HomeMy WebLinkAbout2016-10-12Dryden Rail Trail Friends and Task Force
Minutes of the October 12, 2016 Meeting
Dryden Town DPW
Attendance: Bob Beck, Todd Bittner, David Fogel, Diane Tessaglia-Hymes, Chris Tessaglia-
Hymes, James Miner, Armin Heurich, Bruno Schickel, David Bravo-Cullen, Milo Richmond,
David Keifer, Nancy Munkenbeck
Meeting was convened at 7:03 pm
Discussion of DOT/TAP grant application (to be submitted by 10/21)
Bob and Bruno presented for discussion information prepared for the grant application, including:
1) a new Phase 1 map (Game Farm Road to Hall Road),
2) a spreadsheet chart of Property Owners and ROW (Right of Way) easement status,
3) a chart of trail conditions, treatments and costs, with total project cost ($849,500),
and required local 20% share ($169,900), and
4) a chart of proposed project schedule (Phase 1 completion, October 2018).
Support letters and resolutions for our application are still arriving. Armin circulated an excellent
letter he wrote for the Finger Lakes Cycling Club.
Update on trail easements
Todd handed Bob a copy of the Cornell-signed Trail Easement Agreement for 5 of the 6 Cornell
parcels in Phase 1—the original of which he had just delivered to Dryden Town Hall.
The 6th parcel was excluded, pending resolution of CU-proposed dust control, fencing and
vegetative screening of the trail/compost facility driveway.
Bruno reported on a tactful conversation begun with a reluctant property owner.
Bob: A saga in correcting incorrect tax-map lines and obtaining trail easements for two adjacent
parcels on Rt. 366 east of Varna. Tax map lines indicate that neither parcel contains any of the rail
bed, yet Cornell (Cornell Natural Area on the other side) says it owns only to the centerline. So,
obtaining the deeds and surveys from the County Clerk’s office, one parcel clearly includes to the
centerline, while the other does not. The owner of the first likes the trail plan, so we request an
easement.
Meanwhile for the second parcel, the deed and survey show ownership only to the edge of the
railroad property, the adjacent 33-foot-half to the centerline is in limbo without a tax parcel
number, remaining unsold, still owned by the unaware previous owner two sales ago who has
retired and moved to Northern New York. Alice finds him and surprises him with the news. So
now, we prepare and arrange a property deed of transfer of half of the rail bed to the new owner
without cost and we request a trail easement from the new owner. And we request corrections in
the tax maps and obtain a solemn promise from Jay Franklin of the County Assessment Office of
no surprise tax bills or tax consequences to any of the parties.
F.H. Fox Bridge ownership: The bridge is possibly still owned by Mahlon Perkins (since 1982);
it may be considered an abandoned structure over the DOT-owned roadway. Bob is talking with
Vet College Alumni Assoc. and students about possible trail funding in memory of Prof. Fox.
Next Meeting: Wednesday November 16, 7:00 p.m., again at Dryden Town DPW.
Meeting adjourned at 8:45 pm