By RICK MILLER
Olean Star
Olean aldermen expressed concern Tuesday over the timeline for reaccrediting the city’s levee protection system.
The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has issued draft flood maps that add more than 2,900 homes and businesses in the city. Buildings in a flood zone with mortgages would need to purchase flood insurance.
Alderman Lawrence Bennion Jr., R-Ward 1, chairman of the City Operations Committee, told Mayor Amy Sherburne the draft flood maps “show a big chunk of the city in the flood zone.
Public Works Director James Sprague noted the FEMA maps were draft maps “are currently only proposed” and have not been approved. The maps are scheduled to be approved in 2028.
Council President Vernon Robinson Jr., D-Ward 6, said he was concerned over FEMA funding being suspended and the levee reaccreditation on hold. “If the needs assessment comes back that there is needed work, where does the funding come from?” he asked.
The council president added that if the study is not updated and much of the city ends up in the flood plain “we are going to have an issue.”
Sherburne said the process appears to be slow moving and she plans to ask Rep. Nick Langworthy what steps the city can take to move things along. “We’ll make sure we update it as soon as we are sure.” She said she hopes to be able to update the council on the issue next month.
Last year the Common Council contracted with Henningson, Durham and Richardson, a global engineering company headquartered in Omaha, Neb., for $132,155 for professional services needed to get the levee system reaccredited.
Portville and Allegany are also in the process of reaccrediting their levee systems.
Aldermen also revisited a proposal to plow snow from downtown sidewalks, proposed late last year by Alderman Sonya McCall, D-Ward 4. She urged Sprague to look at other local municipalities that plow sidewalks like Franklinville.
Sprague, who was asked to present a proposal to address the issue Tuesday, estimated equipment and additional manpower costs of $300,000 to clear snow from sidewalks on North Union Street and East and West State streets.
He said the two new Public Works employees that would be needed to operate the snow clearing equipment could be put to work in the Streets and Parks divisions in the spring, summer and fall.
“This is winter in Western New York,” said Alderman David Anastasia, D-Ward 7. “It snows. Everybody in my neighborhood shovels their own sidewalks.”
Alderman John Crawford, D-Ward 5, suggested the city look at enforcing downtown snow clearing requirements. In the business district, some sidewalks are kept shoveled “and some are really bad” after a snowfall. He indicated he was looking for a less expensive recommendation when the council addresses the issue again in April.
Bennion said he was also concerned over the city’s liability in expanding sidewalk snow removal to the business district.
Aldermen also discussed recouping the cost of accepting credit and debit cards for city services including sewer and water bills.
Last year the city paid $75,000 in credit card costs for 26,000 transactions,almost $3 per transaction. Nearly half of the payments are made by credit card. The rest are paid in cash and by check.
Sherburne said her office would take a look at the transactions and present options to the council next month.
