by Kieron Kramer
Four resolutions relating to the project for the replacement of the bridge on County Road 38, Elm Street in Berlin, over the Little Hoosic River were passed unanimously at the regular meeting of the Rensselaer County Legislature on Tuesday. The bridge replacement is eligible for funding that calls for the apportionment of the costs to be borne at the ratio of eighty percent in Federal funds and twenty percent in non-Federal funds, in this case State funds. The appropriation for this project was authorized by the Legislature in 2011. Three of the resolutions Tuesday authorized payment for the work on the project, and one resolution authorized the arrangement for reimbursement to the County by the Town of Berlin for the substitution of a 10 inch water main across the bridge to replace the 6 inch main. Construction is expected to begin this June.
[private]The first of the resolutions passed on Tuesday reaffirmed approval of the Project, initially approved in 2011 and most recently amended by Resolution in October 2013. It also authorized the expenditure of $4,300 more for the design phase of the project and $3,700 more to cover the cost of the right-of-way phase of the Project bringing the total sum of the design and right-of-way phases to $268,400. An additional sum of $200,606 was made available in this resolution to cover the cost of participation in the construction support and construction inspection phase of the Project. And, an additional sum of $940,000 was made available to cover the cost of participation in the construction phase of the Project, bringing the total made available to cover the costs of all phases of the Project to $1,148,606 – for the wee bridge crossing the Little Hoosic River at Elm Street in Berlin. The federal and State governments pay it all.
The second resolution codified the agreement and amount to be paid to Creighton Manning Engineering, LLP, of Albany for the design and right-of-way phases of the project. The design is, by and large, complete and the County has received bids for the construction phase of the project. The bids for the bridge replacement were received on February 21. The third resolution reaffirmed the sum of $940,000 to cover the cost of participation in the construction phase of the Project and awarded the contract for the construction phase. Wm. J. Keller & Sons Construction Corp. of Castleton was awarded the contract; their bid was $832,248.90, considerably below the appropriated amount, but, as the resolution states, “The County Engineer is authorized to approve change orders to the above contract, providing the dollar total does not exceed 20% of the original contract.”
The final resolution relating to the replacement of the Elm Street Bridge authorized an intermunicipal agreement between the Town of Berlin and Rensselaer County in which Berlin will reimburse the County for the expense of replacing the six inch water main carried over the river by the bridge with a 10 inch main. The resolution says, “The existing bridge supports a six inch waterline that is owned by the Town of Berlin, which waterline expands to ten inches in diameter beyond the limits of the bridge…The Town of Berlin desires to place a ten inch waterline across the replacement bridge… [the] Replacement of the existing six inch waterline with a ten inch waterline is considered a betterment and, as such, is not eligible for Federal funding.”
Addendum number one of the bid request, issued on February 7, instructed the bidders to provide a cost for the betterment in addition to their base bid for the six inch waterline. The cost of the betterment, as submitted by the low bidder, is $19,743. The resolution authorized the County of Rensselaer to pay in the first instance one hundred percent of the Federal and non-Federal share of the cost of the waterline betterment and be reimbursed by Berlin for the betterment of the waterline in the amount of $19,743. At its March meeting the Berlin Town Board passed a resolution authorizing the intermunicipal agreement with the County.
One Mechanic Street
At its regular meeting on March 11, the Rensselaer County Legislature passed a resolution that authorized a purchase offer and an eminent domain proceeding to resolve the boundary line that separates the two parcels that made up the WCW compound at One Mechanic Street in Hoosick Falls. One parcel, on which the Oak Mitsui Company has rented the building and wishes to buy, has no tax lien. The other, where WCW manufactured its mattresses, has been taken over by the County in lieu of an in rem tax foreclosure. The March resolution refered to a third parcel made up of the boundary line that separates these two parcels. The County obtained an appraisal of that third parcel stating its value to be $90,000 which the County will pay the present owner, Four J’s One Mechanic Street, LLC, through a purchase agreement or through an eminent domain proceeding.
Apparently, Danskin Land Surveying, LLC, of Troy was contracted to perform the professional surveying work necessary to acquire the land. On Tuesday the Legislature amended the agreement with Danskin Land Surveying, LLC, to raise the ceiling amount of the agreement to $6,500 “due to the performance of additional work at the site and the expected support and testimony that will be part of the related acquisition.”
County Dairy Princess Lindsey McMahon Named First Alternate For NYS
On Tuesday the Legislature acknowledged, “with profound respect and admiration,” Lindsey McMahon for being recently named the First Alternate 2014-2015 New York State Dairy Princess. The resolution says, “Lindsey competed in the State pageant which included creating a scrapbook documenting events she has participated in, a personal interview, an impromptu and prepared speech, a product knowledge test, a writing skills test and informal interaction with others; and…The New York State Dairy Princess is evaluated by judges, on their communication skills, knowledge of the dairy industry, poise and personality…This Legislative Body shall inscribe upon its records this tribute to Lindsey McMahon, so that future generations may know and appreciate her admirable character, her many achievements and the respect and esteem in which she is held.”
Lindsey McMahon is the daughter of Dan and Mollie McMahon of Hooskip Holstein Farm in Petersburgh. She is a junior at Hoosick Falls Central School where she plays clarinet in the band, plays field hockey, writes for the school newspaper and was recently named one of the top ten students in the junior class for the first quarter. She has been an active 4-H member for 12 years. She also volunteers at Southwestern Vermont Medical Center.
Last June McMahon graced the Chamber of the Rensselaer County Legislature during the presentation period before the regular meeting to be presented with the resolution honoring her for her appointment as Rensselaer County Dairy Princess in April.
Tuesday’s resolution concluded, “This Legislative Body pauses in its deliberations and most joyously commends Lindsey McMahon for her outstanding achievement” which symbolizes our shared commitment to the ideals of community, volunteer and public service which are part of our American Heritage. A copy of this resolution, suitably engrossed, will be presented to First Alternate 2014-2015 New York State Dairy Princess Lindsey McMahon.
Patriot Flight
After the meeting District 5 Legislator Stan Brownell, who represents the towns of Stephentown, Berlin, Petersburgh, Grafton, Hoosick and the Village of Hoosick Falls, said that two EMTs from Grafton, Tyler and Donna Baldwin, will accompany the veterans on the Patriot Flight scheduled for departure from the Albany Airport on May 10 at 9 am. There are several veterans from Rensselaer County on the flight. EMTs are needed to accompany the veterans on these flights. However, the EMTs have to pay their own way. Brownell said that the cost is $350 each and that the Grafton VFW was covering $200 of the costs. Legislators Brownell and, the other District 5 Legislator, Lester Goodermote will donate $500 of their discretionary allotment from the Legislature to cover the rest of the expense.[/private]