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Town of Niagara Board provides updates on landfill, park upgrades

Fri, Mar 18th 2016 06:40 pm

By Lauren Zaepfel

Tribune Editor

A resident at Tuesday's Town of Niagara board meeting expressed concerns about a strong smell coming from the Republic Services - Allied Waste Industries of Niagara Falls landfill.

"We are aware and there has been a ... solution, a finding of what was causing the odor at Republic and it is being addressed by the DEC, the EPA, the town and Republic itself," Town of Niagara Supervisor Lee S. Wallace said.

He said an excess amount of gas was emitted and "there is a plan we put in place to rectify the situation."

An outside contractor has been hired to install solar flares that will run during the night, as well as carbon drums around the vent pipes in an effort to dissipate the odor caused by sulfur emitted into the air.

"I've noticed it (the odor) hasn't been quite as bad lately," Wallace said.

He added it may take time to pinpoint the areas that need to be addressed to reduce the smell completely.

"But the process has been put in place. I met with (David) Grenier, who runs the facility, and he is as concerned as we are. And they, and us, and the DEC (are) in the process of trying to rectify the problem," Wallace said.

Items approved for Veterans Memorial Community Park

The board approved a contract with Miracle Recreation and Vortex for the purchase and installation of a splash park in Veterans Memorial Community Park at a total cost not to exceed $350,000.

"This is the final step. This has been going on for about a year," Wallace said. "This was paid for through the Greenway money and it doesn't cost the residents of the town one cent. So it's going to be a fantastic addition to the park and to our community and residents."

Wallace also said, if everything goes according to plan, the town could have the splash park open in July.

The board also approved a payment of $24,792 to Industrial Power & Lighting Corporation for changes and modifications needed for an electric project at Veterans Memorial Community Park. The project includes installation of electricity to provide power for various offerings within the park, including the town's summer concerts, veterans memorial and splash park.

"Those of you who've lived here your whole life, if you've ever built a house in the Town of Niagara, or anywhere in the surrounding area, you know what lies below the earth: rock. So when we started this electric project, we ended up running into some significant (movements) of rock that had to be lifted, and we had to go around some of these. And so this is the cost," Wallace said.

In other news

•The board approved the final site plan of a 9,100-square-foot Dollar General store location at 4835 Military Road, as requested by Lowell Dewey of C&S Engineers Inc.

•Peter B. Ames was appointed Town of Niagara historian at an annual contract of $4,800/year. Ames was recommended by former Town Historian Dorothy Rolling, who provided more than 30 years of service before retiring from the position.

Wallace said Ames has a "strong knowledge of what goes on in this town. He (has ties with) Oakwood Cemetery and is very knowledgeable and we're happy to have him."

•Wallace said he will be looking into an alternative garbage receptacle option after a resident addressed the board about issues with the totes provided by the town.

The current totes were described as small and insufficient, making it difficult for residents to fit their garbage in them, even when they try to be conscientious of how much they dispose.

"It's kind of funny - (people) made fun of the City of Niagara Falls for buying the big (totes), but in reality, what can you really put in that little, tiny tote? Not much," Wallace said.

Also, the totes tend to blow away easily in windy conditions.

"I think it's something we need to look into. I'm sure that it's not cheap to change, so we'll look around for possible grants and things of that nature," Wallace said.

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