By RICK MILLER
Olean Star
OLEAN — The city of Olean’s efforts to undertake a study to help prevent sewage overflows into the Allegheny River were dealt a temporary setback when no company replied to the city’s request for proposals.
City Water Department Director Brad Camp told members of the Common Council Tuesday one company had expected to submit a proposal, but was unable to comply in time due to a manpower issue with a subcontractor.
Illegal hookups of roof drains into the sanitary sewer system are largely believed to be the cause of much of the sewage overflows. Another cause is old sewer pipes. The city is paying to reline some of these pipes every year.
The city also added pumps at the South Fourth Street pump station to help handle the extra water in times of heavy rain.
The study was agreed to by the Common Council as a way of keeping stormwater out of sanitary sewers which has led to several sewage overflows into the river despite a longstanding state Department of Environmental Conservation consent order to eliminate the discharges.
The Seneca Nation in July filed a notice of claim with the city that it is considering a lawsuit if steps are not taken to end the sewage discharges.
In mid-June, heavy rains resulted in 200,000 gallons of sewage overflowing into the river from the South Fourth Street pump station and 20,000 gallons from the Martha Avenue lift station. Another 50,000 gallons from the Adams Street pump station overflowed into Olean Creek which flows into the river.
Aldermen agreed to bring the stormwater study request for proposals back to the Common Council in two weeks.
During Tuesday’s Public Safety Committee meeting, aldermen listened as Camp described steps needed to recertify the levy system protecting the city from flooding from the river and Olean Creek.
The towns of Olean and Allegany also benefit from the levy system, Camp said. No provisions have been made to include them in the recertification. Without recertification, city residents might be forced to purchase flood insurance, he explained.
“There’s no reason Olean should foot the bill for all of it,” said Mayor Bill Aiello. At the same time, he added: “We have to protect the city of Olean.”
Aiello said he would seek to meet with the other municipalities in the coming weeks to discuss the matter and bring it back to the committee.
There was also discussion on concerns over the Queen Street underpass that the Western New York and Pennsylvania Railroad has reconstructed into a tunnel.
Some aldermen feel the design of the tunnel needs lighting and a railing to keep someone from falling .
Aiello said he would seek to meet with railroad officials later this month to discuss the concerns.
The former underpass was found to be in need of extensive work, so the railroad proposed to close it to vehicular traffic and make it a tunnel area residents could walk through.
With reports of another truck hitting the Front Street railroad bridge two blocks away, Public Safety Committee Vernon Robinson Jr., I-Ward 6, suggested more and better signage to warn truck drivers. He also questioned how many more hits the bridge could take.
Public Works Director Benjamin Sliotman said the signage is adequate. The bridge has been struck six times in the past two years including four times this year.
There was some discussion about adding flashing lights to the warning signs on First Street.
Aiello disagreed, saying, “I think we have adequate signage.”
Common Council President John Crawford, D-Ward 5, noted Front Street is not a truck route and suggested the mayor ask the railroad if they have a timeline for raising the bridge as they had indicated they would do.
Ward 1 Alderman Lawrence Bennion Jr., suggested the bridge be measured. Signs indicate there is a 10-foot, 10-inch clearance under the bridge.
