|
Agreement near for storm cleanup
By John J. Hopkins Times
Debris from the massive October 2006 snowstorm still sits along county roads- some of it strewn about, the rest of it neatly placed alongside the roads- but it may soon be picked up under a pending agreement between the town and Erie County.
The agreement between the town and county calls for the county to provide flagmen and equipment for traffic control, three dump trucks and other "miscellaneous equipment" as determined by the county's deputy commissioner of highways, and up to $49,000 for the rental of a grinder.
In return, Cheektowaga's highway department will provide additional employees to pick up tree limbs and dispose of wood chips.
"Hopefully we can now deal with the county roads in Cheektowaga and pick up the tree limbs," said Supervisor James J. Jankowiak.
Cheektowaga highway crews cleared debris from the sides of town-owned roads for months after the storm, even working after snowfalls. However, county crews stopped picking up debris once the snow began to fly again for the season.
Town sanitation crews are allowed to collect garbage along countyowned roads, but they are not insured if they collect storm debris along county rights-of-ways.
The situation left roadside piles of branches, limbs and tree trunks along county-owned roads such as Como Park Boulevard, Cayuga Creek Road, Cleveland Drive, Maryvale Drive, French Road and others.
Jankowiak said that his office has fielded several calls from residents who live along county roads asking when storm debris would be retrieved.
"There have been so many complaints that the board has decided to give (Highway Superintendent Chris) Kowal the authority to go on county roads and clean them up," Jankowiak said.
Jankowiak said that he, Kowal and fellow town board members met with county officials several times recently to reach the agreement.
"I thought I was working again for Dennis Gorski; I spent more time downtown in the last month," Jankowiak quipped, alluding to the former county executive. "We're finally close to an agreement."
According to Jankowiak, Kowal plans to provide 20 trucks to assist with the cleanup. Jankowiak also stressed to residents that the upcoming work represents the final opportunity for storm debris cleanup along county roads.
"I want to be very clear that the two weeks we designate to clean county roads, when those two weeks are over, that's it," Jankowiak stated. "We have to get into paving and we have to get into ditch work. We're already falling behind."
Jankowiak said an announcement about the actual cleanup dates is forthcoming.
The agreement still has to be ap- proved by attorneys representing the town and county and requires approval from the Erie County Legislature.
"This is a one-time process," Jankowiak said. "The next snowstorm (the roads) are still the county's responsibility."
Councilmember Thomas M. Johnson suggested that the town and New York State Department of Transportation reach a similar deal.
Jankowiak replied that he will bring up the issue with Assemblyman Dennis H. Gabryszak.
| 
