Watkins extends leaf, brush pickup

WATKINS GLEN—Leaf and brush pickup in Watkins Glen will be extended after a recommendation from the village board at the regular meeting, Monday, Nov. 15.
Pickup was only supposed to last until Friday, Nov. 12, but after repairs needing to be done to the leaf vacuum truck, it put the crew behind schedule.
Trustee Greg Coon made a request to extend leaf and brush pickup until Superintendent of Streets Donald Perry decides that it is complete.  
Mayor Judy Phillips also informed everyone that there are still plenty of leaf bags available at the village office at 303 N. Franklin St.  Leaves and brush can be placed in these bags and the street department will remove them.  
In other business:
• The board agreed to fix a moisture problem at the Watkins Glen Fire Department, based on a letter from Edger Enterprises Inc. general contracting company.  The letter states the repairs will include a new exhaust, inlet and three new heaters.  A rough estimated cost of $11,300 is in the building fund.  
According to Superintendent of Public Works, Mark Specchio, moisture is created after the fire department washes the trucks.  In the winter it is necessary to wash the trucks more frequently to remove salt.  This moisture issue has been an ongoing problem.  
Trustee Nick Kelly voiced his concern that he doesn’t want to spend all this money and still have this problem.  
Specchio thinks these repairs will solve the problem.
• AJ Matwiejow from the Watkins Glen Fire Department asked the board for permission to hold a casino night to raise funds for the fire department.  They plan to have the event, which is similar to Montour Falls Fire Department Casino Night, sometime in May.  Money that is raised will be used for the fire house equipment fund.
“We think it’s a great idea, just not at the fire house,” Trustee Kelly said.  
Alcohol is expected to accompany the event and for the safety of everyone the board thinks the community center would be a better place.  The neighborhood setting where the fire house is located could also add noise complaints as well.   
The board is willing to allow the fire department to use the community center without a fee.  “The community center could accommodate a larger crowd as well,” Trustee Coon said.
The next regular meeting of the Watkins Glen village board will take place, Monday, Dec. 6 at 7 p.m.