February Newsletter by MC Commissioner Director Tom Arnone

Punxsutawney Phil has spoken, six more weeks of winter are upon us! As always, our Public Works department remains fully prepared to handle any inclement weather that may come our way. Meanwhile, County operations continue as usual, with ongoing projects, construction, and various initiatives progressing steadily.

At our January 16 Commissioner meeting, my fellow Commissioners and I were proud to recognize Monmouth County’s designation as a StormReady County by the National Weather Service (NWS). This achievement is a testament to the dedication and hard work of the Monmouth County Sheriff’s Office of Emergency Management. I commend Sheriff Shaun Golden and his team for taking the initiative to ensure Monmouth County is equipped with the best tools and resources to keep our residents safe.

I am also excited to share the results of the inaugural “Director’s Wellness Challenge,” a three-month initiative designed to promote health and wellness among County employees through daily and monthly step goals. Personal health is a passion of mine, so in October 2024, I invited County employees to join me in this challenge to close out the year on a healthy note.

The response was incredible, more than 900 employees participated, with over half successfully completing the challenge for all three months! Participants were encouraged to complete 5,000 steps per day for at least 20 days each month from October 1 through December 31, 2024. I want to extend a special congratulations to the Monmouth County Park System for having the highest participation and taking the greatest number of steps.

Collectively, County employees logged over 403 million steps, which translates to more than 168,000 miles of movement. Exercise has numerous physical and mental health benefits, and I encourage all employees to continue the healthy habits they established during the challenge. Congratulations to everyone who participated, I look forward to continuing this great initiative in the new year!

Shifting gears, my fellow Commissioners and I have been diligently working on the 2025 Monmouth County Budget. Budget planning is not something that begins in the early months of the year; rather, it is an ongoing effort throughout the entire year. Our goal is to efficiently manage our departments while keeping costs down and ensuring that every dollar serves the best interests of our community.

Our approach remains fiscally responsible, prioritizing the financial well-being of Monmouth County and its residents. I want to express my appreciation to the dedicated staff who work alongside us, their expertise and commitment are critical to the success of this process.

On another note, I recently had the honor of being the guest speaker at the Jersey Shore Chamber of Commerce’s Coffee Connector breakfast. It was a fantastic opportunity to discuss key aspects of Monmouth County, including our thriving tourism industry, economic development initiatives like Made in Monmouth, Grow Monmouth, Grown in Monmouth, and our newest program, Brewed and Distilled in Monmouth. We also explored the County’s robust Shared Services initiatives and outlined our future goals to keep Monmouth County the best in New Jersey.

I want to thank the Jersey Shore Chamber of Commerce for their invitation and for the invaluable work they do in supporting our residents and small businesses.

Additionally, my fellow Commissioners and I are excited to announce that voting is now open for the cover photo of the 2025 Monmouth County Travel Guide!

This is your chance to help select the image that will represent Monmouth County’s incredible destinations and attractions in the upcoming Travel Guide. The winning photo will not only be featured on the cover but will also be showcased inside the Guide with a special photographer spotlight. Runners-up will have their photos featured throughout the publication as well.

Voting is open until Saturday, March 1, so be sure to visit MonmouthCountyTourism.com to cast your vote. We can’t wait to see which stunning image is chosen to highlight all that Monmouth County has to offer!

Lastly, the Monmouth County State of the County address will take place next Tuesday, February 11. During this event, I will highlight the County’s achievements in 2024 and outline our goals for 2025. I look forward to sharing all the exciting updates from the address in my next article.

Until next time, stay warm and stay safe during any winter weather.

As always, it is a privilege to serve as your Commissioner Director.

Sincerely,

Tom Arnone

Commissioner Director, Monmouth County