Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutPWC Minutes 1998-06-23 DISPOSITION DATE Town of Ithaca Public Works Committee Meeting I June 23, 1998,8:00 a.m. Town of Ithaca Highway Facility 1. Approval of Minutes 2. Discussion on Abandonment of Easement on Circle Lane. 3. Discussion on Speed Limits in Town. 4. Discussion on Highway Renovations. 5. Discussion on Replacement of Chipper. 6. Discussion on Integrated Water System. ghk pc: Mary Bryant, Administrative Assistant oan Lent Noteboom,Town Clerk it Andrew Prost; `irector of Zoning/Building Jonathan Kanter, Director of Planning Pp, Q DISPOSITION DATE • Town of Ithaca Public Works Committee Meeting June 23, 1998, 8:00 a.m. Town of Ithaca Highway Facility Present: David Klein, Chairperson; Cathy Valentino; Ed Conley; Fred Noteboom; Rich Schoch; and Dan Walker Guests: John Lampman, Tompkins County Public Works The meeting began at 8:00 a.m. John Lampman began by informing David Klein(since the rest of the Committee had not arrived yet) that Tompkins County will be working on the bridge on W. King Road by the Upper Buttermilk Falls State Park this year. John said that the project is ready to be bid out. Dan Walker explained that currently, there is a concrete arch, with earth over that, then there is a stone wall. John explained that part of W. King Road use to be owned by the State, but the Town took over the road and so,Tompkins County became responsible for the bridge. John explained that the stones that are currently there will be reused to build the new wall. John explained that the wing wall is failing and the County wants to preserve the bridge before the whole bridge needs to be replaced. John explained that the Towri s share of the costs to repair the bridge will be between $45,000 and$50,000. David asked when it will be bid out. John said that the final plans should be finished this week, then they can start the bid process. He said that the County is hoping to have the bridge done before bad weather. • Dan asked if the State Parks have been informed of it. John said yes. David asked if the Town has budgeted money for this renovation. Fred Noteboom informed him that we did not. I 1 Public Works Committee Minutes,June 24,1998 Page 2 Cathy Valentino asked about a resolution that Tompkins County is reviewing. John • said that the resolution is about the same, except they added a list of bridges. David asked if the 80/20 percent split in costs to repair bridges is standard. Fred asked what constitutes the"floor" of a bridge, noting that most bridges have gravel, base material, and top asphalt. Fred also informed the Committee that the resolution has not been passed by Tompkins County. They are soliciting comments from different Townships first. David felt that a discussion on the floor of the bridge should be included in the resolution. John informed the Committee that this is an amendment to the original resolution. The Town's responsibilities for bridge work include the approaches, signage, seeding, guide rails, wearing surface, and surveying. Cathy feels that the resolution should have these things identified in the resolution. . Cathy asked if there is any state aid for repairs to bridges. John said that from time to time there is, but not on this project. He said that the Bridge in Renwick Drive will have some funding from ISTEA. Fred indicated that the proposal included "rustic" guide rails. He was not sure the State would want them. • There was a concern that the Town did not know that the County was going to work on this. Fred indicated that the County did send a letter to the Town over a year ago and the work had been scheduled for 1997, which is why the Town rebuilt W. King Road last year. Cathy indicated that we need to discuss this with the County. We need to know what to budget for. David asked Dan to review the costs to see if we are truly spending 20 percent or not. Dan said that he needs to know what work will be the Town's responsibility. David asked that Fred, Dan, and Cathy get together and go over this. He asked if the Town can pay for this in 1998. Fred said that there is money in the fund balance. This will be put on the Town Board Meeting agenda as a discussion item. Discussion on Forest Home Bridges Down Stream: John said that there are still two things that need to be done there. The paving of the intersection will be done this year. The County has received quotes to do the work. There are some plaques that need to be replaced also. Public Works Committee Minutes,June 24,1998 Page 3 David asked if the Town will be responsible for any of this work. John said that the County will cover the above, although the Town will cover work on"shimming" the road for drainage proposes. Fred indicated that the Town has agreed to pay for the asphalt on the shimming and that about 91 tons of asphalt will be needed. Up Stream: Fred informed the Committee that the County will be working on the up- stream bridge, but there should be no costs to the Town because all the repairs are structural. John indicated that the County will have to bid out the project, because the projected costs where higher then expected. John said that the project will take about two months to complete, so this will interfere with school in the fall. Dan said that the Town may re-insulate the water and sewer lines there. David asked if the Forest Home Association has been informed of the construction. John indicated that he had talked to Bruce Britten about this. Fred asked if the County could wait until next year to work on the bridge, then it could be done in conjunction with the Caldwell Road project. Fred indicated that, since Cornell University owned all the land around Caldwell Road, maybe the Town should abandon the road. Back in the 1970's it was abandoned. Not sure when Town started maintaining it again. John indicated that the County could start work in the creek area this year. David asked that Fred and John continue discussions on this and have Fred report to the Board on this. Cathy asked if the size of the bridge would be changed. John said no. John informed the Committee that another bridge,Burns Road Bridge, has been flagged by the State. The County will be working on this bridge also. John indicated that the abutments are moving. The minutes from May 26, 1998,were approved at the meeting. Public Works Committee Minutes,June 24,1998 Page 4 / Discussion on Abandoning Circle Lane. Fred indicated that he would like to have the Town hold off on abandoning the easement on this property. Cathy said the Town should abandon the mapped road not the easement. David asked when will the drainage be looked at in this area. Dan indicated that he would like to start looking at it in the fall. This should be reviewed at a later date. Fred indicated that he received a letter from Tompkins County regarding the grants we applied for. Tompkins County indicated that the Town needed a representative from the public on a committee which is involved in Storm Water Management. Cathy suggested having a public member on the•Public Works Committee and adding a section to each agenda on Storm Water Management. Discussion on Speed Limits Fred indicated that the Town Board directed, "Public Works needs to develop and organize a plan for speed limit reduction requests." Fred indicated that the Highway/Parks Department will set forth resolutions for speed reductions on Mecklenburg Road (Route 79),Trumansburg Road (Route 96), Game Farm Road, and Stone Quarry Road. Fred indicated that if the Town would like to have a presentation from the NYS DOT, we need to put that in writing, although Fred felt that if Cathy called Barry Stevens, he may come down to a Board Meeting. Cathy said that she would like to get the NESTS report which has some findings on excessive speed. This could be used as documentation for the reduction of speed limits within the Town. • Cathy would like to set up a meeting with Marty Luster and Jim Steward regarding this. Discussion on Highway/Parks Building Renovations Fred said that the Highway/Parks Department can build a cold storage building with the budgeted$50,000. C Public Works Committee Minutes,June 24,1998 Page 5 Fred indicated that we have also had discussion on opening up the other side of the salt storage building so that salt can be stored in both sides. This would costs about$5,000 to do. Cathy said to present a resolution to the Board to bid out the building of a cold storage building. She also asked Fred to prepare a report on the construction to the salt storage building. David asked about sharing the salt storage with Tompkins County. Cathy said that the Town would see very little, if any, benefit from this. David felt the $50,000 should continue to be put in the budget for capital reserves. Discussion on Replacement Chipper Fred informed the Committee that we would like to purchase a new chipper on the state bid. The costs will be about$24,000. This was budgeted for in 1998. Fred indicated that the Town of Fenton is interested in purchasing the Town's 1987 Chipper. They have expressed they will pay$9,000 for it. David questioned why we would get rid of the old chipper is if it in such good shape. Fred indicated that we need a bigger chipper. If the Town of Fenton is willing to purchase the 1987 Chipper, it needs to be put in writing and submitted to the Town Board. David asked when the Christopher Circle/Lane project will be started. Fred indicated in mid-July. Fred also has a temporary easement from Mr. Briggs. Discussion on Integrated Water System Dan indicated that the City of Ithaca and Cornell University are interested in combining water systems along with Bolton Point. Cathy asked if it is cost effective to do this. Dan said that there are two separate committees working on this. Bill Gray (City of Ithaca) worked up some estimates. It would cost about$9 million from the City, $2 million from Bolton Point, and $2 million from the Town of Ithaca to add the City to the Bolton Point water system. Using Bill's plan, the debit would be paid back using the rates, along with the operating costs. David asked if the Town will benefit from this. Cathy said that she would not want to cover capital costs that do not benefit the Town. ( f Public Works Committee Minutes,June 24,1998 Page 6 David said that we need to do an analysis since rates are good now, but rates may be even better after a consolidation. Cornell could benefit from this too. Update on Town Hall Dan said that there was a meeting last Thursday regarding the location.of the demising wall which reduces the Towri s preliminary length by 3 feet. Post Office informed us they would have to have egress from Town Hall side. They have rearranged the walls to have the egress in their area. There was a discussion on the chiller unit and if it will handle the whole building or just Town Hall's side. David said that the Town will have to have four separate bids. Plumbing, Electric, HVAC and General Construction. He said that the Mechanical bids should be simultaneous with the Post Office's work. Dan will discuss this will Doug Look from Holt Architects at their meeting today. Cathy said that we need to discuss the lease and possibly re-negotiate it. David expressed his concern about having built in work stations. He feels they should not be built in, so they can be changed, if need be. David said that the costs of having movable work stations is comparable. Ed Conley asked if the Department Heads have been involved in this process. Sale of Land Fred informed the Committee that Bill Landstrom has property for sale within the Town of Ithaca that could be a good site for fill. Fred indicated that fill sites are becoming harder to find. This land has been offered to the Town or City for $10,000. There are 10 acres. Fred indicated,that he and the City of Ithaca DPW have looked at the site. Ed asked if the Town could lease the property. Fred said that we would have to be careful doing this. There was a discussion on the liability issues. Possibly the City could buy the property and the Town pay for space. Fred asked if Landstroms may have been responsible to restore the area after mining the property. Public Works Committee Minutes,June 24, 1998 Page 7 Trunking System Fred informed the Committee that Tompkins County is proposing a trunking system to replace the current system. The frequencies currently in use will become unavailable. Ed asked if the Town would have to get into this system. Fred said there is good reason the Town might want to get into this type.of system,but did not know when. There was a discussion about putting a repeater on the Trumansburg Water tank. The meeting was adjourned at 10:20 a.m. ghk