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HomeMy WebLinkAboutPWC Minutes 2003-10-29 DISPOSITION DATE AA.c TOWN OF ITHACA 9 Public Works Committee October 29,2003,8:00 a.m. Public Works Facility Present: David Klein,Chair Person;Cathy Valentino;Tom Neiderkorn; Fred Noteboom;Rich Schoch;Dan Walker; and Wayne Sincebaugh. The meeting began at 8:10 a.m. The minutes from March 4, 2003,March 25, 2003, April 29, 2003,July 1, 2003, and August 26,2003,were approved. Water Projects within the Town Dan Walker stated that all the water projects are coming along well. Stone Quarry Road Waterline: The boring is up to the sewer line and approximately 500 feet of pipe has been laid. The area where the pipe was laid looks as though it will be a nice walking trail. This part of the project will connect on Danby Road between Coddington Road and Axiom. It is currently on schedule. There was a discussion regarding the need to chlorinate and then de-chlorinate the lines. This is due to the proximity of the Buttermilk Falls stream, which is a trout stream. The contractor will be required to do this, and the Town is working with them on a plan to de-chlorinate the lines. Bostwick Road Water Tank: The tank is ready to be assembled, although it has to be done when it is dry. It will take about three days to assemble. The piping has been strung but not laid yet. This project is also on schedule. Eco-Village Water Tank: The tank is in place and the contractor continues to work on the rest of the project there. This project is scheduled to be completed on November 10,2003. The Committee discussed that the road will have to be reinforced due to the heavy trucks and traffic on it. Coy Glen Pump Station: The contract for this project has been let out. The Town is waiting for the contractor to submit the final papers. There will be a pre- construction meeting next week. The color of the building will be a tan color. It seems the residents are happy with the Town's restoration plan. The building ' 4 Public Works Committee Minutes,October 29,2003 Page 2 and the pump have been ordered. Dan anticipates that this will be ready to use by the beginning of 2004. The Committee discussed the Town of Ulysses' water project and the Town has not heard any complaints from the residents on Woolf Lane. PEW Trail The Committee discussed the problems of moving forward with this project. The Town's Attorney took a long time getting the final paperwork completed,so the Baldwin's and Colle's are contemplating other projects for the land. Cathy Valentino said that most of the changes they are thinking about are on the upper end of the property. They discussed putting in a road and subdividing it for a housing community. David Klein asked if the Town is in jeopardy of losing the State funding we have secured for building the trail. Rich Schoch indicated that we have seven years to complete the project from the time the funding was approved, so we have approximately five years left to complete the project. We will continue to monitor this project. The Slaterville Road project at the Ewing's,in conjunction with this project,is ready to be bid out;we are waiting for the final easements to be signed before bidding out. Caldwell Road Fred Noteboom informed the Committee that Cornell has an interest in re- developing the area. There is a proposal for a research building on Caldwell Road. The Town may want to hold off on this project until we know more about the Cornell project. Cathy,Fred, and Dan Walker will coordinate a meeting with Cornell to get more information on their project. The Committee felt that if the Cornell University project is years off,the Town might want to think about filling in the ditches with stone or something. Public Works Committee Minutes,October 29,2003 Page 3 The Town's Road Specifications Fred said that due to the volume of development in the Town,we have been reviewing the Town's road specifications. They need to be revised some. Staff have worked on this and want to have the Public Works Committee and the Transportation Committee review them. Fred said that he would be meeting with Sue Ritter (Planning Department) to review them also. After this is done, we will return them to this Committee for their review and approval to pass on to the Town Board for final approval. We will include storm water management in these specifications. Two roads that have been built to the current specifications are Apple Blossom Lane and Saunders Road. Currently,no road can be accepted without approval from the Highway Superintendent and the Town Board. The Committee felt that the specifications should include cross sections and an approved method of building them. Fred said that if any of the Committee members had any comment, to let him know. Fred would like to finalize these changes by Summer 2004. Miscellaneous Dan said that there is a proposed development on Danby Road. Dan said that the land does not receive the proper water pressure. The developer has requested the Town to make improvements to this area so he can develop it. Dan feels the developer should be required to do this. The sewer would have to be extended also. Fred said that he was not pleased with the drainage plan for this development either. The Committee talked about the need to keep better records of site plans, etc. We should make it a requirement that a detailed site plan of utilities on properties be submitted before a building permit is issued. We should be keeping track of where the valves, drainage pipes, etc. are. Cathy suggested that the Codes and Ordnance Committee should review the Town's current policy. The Committee reviewed the issues the Town is having with University Sand and Gravel. The Highway Department recently disapproved a product from University that did not meet the specifications. The developer at the Southwoods project has decided to build the sewer using two pump stations, and it will run up the hill. The Town did inform the developer that the Town would not be extending the sewer on Coddington Road. • Public Works Committee Minutes,October 29,2003 Page 4 •) Cathy said that at the last SJS meeting it was discovered that the concrete throughout the sewer plant is in bad shape. One member would like to continue with the phosphorus removal project and not worry about the concrete. Most of the members are more concerned with the concrete within the plant. They are concerned about spending the money on phosphorus removal if something more drastic has to be done because the concrete is bad throughout the plant. The State had granted the SJS money to remove the phosphorus. They are aware of the problem with the concrete. Cathy got a letter from a resident regarding her concern with the traffic near the Northeast School (on Winthrop Drive). The letter suggests that"No Parking" signs be put up or something. Fred and Cathy will look at the situation. David Klein added that it should be observed when school lets out in the afternoon. The Town received a letter from the State regarding the three speed limit requests recently submitted. When the requests came back the one request said West King Road and we were requesting East King Road—the Town's paperwork reads East King Road. Tee Ann Hunter will have this corrected. David asked how the dog waste bags are working on the South Hill Trail. Rich said that people are using them. Rich has a concern about the City's clean up of the barrel (left for the dog waste bags). They have not cleaned it out yet and it is overflowing. Rich will contact the City regarding this. The Town did put a bench near the area. The Committee suggested looking into other park and trail sites to put these bags at. The Committee reviewed the budget process and where we are in that process. The meeting was adjourned at 9:50 a.m. ghk