role of the MCIA, The

Mention the Mercer County Improvement Authority, (MCIA) and the chances are the average person will relate the authority to the failed incinerator project that evoked so much disagreement over so long a time that when the project was finally abandoned, both sides breathed a sigh of relief.

But the MCIA is much more than one failed project. It is, in fact, one of the most successful and innovative governmental bodies of its type in the United States, and rightfully claims credit or partial credit for an incredible number of accomplishments in this county since its founding in 1967 as a vehicle to operate the foundering bus system.

Recently, three MCIA members participated in a roundtable discussion hosted by the Mercer Business Magazine Committee at the Trenton Club.

"We want everyone to know that we are much more than the solid waste authority for the county," said Executive Director James R. Lambert in his opening remarks, "actually we have pretty much resolved our solid waste and trash disposal problems. A contract with the GROWS Landfill we negotiated will significantly reduce landfill disposal costs. We have also awarded a new bid that will result in a lower rate for the operation of the county transfer station.

"The recycling program we run for the county gets numerous awards every year," Lambert continued, "Jay (Destribats, authority chairman) and Ross (Bevis, vice chairman) have been very active in helping me to set policy for the authority and to provide excellent services to the people of Mercer County."

"Everyone has heard of Waterfront Park," Lambert noted, "and we are proud to say that we financed those bonds and built that stadium (Waterfront Park, home of the Trenton Thunder Double A baseball team) which we own. We lease it back to Mercer County. I don't have to tell you, it's been a great success and sells out nearly every game. We are all very pleased and proud of it."

Lambert then referred to the MCIA Annual Report which sums up the activities and records the accomplishment of the authority for the years 1997-98. By any standard, the results are impressive, indeed.

In addition to providing a state-of the-art stadium to the people of Trenton and the central Jersey, Bucks County, Pa. area, the authority has built a magnificent new courthouse to handle the ever increasing caseload heard by both criminal and civil law judges, has expanded the county wide library system with striking new buildings offering the latest in technology and other fields of learning, has assisted in the renovation of an old, abandoned factory on the riverfront into a hugely popular restaurant and nightclub called KatManDu, and has been instrumental in the construction and renovation of four fire houses.

And that's not all. Several big projects are underway, all of which will have a lasting impact on New Jersey's historic capital city and the rest of the county. Under construction is a major arena on S. Broad St. at Hamilton Ave. in Trenton that will host professional basketball, hockey, lacrosse and indoor football, and will be available for other major events such as concerts, ice shows, wrestling, and even Barney for the little kids and their parents.

Both the hockey team and the basketball franchise have been secured. Some 162 events annually are slated for the 8,500 seat (which can be expanded to accommodate 10,500 patrons) facility which is being financed by MCIA ($36 million), the New Jersey Redevelopment Authority ($7 million) and a loan from the state of $5 million. A parking garage is also planned to handle cars bringing people to arena t events.

A new, expanded juvenile detention facility is also underway in Ewing Township which will help alleviate a severe overcrowding situation there.

Lambert told the group that future projects will include a new county golf course and a new transitional housing facility for homeless families. MCIA also provides financing to build or purchase capital projects or equipment for townships or not-for-profit agencies that may not have the purchasing power of the MCIA. The authority has spent more than a half billion dollars on new projects since its founding. When the project's bonds have been paid off, the authority turns the facility over to the county or municipality responsible for the original lease for $1.

Lambert showed the group a selection of architect's drawings of the arena which will feature a three color brick facade designed to resemble the architecture of the area some forty years ago.

The executive director also told his audience that the MCIA runs an impressive and award winning recycling program which collects grass, recycles batteries and household waste. The profits go back to the municipalities to help offset their costs.

Numerous other environmental friendly projects are underway or in the planning stage, including a "Brownfields program" that will partially fund cleanup of contaminated sites in blighted urban areas.

MCIA chairman Destribats brought up the subject of not-for-profit projects the authority is currently involved in, and asked Lambert to expand on the MCIA's role. Lambert replied that, "There are three non- profits that we are currently working on: the Children's Home Society; we are doing the financing and construction management for their project. They will be opening their new facility in the Roebling Complex. We are able to provide their financing at 4 1/2 percent, instead of prime that they would pay another financing agency. We also provide them with construction management services. We have a professional engineer on our staff and a construction management team that are experts in this type of financing. A $2 1/2 million project is a very large undertaking by the Children's Home Society and we are able to save them considerable money when they take advantage of our expertise.