Letters Sent to Elk Creek Property Owners Seeking Access to Remove Debris
Letters Sent to Elk Creek Property Owners Seeking Access to Remove Debris
Ellicottville Mayor John Burrell pressed Village and Town Engineer Ben Slotman and other Village staff to dredge Elk Creek in 2022, repeating his earlier appeals to prevent future flooding and bank destabilization, during the June 21st Village Board meeting.
"The homeowners want us to do that and if we don't do that they will leave," said Burrell, noting that the Village has maintained the creek in this way for many years, but now the stormwater volume has increased, caused by the past 50 years' development in the upstream townships.
Slotman pointed out permission will also be needed from all adjoining owners on both sides of the creek to enter it and do the dredging work. The Village has obtained the necessary permit to work from the street to the creek, he added.
Burell suggested seeking access to the creek through property owner Kody Sprague or through another property owner at the corner of Mechanic and Elizabeth Streets as the beginning step to enlarging the water channel in Elk Creek. Those property lines extend from the street through the full width of the creek, he said.
After a lengthy discussion, it was decided that a letter seeking permission for crews to access Elk Creek will soon be sent to property owners of the creek bed. It was noted that in a past creek cleanup along Parkside Drive and Elizabeth Street, it took months to get some property owners' consent. Also, those agreements do not extend to the next project. He said he is certain at least 10 property owners will sign an access agreement. Others who won't sign can be "worked around." Burrell then offered to remove on his own the gravel deposits from the edge of his property into his property line in the center of the creek.
The Mayor noted Village crews continue to pick up yard debris weekly, whenever it has been left at the curb. He asked the Village Board to think about taking action to reduce the cost, the workload and the clutter with a six-month permit system for brush pickup at the curb.
"We can't continue all year long to pick up yard debris," Burrell said, suggesting 52 weeks of debris pickup is "too much to ask of the Village".
He proposed issuing permits June through October, perhaps with a fee. He reminded the Board that the Village already has a similar system to reduce taxpayer expenses by sending homeowners a bill if crews have to mow grass that has grown too tall.
In another matter, Cattaraugus County has completed the $365,000 purchase and transfer to the Village of a 1.55-acre vacant lot at 23 Mill Street. Plans are to convert the landlocked parcel into a parking lot that can hold 121 visitor autos, with the entire project estimated to cost about $1 million.
Village Trustee Caitlin Croft commented that she learned in a recent conversation with Kate O'Stricker, the Cattaraugus County Development Specialist, the County could sponsor a grant request for transportation needs based on the County's participation in obtaining the property. Funds could pay for paving and would enhance community services.
Other updates: The Skatepark project is slowly moving forward toward an October completion date, Slotman reported. Revisions are underway in Grindline's construction documents, and a 5:00pm July 8th groundbreaking is planned at the site, located in the Village Park.
Interim Planner Greg Keyser reported that his first meeting with the Village Planning Board on June14th went well. The Board next meets in a 4:30pm.work session July 5th and a 5:30pm meeting July 12th. The meetings are also attended by Keith Ewald, a Community Planning Consultant from Barton & Loguidice. Ewald has been hired to assist the Planning Department for 16 hours a week for 6 months while Keyser is in training.
The Mayor also announced Jim Kellerman has accepted the Village's offer of employment beginning Monday, June 27th, to fill a vacancy due to the retirement of Norm Forrest. Burrell noted Forrest's final work day is July 27th but will use up the next month in accrued vacation time. Forrest worked for the Village for 25 years.
Burrell said four candidates were interviewed for the new position and after Monday, June 27th, the Village will again be at full employment.
Burrell said he expects to see the completion of a draft of a local wellhead protection plan in December. The effort is part of the Village's participation in the Drinking Water Source Protection Program (DWSP2). Local stakeholders have been meeting regularly since September to identify risks to drinking water quality and devise ways to protect it.
The Ellicottville Village Board will next meet on Tuesday, July 19, 2022 at 6:00pm both in a Zoom connection (see the Village's section of ellicottvillegov.com) and in person in the Town Hall Conference Room at the corner of Jefferson and Washington Streets in the Village.