To the Editor:
The Forestport twin bridges are in and looking good!
I hope someone wrote a than you note to the Bell Construction Co. that built the bridges. They had terrible weather to work in and much controversy (most embarrassing.)
They brought the bridges in on time and at the cost agreed on.
Thank you for a job well done.
Sincerely,
Joan Seager, Woodgate
An Open Letter to the voters of Forestport:
The Republican primary on September 10th is fast approaching and I want to be honest about the direction that I would like the town to move in.
If you don’t agree, you will not vote for me and that is okay because you will be making an informed decision.
I would like to promote commerce for the village of Forestport by putting signs on 28 above and below the village directing traffic to the scenic falls, village business district and twin bridges.
We must advance action against abandoned buildings. We need to repair the Horton Bridge.
To the Editor:
In recent weeks, there have been several fine letters regarding boating and navigation on the Fulton Chain of Lakes. I would now add additional observations and concerns in the same area. hey relate to safety and the illegal operation of boats.
SAFETY: At night, pontoon boats are operating with two white headlights. ot only is it illegal to do so, but it creates a safety hazard for all other boats. White lights destroy night vision for others as well as your own.
The legal lighting is red on port side and green on starboard, with a regulation white light at the stern. Properly lit boats mean that all on the water know what direction and speed other boats are traveling.
Secondly, there are boats operating without any lights at night! nough said about that.
Third, there are jet skis operating before 9 a.m. and after 6 p.m. There is an observable lack of courtesy being displayed by hi-speed jet skis, loud boats, vessels inside the 200’ shoreline restriction and running at speed too close to slower vessels, such as canoes, kayaks and sailboats.
Having spent many years on the waters of lakes and oceans, I know how important constant vigilance, knowing the rules, and safe operation are for the benefit of all.
If any boater chooses not to operate their vessel with concern for others, please stay on land.
Perhaps a continuing public education effort, plus more enforcement of existing laws would help all of us to enjoy our wondrous environment.
Rev. Dr. Carrol A. and Joyce E. Turner, Fourth Lake
To the residents of the Town of Webb:
I would like to respond to some of the repetitive negativity that has been written in the paper about how much the Town Board neglected safety in the planning of the TOBIE Trail.
I’ve been on the Town Board the longest of the present board. I started when Phase One was already moving along. When Phase Two was presented, I was very involved. I was very supportive of this next phase for many reasons, one being the Eagle Bay property would be good looking with a welcome center, restrooms, and green space.
The second part [of Phase Two] is creating a safe walking space along Route 28 through Thendara and maintaining the snowmobile trail.
This means safe walking separate from the snowmobile trails, which is much safer than we have now.
Mr. Bird stated that the Trail was planned to go to the back roads of Thendara. That was the proposed plan, but complications made the route not an option.
There are many details why this didn’t happen. I don’t want to take the time to explain all those at this point, as they were addressed publicly throughout the project.
I believe the trail will be an asset to our community. And to sum that up I’d like to say, whatever community project that this board addresses, safety is always a priority.
Thank you,
Mike Ross, Councilman
Town of Webb
To the Editor:
Now that the primary races in the Town of Forestport have become heated, we as employees of the Highway Depart-ment would like to endorse Bill Gardner.
Since being elected, Bill has served the town with honesty and leadership.
He has always helped the fire departments, churches, little league programs and the snowmobile club. He is very dedicated to his job.
He also has a very good maintenance and operation program. If we need another hand, Bill is always ready to jump in.
Lots of times in the winter you will see him alone in one of the trucks to makse sure everything is done.
Plowing and sanding the seventy miles of town roads or conforming with the mandates of the county plowing contracts and Department of Transportation regulations takes Bill’s experience, while still treating all of us equally.
Bill Gardner has been endorsed by the Republican, Conservative and Indepen-dent parties.
Please make a special effort to re-elect Bill Gardner on primary day, September 10th.
Sincerely,
All the employees of the Town of Forestport Highway Department: John Fallon, Shane Mooney, Richard Pfendler, Benjamin Seelman, Carl Winters, Richard Winters
To the Editor:
Last week’s letter by Sue Kiesel was right on! Yes, there is a noise ordinance for boats. Section 44 of the NY State Navigation Law states, quite clearly, that the noise limit for stationary boats is 90 dB(A) and for boats in motion is 75 dB(A).
For the Fulton Chain, somehow that was changed to 82-86 dB—somewhere between a food blender and a garbage disposal for a noise reference—which is significantly higher than the State law.
Even so, there would seem to be several boats within range of our camp that must violate this limit.
One in particular, that goes up and down Fourth Lake once a day, prevents any conversation on my porch when he is within a mile of my dock. But he is still on the lake after several years.
Speaking of violations, what about enforcement of the 5 mph speed limit within 200 feet of any dock. Ever see anyone stopped for that? Does some swimmer need to be hit before action is taken??
Letter to Editor:
This is in response to a letter that appeared in last week’s paper.
The bridges’ contract was awarded to Bell Construction of Poland, NY on April 1, 2013. Here is a quote from those minutes: “By keeping the asphalt top course thickness at 2” adds $1,700 to the contract sum of $556,324. The new contract sum including this amended Change Order is $558,024.”
There was one change order during construction for a retaining wall of about $10,000 so the final bridges’ cost was $568,024.