HomeMy WebLinkAboutReport of Public Works 11/1/2001 to 11/31/2001'010"ifInge of Tapp 31eigllts
MARCHAM HALL
836 HANSHAW ROAD Telephone
ITHACA, N.Y. 14850 607. 257.1238
REPORT OF PUBLIC WORKS
TO: BOARD OF TRUSTEES
FROM: Brent A. Cross, Superintendent of Public Works
PERIOD: 11/1/01 through 11/30/01
REPORT BY DEPARTMENT:
A. VILLAGE ENGINEER -
1. PUBLIC WORKS
Office Hours
9 A.M.. 4 P.M.
a. Street System: I will be starting to plan for next year's road projects. If you have any
concerns for a particular street, please let me know so I can try to factor this into the planning
process.
b. Storm Water System: no report
c. Water System: no report
d. Sewer System: no report
e. Solid Waste: Garbage collected for this month was tons.
Attorney Tyler has reviewed, and revised, the draft agreement for brush removal that
was submitted by Burgess Trucking. The language of the contract is acceptable, but the
Village requires a higher insurance limit than Burgess had based the quotation on. Therefore,
he is investigating how much extra he would need to charge for the higher liability limit.
Leaf collection has continued throughout the month. We have also continued to receive
numerous complaints from the residents about "...when will the leaf crew be at my house ?... ".
The answer has always been that they are going around the Village following the snowplow
route and they will eventually get to all streets. This was not popular with the residents who
wanted to rake their leaves just prior to pickup so that the wind couldn't blow them around.
Therefore, we have experimented with a new system that has the leaf crews working on the
same day as the garbage pickup day. This way, a resident will always know which day to have
their leaves ready to be picked up. If this looks like it will be successful, we will need to
somehow advertise the new route method.
f. Equipment: DPW Fuel Consumption for this month: Gas = 677.90 gallons
Diesel= 362.50 gallons
The 2001 -02 was prepared with the anticipation of purchasing a new small /intermediate
truck. We have found 3-4 options that are available through NYSOGS contract, ranging from
$18,000 to $25,000. 1 have asked Treasurer Silber to confer the available fund balances in the
various equipment accounts.
g. Buildings and Grounds: Secor Lumber has nearly completed the new salt storage
building. I have spoken to some of the Pleasant Grove Lane residents about the building and
their comments were that the building was quite large, but that the windows and cupola make
the building look as nice as possible. They seem to be very satisfied with the final outcome. I
suggested that we could plant some type of hedge bushes along the east side of the building,
next spring, to help soften the impact of the view.
I have not received a sketch of the proposed landscaping for the Bolton Point Meter
Building on Sheldon Road.
h. Waste Water Treatment Plant: NYS SPDES Report for this month:
Daily avg. flow was 1.545 mgd
Max. avg. flow was 2.717 mgd
w/ 0 permit exception(s)
At this month's ISC meeting, the issue of determining the value of the Village's WWTP
was discussed. I was asked what I thought the value should be, and I responded that I felt that
the value of the plant was based on the value of the operating permit, hence the Village's plant
has the same value (per gallon) as the Ithaca plant.
I have received an engineering proposal from Stearns & Wheler for the trickling filter
replacement project that was awarded $600,000 + /- from the 1997 Bond Act Application. Their
proposal is to charge the work at their hourly billing rate, with the total not to exceed $60,000.
i. Personnel: The Teamster contract was signed on 11/21/01.
j. Safety: no report
2. Planning Board Reviews:
a. Site Plan Approval: none
b. Subdivision Approval: none
3. Ithaca(fompkins County Transportation Council —
a. Planning Committee: no report
b. Initial Project Proposals: none
c. NYSDOT Projects: none
B. ZONING OFFICER - (see attached report for Zoning Permit Activity)
1. ZBA Actions:
a. Variance Request by R. Baer to construct a garage within 1.5' of the front property line,
which does not meet the 25' required front yard. APPROVED on 11/27/01.
2. Zoning Enforcement Actions: I have written a follow -up letter to NYSEG on the Village's
position on the meter building at the Elementary School. They have been in contact with
me to get information about their options. They had hoped to get a resolution before the
end of the year, due to uncertain budget issues.
C. BUILDING COMMISSIONER - (see attached report for Building Permit Activity)