Highway/Solid Waste/Airport Committee

November 13, 2007 - 7:30 am

DRAFT MINUTES

Present: Dan Tagliente, Chairman; Steve Dafoe, Vice Chairman; Merwin Armstrong, John Daniels, John Steger and Newell Willcox

Others present: Marilyn Brown, Chairman, County Legislature; Scott Schrader, County Administrator; Danny Ross, Legislator, District 12; Katrina Spicer, Secretary to County Administration; Richard Van Donsel, County Attorney; Donald Chambers, Superintendent of Highways; Bob Buerkle, Deputy Superintendent of Highways; Eric Mulvihill, WXHC; and Evan Geibel, Cortland Standard

Absent: Tom Hartnett

Mr. Tagliente called the meeting to order at 7:30 a.m.

Mr. Daniels moved adoption of the minutes of the October 9, 2007 meeting; seconded by Mr. Steger. All members voting in favor; none opposed; minutes approved as printed.

SUGGESTED LEGISLATIVE REVIEW:

**The following items have been noted as items for suggested Legislative Review by the Chairman of the Highway Committee. These items are also noted with ** and in bold print.

· Authorize Agreement/Environmental Monitoring Highway Department/ Landfill

· Authorize Agreement Recycling/Highway Department J.M. Murray Center-Recycling Sorting Services

· T- Hangar Project Update

RESOLUTIONS:

HIGHWAY

1. Authorize Supplemental Agreement/Verizon Page Green Road P.I.N. – 3753.50 –Mr. Armstrong moved adoption; seconded by Mr. Steger. Mr. Chambers explained that an agreement was authorized previously and added that this is a supplement to that agreement. He further explained the need for this supplement is that the estimate that the County was given previously has been exceeded and there is a need for a new agreement. Mr. Chambers explained that there is an additional cost. and added that state and federal funds cover 95% of the cost. Mr. Willcox inquired as to whose fault it is. Mr. Chambers explained that Verizon calculated the first estimate. He added that the County made the request to have them move their facilities. All members present voting in favor; none opposed; resolution adopted.

2. Authorize Supplemental Agreement/New York State Jennings Creek Road Bridge P.I.N. – 375431, B.I.N. – 3361530

Mr. Tagliente stated that the County Attorney, Mr. Van Donsel, expressed that there is not a need for this resolution. Mr. Tagliente removed the resolution from the agenda.

LANDFILL

3. ** Authorize Agreement/Environmental Monitoring Highway Department/ Landfill – Mr. Willcox moved adoption; seconded by Mr. Armstrong. Mr. Chambers explained that this agreement is to extend the monitoring at the landfill and to contract with Cortland County Soil & Water for that monitoring. He added that this monitoring is a requirement of the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (NYSDEC). Mr. Chambers added that it is necessary as a requirement of the permit to hire someone to do this and file their report with NYSDEC. He added that this is the third year it has been handled this way. Mr. Daniels stated that he was surprised that this costs as much as it does. All members present voting in favor; none opposed; resolution adopted.

RECYCLING

4. ** Authorize Agreement Recycling/Highway Department J.M. Murray Center-Recycling Sorting Services – Mr. Armstrong moved adoption; seconded by Mr. Willcox. Mr. Chambers explained that in 2005 a contract began with J. M. Murray Center for recycling sorting services. He discussed the number of sorters increasing since the 2005 contract was implemented. All members present voting in favor; none opposed; resolution adopted.

DISCUSSIONS/PRESENTATIONS:

1. ** T-Hangar Project Update – Mr. Buerkle explained that seven out of ten hangars have been leased and filled. He added that two more leases are in the County Attorney’s Office. He plans on having all ten hangars filled by December 1, 2007. He added that the project came in within budget and added that this will increase revenue of approximately $25,000 annually at the airport. He also explained that this revenue was budgeted in the 2008 budget and that the Airport will come close to breaking even. Mr. Armstrong inquired as to how many people are still on the waiting list. Mr. Buerkle stated that there are currently twelve on the list.

2. Bid Sale of Waste Oil – Mr. Buerkle explained that the Highway Department generates used waste oil. He added that currently the County contracts with a company from Pennsylvania, at no cost to the County, to dispose of the waste oil. He added that he has realized that this is a commodity. He inquired if the Highway Committee would like to have him go for bid in regards to this. Mr. Daniels inquired and discussed the need to have a licensed hauler to haul this. Mr. Buerkle explained that a licensed hauler is needed if they are hauling over a certain amount. Mr. Daniels further inquired about a licensed disposal facility. Mr. Buerkle explained that licensing is not need for personal consumption. Mr. Willcox inquired if any of the Towns had a waste oil burner.

3. Engineer Study-Daisy Hollow Slope Project – Mr. Chambers explained that, at the request of the Legislature, the Highway Department looked into a slope failure on Daisy Hollow Road. He explained that he has received the report back on that project. He explained that there is approximately 300 linear feet of failure. Mr. Chambers further explained that there are several other issues that need to be addressed in regards to this project and discussed them a bit further. He expressed that the project will cost approximately $750,000 for 300 feet of failure. Mr. Chambers explained that this project is not high on the priority list for highway work. Chairman Brown addressed her concerns regarding safety. Mr. Chambers explained that it is not catastrophic and explained that the county can continue to make repairs as they have been. Mr. Tagliente inquired if the work could be done in-house. Mr. Chambers explained that the department does not own the equipment and there is specialized work to be completed by a contractor. He expressed that the project is still costly. Mr. Daniels inquired about receiving federal funds for multi model funds for the repairs. Mr. Chambers explained that there may be a possibility for multi-model funds but it is not likely the county could receive federal funds for this project. He explained further that federal funds are usually distributed based on traffic count. He stated that Daisy Hollow Road has approximately 200 cars per day and federal funds are given to projects that have a traffic count of 25,000 – 30,000. Committee members expressed that they would like to have this item on next month’s agenda for discussion, which will allow them an opportunity to review the documents they received today.

4. Bikers for Babies – Mr. Chambers explained that the March of Dimes has requested to use Dwyer Park as a stop for the Bikers for Babies charity event scheduled for August 2, 2008. The consensus of the Highway Committee was to allow the March of Dimes to use the upper lot at Dwyer Park for the Bikers for Babies charity event scheduled for August 2, 2008 between 11:00 am and 1:00 pm. Committee members requested that Mr. Chambers work out any detail with CRT.

5. Sale of Equipment – Mr. Chambers explained that last month the Highway Committee approved the sale of equipment at the Onondaga County Auction. He added that there was a couple of cars held back from the auction and discussed the equipment that was sold at the auction. Mr. Chambers stated that there was load sold for approximately $33,000 and he had only anticipated it would bring about $17,000.

6. Delinquent Account-Landfill – Chairman Brown inquired as to the status of the account with Almost Anything Trash Removal. Mr. Van Donsel explained that there are no assets and added that the Village of Homer is not being cooperative in regards to this. He stated that Assistant County Attorney Elizabeth Burns is continuing to working on this. Mr. Van Donsel stated that interest is being charged at a rate of 9%.

Mr. Willcox made a motion to adjourn the meeting; seconded by Mr. Daniels. Mr. Tagliente adjourned the meeting at 7:57 a.m.