Penn Yan wants road in Milo

MILO—A road connecting village property to Himrod Road may or may not be in the future.
On Aug. 16, Penn Yan Public Works Director Richard Osgood spoke to the Milo town board about the possibility of a road across the railroad tracks near the Penn Yan wastewater treatment plant. The suggested road would go through town and end at Himrod Road. Access to Sherman Street in the village from the south ended more than a decade ago when a bridge over the railroad tracks was closed for safety reasons. Osgood said there have been times when emergency vehicles have attempted to enter Sherman Street from the south only to have to back track to the only access to the street from Garfield Avenue.
After the bridge was closed there were discussions about removing the bridge and creating a grade crossing. Osgood said there were  drawbacks to that solution: the necessary widening of the road would have placed the road too close to the force main that serves all the sewage from municipalities served by the village, required removal of two other grade crossings in the area and a cost estimated at $2 to $3 million.
A possible solution lies to the east on property that contains an old road with a right of way nearly 50 feet wide. Osgood said New York State Department of Transportation has informed him the railroad crossing at that site is still considered an active railroad crossing. The area in question is five feet from property owned by Roger Sands. Sands attended the meeting and was asked how he feels about the possible road. Sands said, “They want Milo to build a road for the village. Why should we? Just asking.” Sands said he would be willing to negotiate with the town if the right of way was moved east of his property.
Osgood said $131,000 would be enough a road, with much of the work being done “in house.” He said, “In my opinion it takes care of a lot of issues. It will open up the area to whatever comes in the future. You can’t get there from here right now.”  Following discussion, Milo Town Supervisor John Socha  said, “This is very preliminary. I think what you presented is what we’re all looking for.” Sands added, “By doing the road it would keep people out of my yard.” He said he would like the current right of way blocked off because it is used every day.
In other business: Socha announced there would be no public hearing on steep slopes during the meeting. The law was forwarded to the Yates County Planning Board and that group returned the referral with several recommendations. Socha said the law has been sent back to the town planning board for review. At the beginning of the meeting, Yates County Soil and Water Conservation District technician Colby Petersen presented information on steep slopes.
• Accepted the resignation of Assessor Randy Deal with regrets and appreciation. Deputy Assessor Patrick Grimaldi was named to succeed Deal, effective Jan. 1, 2011.
• Regretfully accepted the resignation of Assessor/Zoning Aid Jane Lamphier, effective Oct. 27. Lamphier was commended for her years of service and how she has dealt with the public.
The next meeting of the Milo town board will be at 7 p.m. Sept. 20 in the town office on Main Street in Penn Yan.