AUBURN - The Auburn City Council agreed to hire contractors to fix a gate on the state dam in dire need of repair at the Thursday night meeting.
Superintendent of Engineering Services William Lupien asked for an emergency resolution to fix the overspill gate before he loses control of it.
The gate controls the flow of water into the Owasco Outlet.
Mayor Timothy Lattimore inquired about putting the repair work out to bid, but Lupien said the bidding process would take too long and the gate needs “emergency action.”
Without speedy response, the lake would drain below the winter level and remain low until enough rain accumulated.
“I don't mean to sound like it's the day of reckoning,” Lupien said.
The budget already includes $60,000 for the repair work and Lupien estimates it will cost between $40,000 and $50,000.
Crews repaired the gate in 2000 for $30,000 but since then steel and concrete prices have risen, he said.
The measure to hire a contractor to fix the gate passed unanimously.
“You can't mess around with that stuff - absolutely,” councilor William Graney responded when asked for his vote.
In other business:
- Councilors worked out confusion over the pending demolition of properties. Interim fire chief Terry Winslow passed along a list of three properties with structures that are in imminent danger of falling down.
During the council meeting, councilors agreed to sell one property to a neighbor for $1 on the stipulation that he tear down the burnt-out structure within 30 days.
Next week, the council likely will address the other two plots.
However, they also passed a resolution to put out a bid for a year contract to raze any structures that may need demolition, provided city-hired crews previously remove any asbestos.
Assistant corporation counsel Nancy Hussey said the measure is an economic move to keep prices consistent.
- Business and home owners wanting to participate in a program to have the cost of sidewalk and curb installation added into their taxes for five years will have to come up with some cash up front.
A regulation calling for a $25 administration fee passed 3-1, with councilor David Dempsey giving the dissenting vote and councilor Matt Smith absent. The money will compensate the city for inspections of the work, assessing the total costs, and hiring the contractor.
- The council agreed to hire Marcy Excavation Co. to partially close the landfill's cells one and two. The Utica company assisted in the landfill's construction. Its $1.05 million offer was slightly more than the city had budgeted, according to Comptroller Lisa Green, but the contract includes additional preparation work for the expansion planned for the landfill next year.
Staff writer Jessica Soule can be contacted at 253-5311 ext 267 or jessica.soule@lee.net
The gate controls the flow of water into the Owasco Outlet.
Mayor Timothy Lattimore inquired about putting the repair work out to bid, but Lupien said the bidding process would take too long and the gate needs “emergency action.”
Without speedy response, the lake would drain below the winter level and remain low until enough rain accumulated.
“I don't mean to sound like it's the day of reckoning,” Lupien said.
The budget already includes $60,000 for the repair work and Lupien estimates it will cost between $40,000 and $50,000.
Crews repaired the gate in 2000 for $30,000 but since then steel and concrete prices have risen, he said.
The measure to hire a contractor to fix the gate passed unanimously.
“You can't mess around with that stuff - absolutely,” councilor William Graney responded when asked for his vote.
In other business:
- Councilors worked out confusion over the pending demolition of properties. Interim fire chief Terry Winslow passed along a list of three properties with structures that are in imminent danger of falling down.
During the council meeting, councilors agreed to sell one property to a neighbor for $1 on the stipulation that he tear down the burnt-out structure within 30 days.
Next week, the council likely will address the other two plots.
However, they also passed a resolution to put out a bid for a year contract to raze any structures that may need demolition, provided city-hired crews previously remove any asbestos.
Assistant corporation counsel Nancy Hussey said the measure is an economic move to keep prices consistent.
- Business and home owners wanting to participate in a program to have the cost of sidewalk and curb installation added into their taxes for five years will have to come up with some cash up front.
A regulation calling for a $25 administration fee passed 3-1, with councilor David Dempsey giving the dissenting vote and councilor Matt Smith absent. The money will compensate the city for inspections of the work, assessing the total costs, and hiring the contractor.
- The council agreed to hire Marcy Excavation Co. to partially close the landfill's cells one and two. The Utica company assisted in the landfill's construction. Its $1.05 million offer was slightly more than the city had budgeted, according to Comptroller Lisa Green, but the contract includes additional preparation work for the expansion planned for the landfill next year.
Staff writer Jessica Soule can be contacted at 253-5311 ext 267 or jessica.soule@lee.net
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