MENTZ - State Sen. Michael Nozzolio visited with Haiti Island residents on Saturday, addressing their short-term concerns while the bridge remains closed to vehicular traffic.

“I called the meeting to address the emergency needs of the residents to ascertain what are the priorities,” Nozzolio said. “The meeting was extremely helpful. They need water, food, utilities and fire protection and we need to do all we can to assist and address their needs.”

Nozzolio walked across the rickety bridge, wooden planks moving with each step, to meet with some 20 residents concerned with running out of drinking water; situations requiring the accessibility to emergency vehicles and power outages; and the availability of heating oil and propane if repairs go into the winter.

Tom Chappell's farm is the second-farthest property from the bridge. Having six people and farm animals in his household, Chappell said he goes through 400 to 500 gallons of water per week, and his biggest fear is running out of drinkable water.

“A lack of water will stop my household immediately,” he said.

Residents voiced concerns about the possibility of requiring emergency assistance.

One idea was to canvass for a surplus fire engine that would be transported to the island by barge that would pump water out of canal in the case of a fire.

Another concern was losing electrical power and electrical crews not able to cross the bridge to make repairs.

“If we have a bad storm or anything ... with all of the trees down along the road there (that) have not been cleaned out around the wires, if a tree limb breaks off and hits a power line, it goes down and we lose our power and then we can't even run anything,” said Fred Manwaring, who lives with his wife, Mary, a half mile from the bridge.

Nozzolio established task forces with residents and officials to devise strategies to address the short-term needs of the residents.

The All County All-Terrain Vehicles Club will also be assisting residents.

The bridge closed last weekend after portions of the old metal bridge plummeted into the Seneca River, raising questions about the stability of the Bailey bridge, built in 1990 after a snowplow crashed through the original structure. Officials opened the bridge to all-terrain vehicles on Friday, but said it will remain closed to traffic until contractors inspect the remaining structure and determine the necessary steps for it to be stabilized.

The cost of a replacement bridge is estimated at $2 million.

“ (Town of Mentz Supervisor) Jack O'Neil came up to me and asked for $2 million to build a new bridge,” Nozzolio said. “I don't have $2 million to build a new bridge. But I certainly will seek financial support to obtain the resources necessary to develop a long term solution to the issue here on the island.

“But I need your help in focusing on finding a less-cost alternative,” he continued. “I'm not an engineer, but does this span have to be this long and this high? I think that is the cost issue that needs to be focused on and let's see if we can make it a transport to and from this island at a lesser cost, and a new permanent bridge where you can drive fire trucks over, where you can drive a water truck over, where those kinds of issues can be realized.”

On Friday, Nozzolio wrote a letter to the state Department of Transportation Commissioner Astrid Glynn requesting state assistance for the stranded residents of Haiti Island.

And while tensions were running high during the meeting, many residents felt reassured that help was on the way.

“I think that Senator Nozzolio is going to do the best he can,” said Mary Manwaring. “He is really concerned about us people and that's really nice. When you have a senator working for you and he takes the time on a Saturday to come and talk with you, well, that made us feel a bit better.”

Staff writer Alyssa Sunkin can be reached at alyssa.sunkin@lee.net or 253-5311 ext. 239