I invite the community to stop at the village clerk’s office to meet our new deputy clerk, Megan Aldrich. She has been on the job since Sept. 4. You will find her very congenial, eager and capable. Her background is in the hospitality field, with experience in public relations, payroll and management.
Because of our emergency water situation in March, the village board has been looking for a better way to notify the public in the event of a future emergency. That search has resulted in a decision to go with the NY-Alert system. Emergencies (street closures, flooding, water alerts, warnings and more) will be posted to the system for subscribers to view. The key to the success of the system is for the public to sign up for the free notifications. You can have the alerts delivered by any number of gateways: cell phones/smart phones, computer, landline, phone, GPS, Fax, the NY-Alert website, etc.. You can register now by going to the website www.nyalert.gov or by calling 1-888-697-6972. The village will be sending out additional information over the next month or so. This is an important program, so I encourage everyone to register.
A project that is currently underway focuses on what used to be Instructor Park. During the board’s June meeting, the park was renamed Pioneer Park to honor our early settlers. It was the site of our earliest community cemetery. Besides the renaming of the park, the village is also planning improvements over the next couple years. The cornerstone of the project will be a monument acknowledging the park as the first village cemetery and as the site of interred remains still. The Dansville Area Historical Society is the lead agency for raising funds for this aspect of the project. I strongly urge you to make a donation to this worthy cause. Checks can be sent to the DAHS at P.O. Box 481, Dansville, NY 14437. Please indicate on the check the intended purpose.
Elsewhere, the Main Street Improvement Project is coming to a close. I congratulate the property and business owners for their efforts. We also are seeing new businesses opening in those building and elsewhere. I welcome all and encourage others to give our community a chance. I believe there are great things in store for Dansville in the coming years.
Grants have been in the forefront of what’s happening and the board continues to look for more. We have applied for a low-moderate income housing rehabilitation grant, and we are submitting an application for the Safe Routes to School Program, a federal award program that encourages walking and bicycling for K-8 students through construction projects (sidewalks and bike routes, for examples), signage and education.
I invite the community to stop at the village clerk’s office to meet our new deputy clerk, Megan Aldrich. She has been on the job since Sept. 4. You will find her very congenial, eager and capable. Her background is in the hospitality field, with experience in public relations, payroll and management.
Because of our emergency water situation in March, the village board has been looking for a better way to notify the public in the event of a future emergency. That search has resulted in a decision to go with the NY-Alert system. Emergencies (street closures, flooding, water alerts, warnings and more) will be posted to the system for subscribers to view. The key to the success of the system is for the public to sign up for the free notifications. You can have the alerts delivered by any number of gateways: cell phones/smart phones, computer, landline, phone, GPS, Fax, the NY-Alert website, etc.. You can register now by going to the website www.nyalert.gov or by calling 1-888-697-6972. The village will be sending out additional information over the next month or so. This is an important program, so I encourage everyone to register.
A project that is currently underway focuses on what used to be Instructor Park. During the board’s June meeting, the park was renamed Pioneer Park to honor our early settlers. It was the site of our earliest community cemetery. Besides the renaming of the park, the village is also planning improvements over the next couple years. The cornerstone of the project will be a monument acknowledging the park as the first village cemetery and as the site of interred remains still. The Dansville Area Historical Society is the lead agency for raising funds for this aspect of the project. I strongly urge you to make a donation to this worthy cause. Checks can be sent to the DAHS at P.O. Box 481, Dansville, NY 14437. Please indicate on the check the intended purpose.
Elsewhere, the Main Street Improvement Project is coming to a close. I congratulate the property and business owners for their efforts. We also are seeing new businesses opening in those building and elsewhere. I welcome all and encourage others to give our community a chance. I believe there are great things in store for Dansville in the coming years.
Grants have been in the forefront of what’s happening and the board continues to look for more. We have applied for a low-moderate income housing rehabilitation grant, and we are submitting an application for the Safe Routes to School Program, a federal award program that encourages walking and bicycling for K-8 students through construction projects (sidewalks and bike routes, for examples), signage and education.
Our public works department has been very busy. The crew is installing the new drive-by water meters, completed a major drainage project on upper William Street and is rebuilding Red Jacket Street. The in-house work has reduced the cost considerably. At the same time, we will soon begin developing a five-year public works strategic plan. That will require us to actually develop a project list. In fact, we just spoke with our grant writer about funding for a major street project we hope to do in 2014. Also, next time you’re at Babcock Park you’ll notice a new parking area near the lighted softball field. I extend a well done to the DPW for all of the work.
Less visible projects shouldn’t be forgotten either. The Dam Emergency Action Program, Maintenance & Inspection Plan, and Engineering Assessment have been completed. The wastewater treatment plant project is plugging along. We are waiting for the design plans and financing to be approved so we can go out to bid. Several other related issues are progressing as well. Our overextended bond anticipation note issue has been resolved, thanks in large measure to Sen. Catharine Young and Assemblyman Dan Burling. We also have been working with the state’s Environmental Facilities Corporation to get the best possible loan rate (2.5 percent). Our position has improved over the past year, and we are hoping we can put the village in position for a hardship loan of zero percent.
I wish to take this time to thank Randy Forbes, the waste water treatment plant’s chief operator, and Doug Covell for the tremendous efforts they have made in keeping that facility operating to state standards. Likewise, the entire workforce has been making great strides, often under trying circumstances. Kudos to Water and Sewer Clerk Karen Schleyer in lending Clerk Kerry Ann Wood a hand while that office was short a body. The police department is also short, with the officers stepping up to cover the gaps. Code Enforcement Officer Tammy Malone has her hands full on the permit and inspection side of things.
Until next time, God bless and think about what you can do to make Dansville a better place to live, work and play.
