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Home My WebLink AboutTownBoard_Minutes_20150908Danby Town Board  Minutes of Special Meeting  September 8, 2015 Present: Supervisor: Ric Dietrich Councilpersons: Rebecca Brenner, Leslie Connors, Jim Holahan, Jack Miller Others Present: Town Clerk Pamela Goddard Bookkeeper Laura Shawley Highway Sup. Carl Seamon Code Officers CJ Randall Public Ted Crane The Danby Town Board Meeting was opened at 6:32pm Highwayd Department Report Carl Seamon and Laura Shawley reported on post-flood work done on several roads in the Town of Danby. There was discussion of problems with various sorts of debris. Michigan Hollow Road. A problem spot has been identified for the Michigan Hollow Creek on the west side of the road. The Highway Department recommends that the creek be widened or straightened in order to cut down on the accumulation of debris. The NYS DEC has made a site visit to look at the problem. The Highway Department will contact the DEC to request further over site and assistance. In addition, the HD will widen existing ditches to catch water running downhill from the woods. Brown Road. Heavy rain washed out the shoulder of Brown Road, creating a dangerous situation. This problem has been repaired and the road is now open. A retaining wall was built to prevent future washouts and erosion. Debris blocking a railroad bridge has been removed and the culvert area repaired. The HD recommends that, although the culvert is the railroad’s responsibility, it should be monitored on a regular basis and listed for inspection prior to expected storms. Station/Valley View/Maple Avenue/Maple Avenue Creek. Lack of stormwater controls on the Maple Avenue creek had created a dangerous situation. Debris had not been removed since the 1980s. Residents had been requesting action from Tompkins County for several years. A resident in this area lost their home to flooding during the June incident. The County has since cleaned out the stream. There was some discussion regarding whether the resident has any recourse to the County in relation to their loss. The HD recommends that a letter be written to the County by the Town of Danby Town Board, the Planning Board, and the Highway Department, asking the County to inspect and maintain this creek on a more regular basis. Culverts on these roads will be checked monthly for debris and will be inspected prior to expected storms. Steam Mill Road. A sluice pipe running under the road had become clogged with debris from an adjacent stream. The pipe was cleared and the road shoulder repaired. The HD will check the sluice pipe monthly and inspect it prior to expected storms. Station Road, upper portion. A sluice pipe at 93 Station Road, running under the road, had become clogged with debris from an adjacent stream. The pipe was cleared and the road shoulder repaired. The HD will check the sluice pipe monthly and inspect it prior to expected storms. As the stream cuts through State Forest Land, the HD will contact State Forest representatives for a follow up report and recommends requesting that that loose debris be cleared from the creek on a more regular basis.  Town Board_Minutes_20150908 • Monday, September 14, 2015 Page ! of ! 1 2 There was an extensive discussion between Board members and the HD regarding a multi-year plan for improvements to Gunderman Road and its drainage system. Stormwater control is currently problematic on Gunderman Road (especially the lower portion) due to several factors: houses are on raised hills adding to the problem of water collecting in ditches, sluice pipes and culverts are too small to handle the amount of water flowing during storm events, adjacent streams and property drainage bring debris directly to the ditches. The HD laid out a seven-phase plan to correct drainage problems on Gunderman Road. Full implementation of the plan is expected to take at least three years. Ditches need to be cleared and widened. A swale near the old school needs to be widened and cleared completely. Adjacent ditches will be widened. Gunderman Road residential sluice pipes and culverts need replacement. The HD recommends researching ways in which this cost can be effectively shared by the Town and residents. The HD then recommends that a meeting be held with residents so that all aspects of the project may be explained, including the cost of pipe to be purchased by property owners. The meeting could also include information regarding ways that residents can be proactive in keeping debris from ditches and culverts and informing the HD of problems which have the potential to create blockages in water flow. It is anticipated that such a meeting will be held over the winter of 2015/2016. There was a discussion of potential citizen involvement in road maintenance issues, town-wide. Seamon, Shawley, and Dietrich answered questions reading the budget impacts of flood and stream corridor/water management related highway improvements. Seamon and Shawley stated that the Town will need to purchase a new Gradall to do all of this work. The estimated cost for this equipment is approximately $340,000. There was a discussion of the potential use of CHIPS funds for repairs to roads and highway barn roof repairs. Adjourn The meeting was adjourned at 7:45 pm. !!! ______________________________________ Pamela Goddard, Town Clerk Town Board_Minutes_20150908 • Monday, September 14, 2015 Page ! of ! 2 2