Citizens Urged to Support High Point Monument

The Mayor and Committee of the Township of Wantage are requesting that the residents of Wantage Township – and in fact, the residents of Sussex County – contact the office of the New Jersey State Governor to request that the necessary funding for renovations to High Point Monument be provided in the State Budget.

In a resolution adopted on June 12, 2003, the Mayor and Committee of the Township of Wantage urged Governor James McGreevey, Senator Robert Littell, Assemblyman Guy Gregg, and Assemblywoman Allison McHose to find the necessary funds for completing a renovation project for the High Point Monument.

Mayor Jeff Parrott points out, “High Point Monument has value as an historical landmark, a public relations site, a tourism attraction, a veterans memorial, and an aid to economic development. This monument is one of the most valuable resources in the State of New Jersey”.

Wantage Committeeman Rich Sytsema agrees with the Mayor’s comments. “All we have to do is look at the fate of the Kuser Mansion several years ago” says Sytsema. “Without the necessary funds from the State, treasured landmarks can be lost forever.”

“It is our understanding that this project has remained uncompleted for six years now” says Wantage Committeeman Bill DeBoer. “This shouldn’t be a hard decision for the State Government to make. If we don’t take care of our State’s landmarks, what ARE we going to do with them?”

Mayor Parrott points out that the completion of the renovations to High Point Monument should not translate into additional taxes, but rather a re-prioritization of where the money in the State Budget is being utilized. “There is no doubt in any of our minds that this is a difficult economic climate, for state governments throughout the nation,” says Parrott. “But a commitment was made six years ago to renovating this vital link to our State’s heritage, and the State of New Jersey owes it to itself, and to our future generations, to see this project through to completion”.

The members of the Wantage governing body would appreciate expressions of support from any and all residents of Sussex County, in an effort to convince New Jersey’s Governor and State Legislators that the renovation of the High Point Monument deserves to be seen through to its completion. Any residents interested in joining this expression of support for the High Point Monument Renovation Project may access the Governor’s website at: http://www.state.nj.us/governor/. In the bottom right corner of the Governor’s web page is a link entitled “Contact Governor McGreevey”.

Township Resolution        Word document  |  PDF
Letter to the Governor     Word document  |  PDF

June 18, 2003