To the voters of Forestport:
My name is Louis Sowich and I am running for Forestport Highway Superintendent. I have lived in Forestport since 1993, and currently live on White Lake Road.
I have been a active volunteer in the Forestport Fire Department since 1994. In the past years I have also volunteered for The Trackside Blazers Snowmobile Club as a groomer operator and work for the Town of Webb as a groomer operator in the winter months.
I currently work for the Arc of Oneida-Lewis as a maintenance mechanic. I have worked for several construction companies in the past. I have done everything from blacktopping roads, parking lots, bridges, setting manholes, grading and leveling, to pouring concrete and finishing it. I have good mechanical skills and can operate most of the equipment the town has. I currently have a class (A) Commercial Drivers License.
If elected, I would like to see the Highway Department become more community friendly. I would like to see the return of green waste pick up of brush and debris removal. Also I would like to have a town where the community can call the Highway Department and request something to be done.
The men are already hired to provide community service and I don’t think that going that extra mile to help the residents of our town is asking too much. If the town is able to provide that service to a resident, I think it would be greatly appreciated. I also plan on working the entire day with the men when time allows me to do so. That is something the current superintendent does not do.
I would also like to see more main roads paved with blacktop instead of oil and stone. Oil and stone works well for roads that are not heavily traveled, but for roads that do get heavier traffic, it doesn’t hold up. The only thing the town would be responsible for, would be to prep the roads.
I’m a firm believer in the saying, “You get what you pay for.” I would like to see our town’s equipment better taken care of, meaning checked daily, like fluids and a general inspection before leaving the garage.
Also washing and waxing when time allows, and a log sheet kept on each vehicles pre-trip inspection thus cutting down on costly repairs. This will ensure longevity of the equipment we have.
I believe our roads should be kept safe to drive on in the winter months. I have viewed the Highway Department’s budget and have concluded that there is an enormous amount of overtime being paid out in the winter months—some of which is justifiable when and only when it’s needed, but not when there is barley a light dusting of snow and everyone is called in (i.e.) on a Saturday morning to work.
A padding of the paycheck at taxpayers’ expense, not to mention the wear and tear on the equipment, which has happened many times when it wasn’t necessary.
There is also a exuberant amount of sand used on the roads which is costly to the taxpayers—look at the roads every spring.
If elected I would also work with the snowmobile clubs to make sure that their efforts and time would not be in vain.
I am also very concerned about some of the other bridges—for example the Horton Road Bridge and the Meekerville Road Bridge, as well as the bridges in the upper district—as to what their ratings are and what can be done to ensure that they will remain safe for our residents. We don’t need another Twin Bridges incident. The current administration ignored the bridges and the people of this community.
I would also like to see more signage throughout our town, and better lighting.
I believe our town needs some much needed change, and with your support on primary day, September 10th, we can make that change happen. I encourage all voters from Woodgate, White Lake, and Otter Lake to come out and make their voices heard by voting.
I’m trying to run a clean campaign without baseless slander and bashing, and believe a candidate should win based on merit and his or her beliefs.
In closing, I would like to say thank you to the people who have encouraged me to seek this position and for those that don’t know me, I look forward to serving you as well.
Louis Sowich, candidate
Town of Forestport
