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Porter to consider local law on industrial lagoons

by jmaloni
Sat, Jan 18th 2014 07:00 am

by Terry Duffy

Monday's Town of Porter Board session was very ordinary - save for an abrupt break for an executive session to iron out board differences over a summer part-time salary schedule from the board's reorganization meeting earlier this month.

When settled, the approved new part-time salaries were as follows: summer help, highway, part-time, $9.50 per hour, with new employees at $8.75 per hour; and summer help, recreation, part-time, also $9.50 per hour, with new employees at $8.75 per hour

One newsmaker was the Town Board's setting of a public hearing for 7 p.m. Monday, Feb. 10, to discuss a proposed local law covering industrial lagoons in Porter. Though scant on details the proposed measure is seen as the town's response to a relatively new issue for the area, that of permitting storage lagoons on private properties for commercial activity.

Late last fall, Town of Lewiston residents learned of a plan said to be under consideration by the Lewiston Planning Board, for a storage lagoon intended to hold equate or processed fertilizer from items such as animal and human wastes, eyed for a private property on Porter Center Road. A proposal for such a facility in the town by Quasar Energy of Ohio saw favorable response earlier by the Niagara County Planning Board. But the proposal has yet see any discussion at all in Lewiston, save for heated opposition by neighboring residents during public comments at a Town Board session last fall. The lagoon issue was expected to be a discussion item at recent Lewiston planning sessions in November, December and January, but has yet to surface.

Porter officials at Town Hall were mum this week on the proposed local law, other than to say it was intended "to prevent it." The Sentinel was awaiting an explanation by Town Attorney Mike Dowd as this issue went to press.

In other news from the session:

•The board gave approval to the town highway superintendent to proceed with emergency repairs to a manhole at the Swain Road pump station. Scott Hillman advised the board the main hole had partially collapsed and he needs to secure Yarussi Construction for emergency repairs. At the session, Hillman offered what he called "preliminary costs" in the $40,000 to $60,000 range for repair to the Swain Road pump station from the manhole collapse. He said it was the third such occurrence.

Hillman also gained board approval for the purchase of a new High Flow 72-inch snow blower attachment for use on a town front loader. Its use would be for town pathways including the River Road path in Youngstown and on areas of Curtiss Avenue and New Road in Ransomville. Price of the new equipment was $5,995 from Attachments Direct of Minnesota, with delivery expected in coming weeks.

•Town Engineer Dave Brittan of CRA Infrastructure/Engineers told that board that background work for the Harrison Lane private road repair was proceeding. Included was survey work, plus costs and the impact to affect property owners. More is expected on the project in coming months.

•The board set tentative authorizations for attendance of town officials at the Association of Towns Convention in New York City, on Feb. 16-19. Names and delegates to be announced.

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