Committeewoman Lukens’ big concerns lie in economic growth and redevelopment
Eileen Lukens ran for school board to have an impact on her children’s education. As her three children grew, so did her vision of her role in public office.
“Picking the perfect curriculum is important, but fostering a love of learning, teaching students good organizational skills, and learning to take chances is more valuable in the long run,” Lukens said.
After serving on the school board from 2009 to 2016, she took a chance and ran for township committee.
Elected in 2016 to the township committee, she also serves on the Land Use Board and is the liaison to the Department of Health and the Rent Levy Board.
“The role of local government is really neighbors helping neighbors,” she said.
She recalled some of her first conversations with citizens after taking office: “Shortly after I was elected, I received multiple calls about a dilapidated building on Bridgeton Pike across from Home Depot. The neighbors who lived on the street were frustrated at the unsightliness of the property and feared who was going into it. Working with the township administrator, the building was razed shortly thereafter. Since I have been on township committee, I have worked on dozens of issues like this one. Something in the community needs to be addressed, and the role of local government is to address it.”
Lukens explained one of her long-term goals as a committee member is to promote economic growth in Mantua.
“As a member of the Land Use Board and a township committee member, I want to attract new businesses that complement our community,” she said. “The township has the opportunity for growth with Rowan’s fossil park and the vacant commercial properties in town. Another goal was to address the abandoned properties that have affected every community since the real estate market crash. The township has an abandoned property ordinance that is helping to limit the time a property stays vacant by pressuring banks to sell the abandoned property.”
Further voicing her concern about the physical appearance of the town which, in turn, has an effect on town morale, she mentioned interest in ways to give parts of Mantua a face-lift. This is something she noted the committee needs to focus a bit more on.
“I am on a committee now to help enhance the look of our Main Street area, primarily around the township building,” she said. “The placement of trees, sidewalks lighting, flags will help improve the appearance of our ‘downtown’ area.”
The Mantua Township committee meets next at 6 p.m., March 5, in the municipal building.
