CCTVS (County, City, Towns, Villages, Schools) Committee

Thursday, January 24, 2008

MINUTES

 

Present:  Sandy Price, Co-Chair; Larry Cornell, Co-Chair; Angie Wyatt, Secretary to Scott Schrader; John Steger, Legislator; Carol Tytler, Legislator; John Daniels, Legislative Chairman; Kathie Wilcox, Legislator; Kathie Arnold, Legislator; Mike McKee, Legislator; Lee Price, Sheriff; Don Chambers, Cortland County Highway Superintendent; Bob Buerkle, Deputy Cortland County Highway Superintendent; Evan Geibel, Cortland Standard; Christine Laubenstein, Cortland Standard; Louanne Randall, Town of Cuyler Supervisor; Betty Ann Pitman, Town of Preble Supervisor; Cindy Monroe, Town of Solon Supervisor; David Fuller, Town of Taylor Supervisor; Sandy Doty, town of Willet Supervisor; Andrew Fuller, Town of Scott Representative; George Courtney, Town of Lapeer Highway Superintendent; Jeffrey Reakes, Town of Truxton Highway Superintendent; Steve Strough, Town of Freetown Highway Superintendent; Glenn Forshee, Town of Cuyler Superintendent; Jeff Griswold, Town of Preble Highway Superintendent; Jim Wildman, Town of Solon Highway Superintendent; Randy Ensign, Town of Marathon Highway Superintendent

The meeting was called to order by Co-Chair Sandy Price at 7:05p.m.

Ms. Price welcomed everyone and commented that she was glad to see so many people in attendance.

MOTION BY MS. PRICE – 2ND BY MS. TYTLER TO APPROVE THE MINUTES OF THE OCTOBER 27, 2007 CCTVS MEETING – ALL PRESENT VOTING IN FAVOR – MINUTES APPROVED

DISCUSSION

·        Cortland County Streets/Roads/Highways:  Mr. Chambers and Mr. Buerkle of the Cortland County Highway Department distributed a 10-Year Capital Improvement Program Update.  This plan is updated every year.  Mr. Chambers explained that these improvement projects include roads, large culverts and bridges.  The structures take priority over roads.  They mulch the lower priority roads by grinding it up, laying it and compacting it.  By 2017 most of the mulching projects will be done and those roads may go to the rehabilitation list.  Mr. Chambers said that it is easier to maintain the roads even with the mulching process.  There are 248 miles of county roads and 60 bridges.  Ms. Pitman asked why they do several pieces of roads and not just finish one road entirely.  Mr. Chambers indicated that being able to have multiple crews that spread out to repair bad parts of the roads is more efficient.  Ms. Pitman inquired why they do not bid the work out so they can get more of the roads completed.  Mr. Chambers indicated that the County would have to get on the Contractors’ schedules.  Mr. Buerkle added that it would cost a lot more if the County contracted the work out.  Mr. Doty mentioned that he checked with Tompkins County and they bonded for 8 million dollars to re-do their roads and that Mr. Chambers and Mr. Buerkle are doing the best that they can with the budget they have to work with.  Mr. Cornell said that it is much better now then it was in 2002.  At that time the Legislature kept cutting the highway budget.  Mr. Steger said that the highway department only had $500,000 to work with – they now have 3 million dollars.  Both Mr. Steger and Mr. Cornell commented that the highway department has come a long way.

Additional Comments:

Mr. Chambers:  The capital costs include materials, wages, fringes and equipment.  Mulched roads will eventually move up the list to the rehabilitation list

Sheriff Price:  Likes to see the County Highway Department and the Towns Highway Departments working together

Mr. Chambers:  If the towns need help the county helps them and the towns help the county.

Ms. Price:  The towns also work with each other.

Mr. Doty:  This County should be doing what Tompkins County is doing – The Legislature needs to do it by getting more money.

Ms. Price:  We have more money than we ever did.

Mr. Buerkle:  You can’t compare us to Tompkins County………We try to get 20 years from a paved road.

Mr. Reakes:  The County is doing a good job with what they have to work with.

Other Comments:

-                     Increasing fuel prices is a problem

-                     Daisy Hollow Road is a definite project

-                     We need more money for the County even if the Towns have to help.

-                     Town roads are getting more use because the County roads are so bad.

-                     Would like to see a road started and finished – stop piecemealing – even mulching to make the roads smoother would be okay

-                     With smaller/shorter roads, 3 could be done

-                     Fuel tax should go to road maintenance

-                     A bill is being introduced on the state level to put money back into the roads – it was a report released last week by Gov. Spitzer’s office               

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Ms. Wilcox inquired why the City of Cortland was not represented at this meeting.  Ms. Wyatt advised Ms. Wilcox that the City was invited and that they are always invited.

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Possible Topics for Future Meetings:

·        Town/Village Employees getting Health Insurance through the County (Mr. Schrader)

·        Shared Services agreements for mutual aid (Volunteer Fire Districts in the County)

·        Internet Services for outlying areas in the County (Carol Tytler & Kathie Arnold)  

The meeting was adjourned at 7:55p.m.

Minutes taken and prepared by Angie Wyatt, Secretary to Scott Schrader, County Administrator

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