Editor’s note: The council also voted to award a contract for $132,166.00 for reaccreditation of the city’s levee system to Henningson, Durham & Richardson Architecture and Engineering.
By RICK MILLER
Olean Star
OLEAN — The Olean Common Council voted unanimously Tuesday to support $25 million in RAISE funding for West State Street infrastructure through the United States Department of Transportation.
The Rebuilding America with Sustainability and Equality funding was sought to replace infrastructure beneath West State Street from State Street to St. Bonaventure University that has not been reconstructed since it was built in 1896.
Alderman David Anastasia, D-Ward 7, said he had come to the meeting planning to vote against it based on comments from constituents who didn’t want the city to build any more roundabouts or bump outs. But he said he realized the infrastructure “desperately needs to be replaced” and the city cannot afford to do it. The $25 million grant “is the only reason I’m supporting it.”
Council President John Crawford, D-Ward 5, said West State Street was “the biggest east-west corridor in this county. It’s a concept,” he said of the project which features several more roundabouts. “Nothing is set in stone.”
Alderman Lawrence Bennion Jr., R-Ward 1, insisted that any cutbacks on the project not come from infrastructure.
Mayor William J. Aiello said the new sanitary and storm sewer systems will be “a big help” in the city’s steps toward preventing sewage overflows into the Allegheny River during heavy rain. The mayor said any big changes in the project’s concept could cause the city to lose the grant.
Later in the meeting, two speakers criticized what they see as the lack of urgency on the part of the mayor and aldermen in addressing the infrequent sewage overflows. Glenn Wahl of Little Valley, a member of two environmental groups monitoring the Allegheny River, and a frequent critic of the city’s efforts to stop the sewage overflows, said they have occurred nine times since 2019. “It’s beyond me why you haven’t taken care of it yet,” Wahl said during the public comment part of Tuesday’s council meeting. “You should be concerned. That’s your job.”
Degawenodas, a member of Defend Ohi:yo’ and a frequent critic of the city, said other substances are getting into the river untreated during the overflows. “It doesn’t make sense that nothing is being done. I’m worried about your waste getting into the river,” he said, adding he would support candidates who back an end to the overflows.
Aldermen approved a change to the city code calling for city sales tax projections to be based on a 12-month look-back of actual revenues. The city is projecting a $1 million shortfall in sales tax revenues for the fiscal year ending May 31.
As a more conservative approach, Bennion suggested basing the projection on 90% of the previous 12 months sales tax revenues and the council agreed.
Earlier this month, aldermen approved a resolution to send a letter to the state Department of Transportation complaining of excessive potholes in both the eastbound and westbound lanes of Interstate 86 between Olean and Allegany.
Alderman Vernon Robinson Jr., I-Ward 6, spoke about a letter the council received from the regional Department of Transportation office in Buffalo about plans to address the I-86 potholes.
Regional director of operations John Cogswell wrote that 6.2 miles of the westbound lanes of I-86 between exits 24 and 26 would be milled and resurfaced this summer. The project will cost $1.2 million and will address the westbound lanes only.
Gov. Kathy Hochul recently announced the upcoming I-86 mill and paving project as part of a $100 million initiative to address the impact of extreme weather on the state’s road systems, Cogswell wrote.
In the meantime, DOT crews will continue to fix potholes that have developed mostly in the driving lane both eastbound and westbound between Olean and Allegany.
The council voted 6-1 to oppose rate hikes by the New York State Power Authority and National Grid. Robinson abstained from voting on both hikes.
The NYSPA rate increase for companies receiving low-cost hydropower would go from $12.88 per megawatt hour to $33.05 over four years to pay for upgrades at the Niagara Falls power plant. The monthly cost of electricity would increase $18.92, or 15% under National Grid’s most recent rate hike request to the Public Service Commission.
The council also voted to award a contract for $132,166.00 for reaccreditation of the city’s levee system to Henningson, Durham & Richardson Architecture and Engineering.
