Montour rejects gateway project bids

    MONTOUR FALLS—The Montour Falls village board rejected bids for work on the gateway project, Thursday, July 26, because they were all over the budgeted amount.
    The gateway project is planned to improve the entrance of the Main Street business district. It includes work to the Route 14 intersection, painted crosswalks, new lighting, and planting trees. Clerk Suzanne Casselberry said the low bid was $603,513.10. However, the village budgeted $550,000 for the project.
    Casselberry said work will not be able start by the original Aug. 3 date because the village needs to solicit new bids. There will be a new project timeline when the village rebids.
    In other business:
    • An agreement with the Schuyler County Sheriff’s Office was approved to provide a bailiff at the monthly court session attended by the district attorney. Casselberry said it would only be for about three hours each month. The village board previously talked about preferring a part-time person, because it would cost less than a full-time sheriff’s employee.
    • The village will participate in the Cornell Cooperative Extension’s countywide comprehensive planning. However, Casselberry explained Montour Falls will not be reexamining their comprehensive plan until next fiscal year. The village will pay $3,800 to be a part of the project. Casselberry added both the village and the town just updated their plans in 2010, but wanted to be a part of this countywide project.
    • The village attorney offered his advice on a draft sidewalk replacement program. The board will review the comments.
    • The village is looking into installing a webcam to offer real time footage of the She-Qua-Ga Falls. Casselberry said the webcam would cost $107.86.
    • Schuyler Hospital’s Health Foundation was given permission to place banners on the village utility poles. The board discussed creating a policy or fee for groups to put up banners. However, Casselberry said the village decided to just leave it the way it is; the board will review each request as it is received.
    • The board approved the Catharine Valley Trail Half Marathon to be held, Aug. 19.