November 24, 2023
ARKPORT, NY – The Arkport Village Board met this week for their monthly meeting, and two new members were sworn in, Fay Parada and Lou Nasca, on the planning board, which also includes Zach Lincoln, Edward Karns, and Ken Ordway.
In the meeting, a grant for the Public Works Department was discussed which would award $100,000 total (between a $81,000 loan and $19,000 grant) to the village of Arkport. The village is planning on using the $100,000 to buy a new pickup truck with a plow (which was already bought and secured in October) and two new lawnmowers to replace their outdated fleet, which totals ~$131,000. The loan has a 2% interest rate for the next seven years, but the village plans to pay it off within a year.
The Public Works Department is planning to sell two of their outdated lawnmowers, as well as an old truck, in the spring; the timing of the sales will be finalized at a later date. Additionally, the Public Works Department cut down three trees in the Arkport Village Park. However, officials say that there is no replanting system in place, as the mowers hit the tree roots and cause infections in the roots, which leads to root rot and eventually kills the tree.
Christmas decorations will be set up around the village now that Thanksgiving is over, and leaf cleanup will be continuing for one more week in the village. The village has also decided not to raise the salting cost for the school because the school allows the Public Works Department to house their equipment at the school for the winter.
The Department of Health made inspections in the water plant, and nothing pressing or major was found. The only two things that need to be changed are the flow sensor and chlorine analyzer, but neither pose a threat to public health in the village.
The village also decided to lower their health insurance premiums for the year.
Elections will be coming up for the positions currently held by Mayor George Prete, Trustee Patricia Amidon, and Trustee Ryan Beers. Caucuses for each position will be held in January, with the date to be confirmed, and the elections will take place on March 19, 2024.
The issue of crosswalk signs at the school was also brought up, as the signs were recently replaced and are already damaged due to being hit repeatedly. Speeds in the village are also an issue, especially in the school zone, East Ave, and West Ave; residents are reminded that a speed zone of 20 MPH is in place throughout the village.
Finally, a resolution was approved that increases the budget for the park ballfields by $1200 for the year and decreases the budget of the Public Works Department by $1200. The budget changes are on a temporary basis until the village is reimbursed for the ballfields.
