HomeMy WebLinkAboutRTTF 2023-05-15 Dryden Rail Trail Friends and Task Force
Minutes of the Monday, May 15, 2023 Meeting
7:00 – 8:30 p.m.
(Hybrid Meeting)
Dryden Town Hall
93 East Main Street, Dryden
Barbara Caldwell Conference Room
Attendees:
Susan Ashdown; Bob Beck; Todd Bittner; Rosalie Borzik; Janice Bretscher; Tony Bretscher;
Alice Green; Dan Lamb; Judy Pierpont; Chris Tessaglia-Hymes; Steve Wynans. Guests: Jacob
Yatsko; Diane Tessaglia-Hymes.
Call to order at 7:04 p.m. by Bob Beck
April meeting minutes approved with following correction:
Janice & Tony Bretscher not in attendance at the April meeting.
Trail work by DPW update (trestles, stone dust, signs) (Bob, Susan):
DPW crews have applied fresh paint on the railings at the two Cascadilla Creek trestles and
have laid down more stone dust at the Game Farm, and have completed a beautiful stone-dust
surface between the compost road and Mt. Pleasant Road. And push-button flashing signs
have been installed at the Mt. Pleasant Road crossing.
Correction (7/17/2023): Tall stop signs now installed at the Mt. Pleasant Rd crossing. We still
need to replace the missing Mt. Pleasant Rd “Welcome” sign and reposition the sign on the
opposite side, and Bob also reminded Rick Young about the need for stone dust on the FH Fox
bridge surface.
State Parks’ EPF grant update:
Our EPF-grant administrator informs us that we must provide an engineer-stamped plan for the
scope of our Parks grant and a storm-water pollution prevention plan. T.G.Miller is working on
these for us.
“Connect the Trails Fest” update (Susan, Diane, Judy, Alice):
In a good place with details and plans for the celebration finalized this afternoon. Graphics are
at the printer and prizes and donated food arrangements are settled. Event parking maps are
available for download. Event emcee Bob Beck will introduce Dan Lamb who will introduce Rod
Howe, Greg Mezey, and others. Dan Lamb (Town of Dryden) and Rod Howe (Town of Ithaca)
will unlock the ceremonial gate (expertly prepared by Tony Bretscher).
Tap Grant–Route 13 bridge update (Todd, Dan, Alice, Bob):
Todd, Bob, Alice, Dan and Ray Burger met with Paul Presutti of Erdman Anthony to finalize the
bridge design. Part of the water and sewer lines had been relocated outside the bat survey
area, adjustments can be made to place it back into the surveyed area. Still under consideration
are an appropriate concrete surface and pigment color for the abutments and wingwalls to
create a shallow relief “Llenroc dry stack” look. No further public hearings are required to finalize
the design.
Cornell wants the final plans to be attached to the CU easement document. The west side ramp
area needs to be confirmed for the plans. Submission to NYSDOT is pending Knickerbocker
acquisition. Dryden’s Town Attorney is working on the deed, awaiting the survey which is due to
be completed this week. Utility relocation is complicating the process. Likely future development
in the industrial park has moved the Town to take ownership of those utility lines.
We are requesting in the specifications that contractors not use the Hallwoods Road and trail
area as a construction staging area to minimize impacting the neighbors. Although we can go to
bid this summer, supply deliveries, etc., may delay the bridge’s arrival until next spring. The Bid
RFP package will not include a 2023 completion date requirement. However, other construction
can continue to ready the area for a Spring 2024 bridge installation.
Tompkins County Parks & Trails grant received; Triad Foundation and BHE GT&S grants
applied for (Bob, Dan):
A $5,000 grant was received from the Tompkins County Planning Dept. (Municipal Parks &
Trails Grant). Bob Beck submitted requests for grants from the Triad Foundation and Berkshire
Hathaway Energy (BHE GT&S).
Finger Lakes Runners Club Porta-Potty offer update (Bob):
Adam Engst from the Finger Lakes Running Club is ok with the rented porta-potty potentially to
be located along Compost Road at the end in the Y in the road where the trucks and trail split.
Potties will be pumped as needed.
Dryden Main Street crossing update (Bob):
Curb cuts are completed; Cortland NYSDOT office confirmed the plans to stripe and add
signage (we’re not sure of the type of signage they’ll use). Village of Dryden DPW was unaware
of the plans. Eric Buck, the DOT head engineer, confirmed it’s on the plans and it will get done.
He will remind Suit-Kote. All work is contracted by NYSDOT at no cost to us.
Forest Lane trail connection completed (Susan, Bob):
Susan Ashdown supplied the concrete blocks for steps that Bob and Susan rebarred into place,
and Bob brought in wood chips. The connection is completed.
Next scheduled meeting: Monday, June 19, 2023 open to the public at the Dryden Town
Hall, Caldwell Conference Room.
Meeting Adjourned at 8:08 p.m.
Respectfully submitted, Rosalie Borzik