AUBURN - Disc golf enthusiasts will have to wait a little longer before they can start playing in Emerson Park.
The Cayuga County Legislature's Public Works Committee tabled a resolution to approve the construction of the 18-hole course Wednesday night following concerns from two Owasco property owners.
Cayuga County Parks and Trails Director Gary Duckett had hoped the Legislature would act on the resolution this month so the course's first nine holes would be completed by May, the park's busiest month. If the Legislature approves the course in April, the earliest the tees and holes could be installed is late spring or early summer, Duckett said.
Owasco residents Sam Vasile and Emil Vollmar attended Wednesday's meeting to express their concerns about how the course could affect their properties, which border the park.
Vasile said neither he nor Vollmar is against park development.
Rather, Vasile is worried one of the tees will be too close to his property.
“I think having someone 100 feet off my deck is a little bit intrusive,” Vasile said, adding he has a 6-year-old child and there might be some swearing or safety issues.
He also noted the drainage ditch near the hole could be hazardous.
Vasile suggested moving the hole west of the ditch, a change he believes would both remove the hazard and give him another 30 or 40 feet of additional space between the course and his property.
Duckett said the course designers had already given Vasile and other property owners ample space between the course and their homes, and the hole had already been moved once when concerns were first brought up. Changing the layout now would make the course more congested, he said.
“Nobody wants it next to their lawn probably,” Duckett continued, “but you live next to a park. I don't know what to say.”
Though he is sorry the course has caused Vasile and Vollmar grief, Duckett said he must also think of the other 80,000 taxpayers who could benefit from the course.
He is hopeful disc golf will attract new people to the park.
The committee tabled the resolution until its April meeting, where it may discuss the possibility of putting up some sort of privacy fence. But a 12-foot fence along Vasile's entire property would cost about $20,000, Duckett said, and the park cannot afford it.
The area being considered for the course is in Owasco, south and east of the Ag Museum. Duckett doesn't foresee charging anything to use the course except the park's $2 parking fee.
He would take no more than $3,600 of the park's budget to fund the course and hopes to offset those costs with hole sponsors at $400 apiece.
In other news:
- Duckett has received interest from the owner of a gondola service who would like to offer Venice-style rides along the Owasco River.
While he is encouraged by the idea, Duckett has some concerns about the navigation of the channel and would still have to work out the details of an agreement.
- Buildings and Grounds Superintendent Ernie DeCaro said while renovations for the district attorney's office in the Vitale building got off to a slow start, things are now moving along “aggressively.”
DeCaro said construction stopped for two months, following some disagreements between the county and building owners.
The DA's move from his current location to the Vitale building was originally supposed to occur in April, but DeCaro believes May is optimistic, with June being realistic.
“The train left the station a little late,” he said. “It's back on track now, and that's what counts.”
Staff writer Linda Ober can be reached at 253-5311 ext. 237 or linda.ober@lee.net
Cayuga County Parks and Trails Director Gary Duckett had hoped the Legislature would act on the resolution this month so the course's first nine holes would be completed by May, the park's busiest month. If the Legislature approves the course in April, the earliest the tees and holes could be installed is late spring or early summer, Duckett said.
Owasco residents Sam Vasile and Emil Vollmar attended Wednesday's meeting to express their concerns about how the course could affect their properties, which border the park.
Vasile said neither he nor Vollmar is against park development.
Rather, Vasile is worried one of the tees will be too close to his property.
“I think having someone 100 feet off my deck is a little bit intrusive,” Vasile said, adding he has a 6-year-old child and there might be some swearing or safety issues.
He also noted the drainage ditch near the hole could be hazardous.
Vasile suggested moving the hole west of the ditch, a change he believes would both remove the hazard and give him another 30 or 40 feet of additional space between the course and his property.
Duckett said the course designers had already given Vasile and other property owners ample space between the course and their homes, and the hole had already been moved once when concerns were first brought up. Changing the layout now would make the course more congested, he said.
“Nobody wants it next to their lawn probably,” Duckett continued, “but you live next to a park. I don't know what to say.”
Though he is sorry the course has caused Vasile and Vollmar grief, Duckett said he must also think of the other 80,000 taxpayers who could benefit from the course.
He is hopeful disc golf will attract new people to the park.
The committee tabled the resolution until its April meeting, where it may discuss the possibility of putting up some sort of privacy fence. But a 12-foot fence along Vasile's entire property would cost about $20,000, Duckett said, and the park cannot afford it.
The area being considered for the course is in Owasco, south and east of the Ag Museum. Duckett doesn't foresee charging anything to use the course except the park's $2 parking fee.
He would take no more than $3,600 of the park's budget to fund the course and hopes to offset those costs with hole sponsors at $400 apiece.
In other news:
- Duckett has received interest from the owner of a gondola service who would like to offer Venice-style rides along the Owasco River.
While he is encouraged by the idea, Duckett has some concerns about the navigation of the channel and would still have to work out the details of an agreement.
- Buildings and Grounds Superintendent Ernie DeCaro said while renovations for the district attorney's office in the Vitale building got off to a slow start, things are now moving along “aggressively.”
DeCaro said construction stopped for two months, following some disagreements between the county and building owners.
The DA's move from his current location to the Vitale building was originally supposed to occur in April, but DeCaro believes May is optimistic, with June being realistic.
“The train left the station a little late,” he said. “It's back on track now, and that's what counts.”
Staff writer Linda Ober can be reached at 253-5311 ext. 237 or linda.ober@lee.net
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