Despite COVID-19 challenges, Burlington County had plenty to celebrate from 2021 | Opinion

The beginning of a new year is a special time that provides us with a fresh start and a promise of better things to come. It gives us the opportunity to look back and celebrate our successes and also to plan ahead.

The Burlington County Board of Commissioners did both during our annual reorganization meeting last week, where I had the honor of being elected by my colleagues to serve as the Board’s director for this year.

I am humbled by their vote of confidence. I promise to work diligently to maintain that confidence and continue our record of stellar service for Burlington County’s residents.

2021 was a year of perseverance, transition and recovery. We had hoped to see the last of COVID-19, but unfortunately, we are faced with another resurgence of the virus. Despite this continuing challenge, there is still plenty for us to celebrate.

Our Health Department helped vaccinate hundreds of thousands of people, both at the original Mega-Site at the Moorestown Mall and the new one in the Eastgate Square Shopping Center. We also held community vaccine clinics in schools, churches and community centers and found ways to bring shots to vulnerable seniors and homebound residents.

Burlington County created one of the first county COVID-19 testing sites in New Jersey and expanded operations to help meet demand. Last week, we averaged more than 1,000 tests a day at our County testing site in Willingboro.

We offered monthly food distributions to provide thousands of struggling families with free groceries, meals and produce, and we teamed with the State of New Jersey to offer rental and mortgage assistance to residents impacted by the pandemic. Already, more than 1,700 Burlington County households have received over $13 million in aid.

None of this happens without the dedication and hard work of our first responders, county employees and department heads, and many community partners, including the volunteers from groups like the Friends of the Burlington County Animal Shelter and Friends of the Burlington County Library System. We owe them all a tremendous debt of gratitude for everything that they have done.

Lives have been saved because of all these collective efforts and sacrifices. If this virus has taught us anything, it is that we are stronger when we work together. We must remember that for as long as this crisis continues and beyond.

Small businesses were among the hardest hit by this crisis, and we’ve worked incredibly hard to assist them with their recovery.

Our Board collaborated with the Bridge Commission to create the Health Emergency Loan Program to make sure small businesses had the means to hire back workers, make renovations or purchase equipment and supplies to keep their employees and customers safe. Those loans are interest free and are still available.

We created a Business Portal on our County’s website that contains information every business owner can use.

Burlington County Restaurant Week came back in 2021. More than 50 restaurants participated, making it our county’s largest business promotion ever. Local restaurant owners are looking forward to another Restaurant Week in 2022

Affordability remains one of our main goals. According to the New Jersey Department of Community Affairs, Burlington County has had the lowest average county tax for two years running. And when the 2021 property tax data is released later this month, we expect we’ll once again be the lowest for the third consecutive year.

Our entire Board is proud of these accomplishments, but we know there’s still more to do.

Since many residents are not aware of all the amazing goods and products that are created in their home county, we’re going to hold a Made in Burlington County Day to give artists, chefs, crafters, and other small business owners another opportunity to market and sell their products.

In 2022, residents can look forward to a new look on our county website, which will make it easier to navigate and find important information and news quicker. As part of the website’s revamp, we’re working on an Environmental section that will highlight sustainability and other environmentally-friendly practices and programs, along with information about recycling, clean communities, parks and preserved open space. We want to set an example, not just for our residents and local governments but the other counties across the state.

We all know that Burlington County is a special place that we want to continue to improve. We have incredible resources such as our county college and library system, Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst and the Pinelands National Reserve to name just a few. But our most important resource continues to be our people. We have an incredible community with neighbors who have shown just how strong Burlington County can be by stepping up when we have needed them the most. I’m proud to be a Burlington County resident and hope you are too.

Thank you for allowing us the privilege to represent you and the honor to serve you all. Let’s make 2022 a year we can all celebrate and look back on fondly. Thank you again.

Dan O’Connell is Burlington County Commissioner Director.

This article originally appeared on Burlington County Times: Burlington County had plenty to celebrate from 2021