PARK RIDGE—Voters will have a chance to weigh in Nov. 4 on whether they’re willing to commit taxpayer dollars to the future dredging and cleanup of Mill Pond, also known as Electric Lake.
More than a dozen residents voiced concerns Sept. 30 about a public question on the Nov. 4 ballot, wondering how much should be spent — if anything — on dredging the borough’s Mill Pond, long plagued by poor water quality, debris, and heavy accumulations of sediment.
The public question is nonbinding, which means the mayor and council must still act to appropriate funds or issue bonds to finance a pond dredging project after the Nov. 4 election results.
The General Election ballot features the public question on the ballot’s second page. The question reads:
“How much shall the Borough of Park Ridge appropriate and expend, if anything, up to for the purpose of facilitating the partial dredging of Mill Pond (also known as Electric Lake)?”
The question offers voters three options:
- Option A, which would incur $5 million in bond debt to finance pond dredging;
- Option B, which would incur $10 million in bond debt to finance pond dredging; and
- Option C, which asks voters if the borough should dredge the pond.
Voters may cast votes on all three options, or only the one they prefer.
The borough previously received a $1.5 million grant for pond improvements, which will be added to any future dredging project approved by the borough.
Option A will cost the average $500,000 homeowner about $101 yearly for 25 years, while Option B will cost about $202 yearly over 25 years, officials said.
The nearly two-hour public forum, held before a packed council chamber, featured testimony from the town’s engineer, John Dunlea, on the benefits of dredging projects, and auditor Jeff Bliss, on costs to local taxpayers if officials bond to dredge the pond.
One surprise near the meeting’s end came when resident Laura Clark asked about the wording of Option C, which now reads, “Shall the Borough of Park Ridge dredge?” and offers voters a yes or no choice. Previously, residents were told that Option C would read, “Do Not Dredge,” with a yes or no response.
However, Borough Clerk Maggie Giandomenico said the County Clerk’s Office changed the wording of Option C. She said counsel Paul Kaufman advised that Option C needed to be changed and provided the updated language to appear on the ballot. As several officials and residents noted, the “explanatory statement” that accompanies Option C still says “Do Not Dredge,” which could confuse voters.
Both Clark and Kerry Shelby, who started a petition to put a pond dredging referendum question on the ballot, urged the mayor and council to communicate with residents to clear up any confusion about the dredging question. Mayor Keith Misciagna said the borough would look into providing more information, and some council members suggested posting details on the borough website to assist voters.
Shelby urged the borough to communicate the new Option C language with “as much clarity and integrity as possible.”
Voters can access sample ballots for Park Ridge at bergencountyclerk.gov. Under the County Clerk’s website, click Elections & Voting, then Sample Ballots under Election Information. All 70 municipal ballots are posted. Each registered voter should receive a printed sample ballot in the mail before Oct. 25, when early in-person voting begins. Any registered voter can vote early in-person at any of nine countywide polling places.
Misciagna said he did not realize county election officials had changed the Option C question and hopes residents will read the sample ballot and ask questions if confused. He said the borough would look to share more pond dredging information, possibly through a mailing.
Another resident suggested Pascack Press print the ballot questions [Sure! here you go. — Ed.] and notify the community television station to cover the referendum and pond’s history. Misciagna urged residents to speak to neighbors and write letters to Pascack Press supporting pond dredging. He has long supported dredging but noted that only the council can take action and appropriate funds for capital projects.
Shelby suggested residents simply vote “yes” on all three options. Council members have noted that the public question is nonbinding — an attempt to gauge public support, or lack thereof, for using taxpayer funds.
Each of the first two options, A and B, states approximately how much sediment could be dredged for up to $5 million or $10 million in bonds. For $5 million, sediment could be dredged between 6.5 and 7.8 feet in depth, with results lasting 13 to 16 years. For $10 million, sediment could be dredged between 13 and 15.2 feet in depth, with results lasting 29 to 31 years.
For Option C, voters can voice their opinion on dredging in general, voting yes or no on “Shall the Borough of Park Ridge dredge?” Some council members said they will be looking closely at the results to gauge residents’ willingness to spend local tax dollars on the pond, and at what level.
A PKRG-TV video of the Sept. 30 town hall can be found on the borough website under Government > Meeting Videos > 2025 Meeting Videos.
Several residents pressed the council to act without a referendum, citing the pond’s historic value and its past uses for fishing, ice skating, kayaking, and even cooling off during hot summer days decades ago.
One resident said the costs of dredging amounted to little more than a monthly cup of coffee. “It’s about a cup of coffee. It’s not a frivolous project,” noted Misciagna, when one resident called for homeowners to bite the bullet and fund the restoration. Misciagna added, “The best time to do a project is yesterday, and the second best is today.” He urged residents to support the dredging question.
Editor’s note: We will update this story as more public information is released by residents, local leaders, or election officials.
PUBLIC QUESTION
How much shall the Borough of Park Ridge appropriate and expend, if anything, up to for the purpose of facilitating the partial dredging of Mill Pond (also known as Electric Lake)?
OPTION A. Shall the Borough of Park Ridge incur $5 million in bond debt and raise the municipal portion of property taxes a maximum of $101 per $500,000 in assessed property value to fund the dredging of Mill Pond to an approximate depth of 7 feet, lasting an estimated 15 years? Yes or No?
OPTION B. Shall the Borough of Park Ridge incur $10 million in bond debt and raise the municipal portion of property taxes a maximum of $202 per $500,000 in assessed property value to fund the dredging of Mill Pond to an approximate depth of 14 feet, lasting an estimated 26 to 31 years? Yes or No?
OPTION C. Shall the Borough of Park Ridge dredge? Yes or No?
EXPLANATORY STATEMENT
This non-binding referendum asks whether Park Ridge voters support the Borough incurring costs to dredge Mill Pond (Electric Lake). The outcome will inform the Mayor and Council as they consider future dredging plans. If pursued, the project may be completed in stages. Mill Pond was last dredged in 1979. Since then, an estimated 16 feet of sediment has accumulated. This buildup has significantly reduced the pond’s storm-water capacity, increased the risk of flooding, and has put strain on the critical storm-water infrastructure. Stagnant water has also contributed to mosquito activity, ecological decline, and poor water quality. The Borough Engineer has provided two estimates to dredge mill pond, one for $6.5 million and one for $11.5 million.
The Borough has not yet secured bonds for dredging, but has secured a $1.5 million state grant and is actively pursuing additional alternative funding. Engineering design is largely complete, and environmental testing is underway. The dredge depth is an approximate average with some parts deeper than others. The referendum choices below are based on an assessed home value of $500,000 with a 25-year finance period. Your additional tax increase will be lower or higher based on the assessed value of your property. Any tax increase would affect only the municipal portion of the property tax bill, which represents approximately 24% of a homeowner’s total bill.
OPTION A Up to $5,000,000 in debt; $101 per year; 6.5 to 7.8 feet in depth, estimated to last 13 to 16 years with an average tax increase of 2.02%.
OPTION B Up to $10,000,000 in debt; $202 per year; 13 to 15.2 feet in depth, estimated to last 29 to 31 years with an average tax increase of 4.04%.
OPTION C Do not dredge. As an example, on a $5,000,000 appropriation and if your home has a tax valuation of $400,000 your additional municipal property taxes would be $80.80 per year for a total of $2,020 over 25 years.