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County Bus Helps Bring Government To The People
Mobile Unit Provides ID & Application Services, Program Information And More
By Bill McLaughlin
Ocean County Freeholders John Kelly, Joseph Vicari and Gerry Little proudly displayed the second County Connection bus, a state-of-the-art vehicle dedicated to bringing government programs to the people.
The new mobile unit has about 240 square feet of interior room designed as a link to computer portals, with work stations and areas stocked with county program information and brochures. County ID cards and passport applications can also be processed.
"Do you know how many people the County Connection at the mall has handled since 2001?" Kelly asked a small gathering of citizens and county employees. "Over 780,000 people have been served to date."
Kelly shook his head in wonderment, saying the county site is staffed virtually whenever Ocean County Mall is open for business. Municipalities at the far ends of the county asked for similar services in their towns. Of course, that wouldn't work financially, so if the people can't come to the government, the government decided it will go to them.
Since 2004, the county has bankrolled a mobile unit that spends each work day in a different part of the 640-square-mile county. The County Connection bus idea, which was first suggested by Kelly, became so popular that demand resulted in a clamor for another one.
"We recognized that some residents are not able to access their government otherwise," Kelly said. "We are staffed by county service workers who can help with an ID card, register to use a dog park or get your blood pressure checked."
The buses are used in conjunction with health fairs, local and county special events.
Kelly said recently that the bus handled inquiries from 104 residents of the Little Egg Harbor area at the Sunrise Bay Health Fair and another 75 at the Lakewood Senior Health Fair.
The low rider bus has a electronically powered ramp to accommodate wheelchairs and those having trouble negotiating stairs.
The bus can be an asset wherever groups of people are meeting. A visit to back-to-school nights can educate parents on county health and recreation programs, help plan day trips to county parks and other tourist spots.
Vicari applauded Kelly for his work at the formation of the County Connection bus. He said this was the most cost-effective way to reach the most people.
"It truly connects people with services," Vicari said.
Little said having a bus going to senior communities for occasional visits gets the county government message to places where it might not otherwise reach.
The two buses will have a full schedule of regular visits to libraries, malls and other high-traffic areas.
Kelly applauded coordinators Jeannie DePaolo and Donna Flynn for their work in planning the interior layout from conception to completion at the PL Customs plant in Wall.
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