Ungrounded fences lead officials to close softball fields as safety measure

MOUNT OLIVE TWP. Three baseball and softball fields and the tennis courts at the Dan Jordan facility in Flanders will be closed until the metal fence encircling the fields is grounded as a safety precaution.

Business Administrator Sean Canning said on Friday that the fields were closed last Thursday after an inspection by an employee with Jersey Central Power & Light Co. showed the metal fence encircling the fields was never grounded and bonded. The safety precautions are being taken because the fields are located beneath high tension power lines.

Weve never had cause to question this before, said Canning.

The fields and fences were built in the 1960s and there have been no reports of accidents related to the power lines.

Recreation Director Jill Daggon said grounding rods will be installed in the fence according to specifications to be determined by an engineering study. She said the work should take two to three weeks.

In the meantime, two fall softball games scheduled for the fields will instead be played at Turkey Brook Park.

Canning said Mayor Rob Greenbaum ordered the fields closed after he was briefed by Canning, Daggon and Jim Lynch, the assistant public works director.

Canning said the township engineer, Gene Buczynski, will recommend an electrical engineer to review the fences

The high-tension, overhead power lines are owned and maintained by First Energy, the parent company for JCP&L. Ron Morano, a JCP&L spokesman, said he could find no report of a recent inspection at the fields.

In another recreation-related matter, perfect early fall weather greeted 161 adults and children who participated in Sundays Tour de Mount Olive. Daggon said 86 people rode bikes for the 40 mile tour; 65 participated in the five-mile family ride; and 10 children got pointers in the kiddie ride.

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Ungrounded fences lead officials to close softball fields as safety measure