Council hears complaints on sewage overflows, park noise complaints

By RICK MILLER

Olean Star

OLEAN — Two long-standing issues — sewage overflows into the Allegheny River and noise complaints at Franchot Park — were raised again during public comment sat the Olean Common Council Tuesday.

The good news is that both appear to be on the way to being addressed.

Environmentalist Glenn Wahl of Little Valley, a member of Defend Ohi:yo’ who regularly speaks at council meetings, complimented city officials for making progress on the sewage overflow issue.

The city has found only 6% of 200 catch basins empty into sanitary sewers, he noted. This narrows the cause of the problem of the flow of untreated sewage into the river in times of heavy rains to roof drains connected to sanitary sewers and pump capacity at lift stations.

Wahl asked Mayor Bill Aiello to post progress on the problem on the city’s website. “The best way to reduce the protests is to address the problem.”

City officials have also met with Seneca Nation officials regarding the overflows and are coordinating efforts for state and federal grants to remedy the situation sooner rather than later.

A woman who said she was an environmental engineer, said the fastest way to stop raw sewage from going into the river was to stop the bypass and let the sewage back up — possibly into residents’ homes. Then the problem would be resolved faster.

Olean resident Kevin Bartholemew suggested the city get a large storage tank to hold the sewage overflow.

There have been 46 recorded overflow events since 2007 involving millions of gallons of untreated sewage including 460,000 gallons between April and June 2024.

On Thursday, the mayor told the Olean Star that recent dye testing by the city and other information shows only 14 of 200 catch basins need to be unhooked from sanitary sewers.

The city has budgeted $250,000 annually to address water infiltration into sewage pipes, another route for stormwater to get into the sanitary sewer pipes.

The big unknown in the equation is how many roof drains — drain into the city’s sanitary sewers instead of storm sewers?

“We’re not sure how many roof drains are connected to the sewers,” Aiello said. “Some that go into the ground go into a dry well. We’re getting some advice on how many roof drains are connected to the sewers.”

He said he wants the public to be updated on information related to the city’s efforts to stem the overflows. One way to resolve the issue of illegal drain hookups might be to inspect them as part of a home inspection when a property is sold.

On the Franchot Park noise complaints, two area residents said they were very upset over the use of large bluetooth speakers by people in the park that play loud music and often include vulgar and profane language.

One man said even Central Park in New York City has a noise ordinance. The same could be done for city parks including Franchot, her added.

A woman whose family has lived near Franchot Park for four generations, said the loud music that include racial slurs and violent lyrics can be heard at all times at her home with children that are 2 and 4. Families who bring their children to the wading pool face the same problem, she said.

The woman called on Alderwoman Jennifer Forney of Ward 3 to hep resolve the problem which is driving families away and terrorizing the neighborhood. All it will take is one meeting, one vote and one signature, she said.

The simple way to resolve the problem is to ban amplified music without a permit, she said.

Aiello said on Thursday that he plans to meet soon with Forney to talk about how to resolve the issue.

In the meantime, Aiello said that if people experience what they consider to be excessive noise in any of the parks, “they can call the police and it will be investigated.”

Earlier in Tuesday’s meeting, the council:

Voted to create a capital fund for bed tax revenues.
Agreed to be lead agency in the retating airport beacon replacement, the precision approach path indicator and runway end identification lights projects.

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