Taxpayers should not fund Dam repairs

Make absolutely no mistake about it. The lawsuit filed by the Friends of Lake Neepaulin Inc. (FOLN) against Wantage Township affects each and every Wantage taxpayer, as did FOLN’s acquisition of Lake Neepaulin and its dam in 2001. According to FOLN’s Web site, “seventeen individuals contributed a total of $33,000 for the purchase of the properties and $5,000 for lawyer’s fees.” Knowing full well the condition of Lake Neepaulin and its dam, FOLN solicited contributions totaling $38,000 for the acquisition of the properties. According to FOLN’s site, “After lengthy negotiations with the owner, FOLN purchased the beach.” The beach deed dated 7/21/99 indicates FOLN paid $1 to the previous owner for the Beach Lot. According to FOLN’s site, “FOLN acquired the lake via a tax sale and negotiated with the township to pay off the back taxes at a small percentage of what was owed.” The Tax Sale Certificate Assignment dated 9/30/99 indicates FOLN paid Wantage Township $3,000, which is indeed a small percentage of the $20,855.91 back taxes actually owing on the property by the previous owner. Who made up the $17,855.91 difference of back taxes that were actually owed to Wantage Township in 1999? According to FOLN’s Web site, FOLN “then initiated foreclosure procedures to secure title to the lake.” The title, a Civil Action Final Judgment of Foreclosure filed in the Superior Court of New Jersey dated 1/25/01, indicates Consideration of $0.00 for FOLN’s acquisition of Lake Neepaulin and its dam. The purchase of the properties, Lake Neepaulin and its dam, cost FOLN $3,001, which leaves one to wonder what happened to the $29,999 remaining balance of the $38,000 originally contributed. The 8/13/09 Advertiser-News North got it right; but, contrary to information appearing in the 8/11/09 New Jersey Herald, there are many more than only two assessment options available to the Township if they decided to co-sign the $1,000,000 loan for FOLN but only one right one. Although Wantage taxpayers may have unknowingly subsidized FOLN’s acquisition of Lake Neepaulin and its dam via a tax revenue shortfall in 1999, Wantage taxpayers should not be expected to subsidize the repair and rehabilitation of FOLN’s privately owned property based on purely speculative benefits to the public at large a decade later. This is fact, not misinformation, and this is why I opposed ordinance #2008-16. Karen Merritt Wantage