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Saturday,ÊD ecemberÊ24,Ê2016
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www.SunCommunityNews.com
In SPORTS | pg. 18
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Orange travel to Schroon
In opinion | pg. 6
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In INDIAN LAKE | pg. 10
Common sense IGA to be given compromise to fire department
Lady Orange, Wildcats square off
Our editorial on Boreas Pond issue
Building gifted to commissioners
Minerva to get temporary bridges Long detours during replacement process would have negatively impacted businesses, residents, says town supervisor By Pete DeMola
pete@suncommunitynews.com
MINERVA — County lawmakers authorized the construction of a pair of temporary bridges spanning Trout Brook Road in Minerva on Monday. Two structures have been flagged for replacement next year as part of the county’s comprehensive bridge inventory. Lawmakers had an option of choosing
between detours or temporary, cantilevered structures. “To add a temporary bridge to each site would be between $150,000 and $200,000 at each site for a total of $400,000,” said Essex County Deputy Highway Superintendent Jim Dougan. Labor costs are estimated to clock in at $150,000 alone, he said. Minerva Supervisor McNally said businesses and emergency medical technicians would have been negatively impacted by detours. “We need temporary bridges on these locations,” McNally said. “You’re looking at an 18 mile (and) a 15 mile detour.” Both structures see 114 vehicles per day,
according to a highway department report. “It seems like a half a million dollars for two bridges is quite a bit,” said James Monty (R-Lewis). But Thom Scozzafava (R-Moriah) said the county is ultimately responsible for delivering services to taxpayers. “It’s not only something we should do, it’s the right thing to do,” Scozzafava said. Ron Moore (R-North Hudson) said the use of temporary structures were a matter of public safety. “These people cannot wait that long and this needs to be done,” Moore said. County Manager Dan Palmer recommended going out to bid separately for each. Doing so independently will help zero in on more
precise costs for the second structure, he said. Dougan acknowledged the concerns of local residents. “This particular bridge has a longer detour than many of the others,” he said. Repairs, said Dougan, are estimated to take between 3 and 4 months for each structure. The Department of Public Works Subcommittee unanimously approved the resolution. Essex County set aside $5 million for bridge bonds during this year’s budget process. Of the county’s 178 bridges, 19 have been flagged as critical, Dougan said. Twelve of those could utilize a detour as opposed to temporary bridges, which would collectively cost between $1.8 and $2.4 million. >> See BRIDGES | pg. 19
BoreasÊ PondsÊ subjectÊ of Ê latestÊ entryÊ inÊ guidebookÊ series
“12 Adventures on New State Lands” introduces readers to the former Finch Pruyn tract, among other new purchases By Pete DeMola
pete@suncommunitynews.com
Santa Claus will be making his rounds this Sunday, as he is seen here greeting youth in Minerva. Photo by Mike Corey
NORTH HUDSON — The latest in a series of guidebooks by a local author has offered an early look at Boreas Ponds. “12 Adventures on New State Lands” introduces visitors to the former Finch Pruyn holdings. Purchased by the state last May, the parcel is nearing the end of a classification process that will govern recreational uses of the 20,578-acre tract, which is now open to the public for the first time in a century under an interim plan. Other recent purchases include the Essex Chain Lakes, OK Slip Falls, and long stretches of the Hudson River, making a >> SEE GUIDEBOOK | pg. 19