Dundee seeks $1.5M for village streets

DUNDEE (8/17/16)--The village of Dundee will be seeking $1.55 million in order to improve village streets. The village board heard a presentation from Barton and Loguidice about a grant application Tuesday, Aug. 9. Mayor Fred Cratsley Jr. said the village applied for a Main Street and gateways improvement grant at the end of July, noting they are hoping to get some letters of support from area state officials in the Regional Economic Development Council for the funding.
Senior Vice President with Barton and Loguidice Kenneth Knutsen said they submitted the application on behalf of the village as a consolidated funding application. He said the village goals are to initiate a complete streets program so the village roads "form a comprehensive and integrated transportation network promoting safe, equitable and convenient travel for all users." Knutsen added this could tie into the village's $2.1 million project to replace several water mains which is currently in the design phase. This work is expected to begin in 2017.
If the village does get this grant, it will require $155,000 in local match funds.
"The village of Dundee would get a 1.5 million project for 10 percent of that cost," said Sharon Lilla, also of Barton and Loguidice.
In other business:
• Chuck France, owner of the 1897 Beekman House Bed and Breakfast in Dundee, said he is tired of the late nights of racing at Outlaw Speedway. France spoke to the Dundee village board during their regular meeting Tuesday, Aug. 9, saying the race track is causing issues for his business. This comes after France said racing went past 11 p.m. Friday, Aug. 5.
France said he has previously taken his complaints to the Starkey town board earlier in the season when the track ran past 11 p.m. France noted their operating permit allows racing until 11 p.m., noting it is OK if a race already in progress runs over, but they are not allowed to start a new race afterward.
"The racetrack down the road from us is starting to cause some issues for our business," France said. "Our customers are starting to complain to us about the noise at night. We would be happy if the racetrack would live up to the terms of the permit they have with the town."
France said he does inform his guests of the track noise when they check in and distributes earplugs, but added it gets difficult when the races run past when they are supposed to end.
"When they run until 12:30 [a.m.], quarter to 1 [a.m.] at night, our guests can't sleep," France said. "We can't sleep."
However, the village board said it is difficult for them to do anything about the track noise, since Outlaw Speedway is outside of the village limits. Mayor Fred Cratsley Jr. said he has heard the track noise late at night as well. The track officially lies in the town of Starkey, with France noting he has brought his concerns to that board as well after the first night of racing that went past midnight earlier in the season. Cratsley said the village would try to set up a tri-board meeting with the towns of Starkey and Barrington in the near future to discuss the issue. France asked the board to write a letter to the Starkey town board asking them to enforce the terms of the operating permit, but the mayor said he would like to meet with the boards first prior to sending an official letter.