399 project that was fi nished after six months in December 2022 consisted of approximately 95,000 square yards of bituminous pavement, and included full depth crack repairs, paving, drainage repairs and pavement markings.

Phases one, two and four funded 100 percent by the Federal Aviation Administration. Phase three required contribution of $16,667 by Ocean County.

Vicari said, “the apron area is adjacent to our t-hangars and terminal building at the airport and it needs to be well maintained. Corporate jets and personal aircraft use this area frequently and with a lot of use comes wear and tear. With the various weights of the planes, there can be safety issues created when taxiing over cracks.”

Cocaine Dealer Pleads Guilty

By Chris Lundy OCEAN COUNTY – A Manalapan

man caught in a four-month investigation pleaded guilty to dealing cocaine, police said.

At his March 24 sentencing, Mark Kelber, 45, is facing a ten-year term.

His arrest came as part of “Operation Checkmate,” in which police from a number of agencies tracked down suspects in three networks that brought more than three kilograms of cocaine every week into Ocean, Monmouth, and Middlesex counties, police said. Kelber was one of 24 people arrested.

Police made a court-authorized search of his home on October 26, 2021, where they seized approximately 265 grams of cocaine and $24,325.

“We take great pride in our airport and invest in making certain everything is up to date. The apron rehabilitation project was broken into four phases including one for design and three for construction. All construction phases were awarded to contractor CJ Hesse,” Vicari added.

About $42 million has been invested in various improvement projects since 1991 at the Ocean County Airport with about $32 million coming from FAA grants and New Jersey Department of Transportation funding.

“The airport is relied upon during emergencies and also helps with the County’s economic development. By partnering with the state and federal government we have secured a good portion of the funds needed to keep the airport safe and kept in good condition,” Vicari said.