HomeMy WebLinkAboutPWC Minutes 2004-10-26a
PHONE (607) 273-1656
TOONN OF ITHACA
HIGHWAY DEPARTMENT
106 SEVEN MILE DRIVE, ITHACA, N.Y. 14850
publimorks@town.ithacamy.us
Roads, Parks, Traft, Sewer, and Water
TOWN o F� i'n. IACA
PUBLIC WORKS COMMITTEE
Tuesday, October 26,2004,8:00 am.
Public Works Facility
L. Approval of Minutes
a. August 24,200,t--attachnient
b. September 28,2004--attachment
2. Discussion on Mission Staternent—attachment
3. Discussion on Michigan,rrail Project
4. Discussion on Public Works Department
5. Discussion ou Itungerford Hill Watear 'Tank.
6. Update on SOUth Hill Transmission Lines Project.
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FAX (607) 272-6076
DPCGPON DAIE
TOWN OF ITHACA
Public Works Conirnittee
October 26 2004, Minutes
Public Works Facility, 8:00 ani,
Present: Peter Stein, Cathy Valentino, Sandy ("ittelman, Dart Walker, Fred Noteboom,
Rich Schoch, Gene Redman, Wayne SincebaUgh, and Mike Smith
The meeting began at 8:09 am.
nie August 31, 2004, and the September 28, 2004, minutes were approved.
Mission Statement
The mission statement was approved with some ininor changes.
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Fred Noteboom informed the CM ornmittee that DEC had contacted the Town regarding
work being done there without a storm water nianagenient plan. Because of all the nw
houses on Saunders Road, the diversion ditch that was there was not working. That
needed to be fixed, so we fixed it and have chained off the area. We "rill not do
anything more there until we have full plans (including storm water managetnent) for
the park and trail site. The Engineering and Planning Departments will work on this.
The Committee discussed drainage Problems in the area —especially in the Deer Run
subdivision.
Renaming the f-i nt
Fred give the Committee mernbers some information on Public Works Departments.
,rbeTown will need to decide how to achieve this: by a resolution or by local law. A
resolution would need to be passed by the'rown Board, whereas a local law would be
presented to the Public for a public hearing. It WOUld take longer to get a local law than
a resolution. 'The local law would carry niore of a paper trail.
By state law', the Highway Superintendent must also be the LArector of Public Works.
The Public Works Committee would like to reconirriend moving forward on making the
I lil;Jiway Department a Public Works Department,
p ublic Works ConumtQ Minutes, October 26,2004 Page 2
This subject will be put on the SAC meeting agenda so that it can be discussed with the
Town's attorney, and then on to the Town Board agenda.
There was a discussion on the growth of the Department —now we work on not only
roads —but parks, trails, water, sanitary sewer, and storm water management.
East Hill Tank
Dan Walker showed the Committee the schematics of the Bolton Point system. Dan
explained that there are two different types of water tanks on this system: storage and
distribution. When the system was set up, there were to be two storage tanks on
Burdick Hill Road. Only one tank was built. Another one needs to be built because,
currently, we use approximately 3 million gallons of water a day, and the tank on
Burdick Hill Road holds 1.5 million gallons. After evaluating the system and due to the
electrical outages a few years ago, it was decided that a better place to put the second
storage tank would be on East Hill —this is proposed to go on Hungerford Hill Road.
The electrical outage made the Town reevaluate how to continue to get water to people
during electrical outages. With the tank going on East Hill and generators (previously
purchased) we would be able to maintain 50 percent capacity on the transmission main.
If the Hungerford Hill Road tank is full, we can maintain water for domestic use for
three to four days on restricted use.
This tank would be storage for East Hill, South Hill, and West Hill. It would also be
able to be a back up for the distribution tank already on Hungerford Hill. We would
also be able to back tip the City if their water system failed.
The cost for the Town's part of this project is $600,000. We would be paying for this out
of the rate and surplus.
Cornell University will benefit greatly from this project. We will discuss this with them
with regards to the easement that Town needs from Cornell.
The Committee felt that the Town Board should have a presentation like the
presentation Dan provided to the Public Works Committee.
There will be a meeting regarding this in November.
Update on South Hill Transmission Main Project
This project is moving along well. About 80 percent of the pipe is in and should be
done within the next two weeks.
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I Public Works Committee Minutes, October 26, 2004 Page 3
We need an easement from the Raponi's and they are willing to give us one, but they
want to make sure it is not in the way of possibly selling the property.
Miscellaneous
Fred informed the Committee that we need to purchase some equipment that will
enable us to do inspections better. If we purchase the equipment this year (2004), it will
cost $6,989—if we wait until next year, it will cost $8,940. Cathy said to order the
equipment this year.
The meeting was adjourned at 9:35 a.m.
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