The following is an ‘Ask The Mayor’ question submitted to TLS, and the Mayor’s response. Email your questions for the Mayor to AskTheMayor@thelakewoodscoop.com.

Question:

Hello and thank you for all the amazing work you do for Lakewood. We are fortunate to have you as our mayor.

We have a water basin on our block (Treeside Lane) that the Township is supposed to maintain and mow. Every time I call the dept of public works to have someone come mow it, there is no response. I have called numerous times. However, when we have contacted you directly it was always taken care of right away. We feel bad bothering you always about it, but it doesn’t get taken care of otherwise. Is there a different way I should go about contacting someone to maintain it? Also, can it be put on a schedule to maintain it so I don’t always have to call? It should be done routinely. We have many animals that live there due to the high grass, and its extremely dangerous as some kids climb over the fence and you can’t even see them because the grass is so high.

As my property is adjacent to the basin, all the weeds have been coming into my grass and causing us problems. Also, there is a hole in the fence that needs to be fixed.

Thank you so much for all you do.

I also want to let you know that the dpw employees who do come to take care of the basin when they are sent, are extremely nice and do a great job! I’m sorry I don’t remember their names.

Response from Mayor Coles:

Good morning,

This basin was on the schedule for cutting last week, but there was too much water still in it to allow the workers to get the equipment in. I am also told that there have been numerous occasions when they have come by to cut it that the entrance was blocked by parked cars. These are legal spots, so we are looking for ways to notify the residents not to park there at certain times

Our Public Works Director, Pat Donnelly, is having the hole in the fence repaired, so that should be taken care of shortly.

The basin is scheduled for monthly cutting. Weather & access may sometimes cause it to be off by a few days, but we will make every attempt to make sure they stick to the schedule.

It is also never a problem to reach out to me. That is why I am here!

Thanks for the kind word about our employees. I passed them on to their supervisors. I passed your kind words about me on to my wife.

Thanks,

Ray

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