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HomeMy WebLinkAboutAnnual Engineer's Report Feb 1971VILLAGE OF CAYUGA HEIGHTS ANNUAL REPORT OF THE VILLAGE ENGINEER February 1971 John B. Rogers STREETS Street repair and repaving were carried out under the supervision of the new Public Works General Foreman during the summer and early fall. A major leveling and resurfacing paving was applied to Wyckoff Road. As a State road this road received little care. It was turned over from the State to the County and from the County to the Village two or three years ago. A major cost was incurred by the Village by the necessity of installing a new culvert under Cayuga Heights Road near the City of Ithaca line. The old culvert had deteriorated to a condition where erosion endangered the safety of the road. During the last year nine street opening permits were issued. This is one half of the permits issued during the previous year and is the least number of permits issued for many years. SNOW REMOVAL Under the supervision of our new Public Works General Foreman the snow removal has been accomplished quickly and efficiently. During the past year the Village purchased a new snow plow which was mounted on a second truck so that we now have two large plows instead of one 'ho we have had in previous years. The cleaning of the sidewalks with the Village snowplow again is the source of some complaints of • damage to adjoining property but there is no more efficient way for cleaning the sidewalks. Where requested the Village has refrained from plowing walks with the understanding that the resident owner will clear the walks himself. During the spring any damage that occurred to private property because of snow removal on the streets or sidewalks and is the Village responsibility will be repaired by Village forces. SHADE TREES The removal of dead and diseased elm trees from the Village owned right of way far exceeded the amount set aside in the Village budget for this work. The number of trees that had to be removed were greater than ever before. At the present most elm trees have now been removed from the Village road right of way and other Village properties. The removal of elm wood cut to length and put at the roadside by Village residents has greatly added to the cost of the Village refuse collection expenses. Here again a majority of the trees that must be removed have been taken down and it is hoped that this cost in the future will greatly decrease. In general we have had good cooperation from Village residents in the removal of trees as required by a new Village ordinance but there are a few trees yet to be removed before the deadline which will help bring the Dutch Elm Disease problem under control. REFUSE COLLECTION During the last year the location for the disposal of refuse collected in the • Village was again changed. For an interim period, with the cooperation of the City of Ithaca, we used the City landfill. As soon as the County Sanitary Land- fill in Groton became available our truck moved to that area. Because the new site is approximately twice as far away from the Village as the City landfill Engineer's Report Page 2 • a larger capacity truck would allow more efficient operation. Our present refuse packer truck is ten years old. Maintenance and operating costs of this truck have increased. The capacity of the truck is only 16 cubic yards. For these reasons the purchase of a new 20 cubic yard refuse collection packer and chassis will be recommended to the Board. A major section of 10" sewer line was replaced from Sunset Drive across sewer line right -of -ways to North Sunset Drive. This alleviated a continuing sewer problem caused by damaged sewer tile, roots and poor line initial installation. An additional section of 10" line must be replaced on North Sunset Drive and a major installation on the Savage Farm of some 500 feet of 10" sewer line is also needed. These jobs are scheduled for this spring. VILLAGE GARAGE Funds were expended for the installation of a concrete floor, insulation and heating in two bays of the Village garage. An additional two bays are scheduled for the same type of improvement out of next year's Village budget. We also hope to extend the back wall of the Village garage to give us an added 600 square feet of storage space. VILLAGE FIRE HALL ADDITIONS The Village work force is scheduled to do the site work, grading and paving that will be necessary with the new additions to the Village Fire Hall. This work is scheduled as soon as the building is completed by private contractor. TRAFFIC The amount of traffic flowing through the Village has increased steadly, particu- larly since the completion of the Triphammer Shopping Plaza, motels and apartment houses in the Route 13 - North Triphammer Road area. The Village faces a major problem in how to handle the traffic that comes in on North Triphammer Road and flows to the south through the Village. There is not only a problem of what can be done in the control and handling of this traffic but how to finance the necessary changes. The completion of a proposed loop road around the most populated areas and the installation of the proposed grade crossing at Route 13 and North Triphammer Road will add to this problem. The cooperation of the County Planning Board has been sought in seeking a solution. Because the majority of this traffic is not Village traffic or Village generated traffic and because there are County roads leading up to the Village line but not through the Village, it is felt that the problem is not one that should be faced by the Village alone. n U