VILLAGE TABLES DECISION ON WATER SYSTEM STUDY

The Saranac Lake Village Board tabled a resolution Monday night that would have authorized the borrowing of up to $390,000 to cover the costs of a study on state mandated improvements to the village water system.

The board also held off on picking the engineering firm to perform the study, which will evaluate the cost and logistics of building a water filtration plant or developing a source of groundwater.

The postponement came despite the pleas of Village Manager Marty Murphy who said they need to get the study done so the board can decide which option to seek funding for by a mid-August deadline.   “I’m concerned that if we miss the August deadline for pre-application, it’s going to be a signal to the state Department of Health that we’re not being diligent in pursuit of compliance,” he said.  “We’re already behind schedule.”

Last fall, the Health Department rescinded Saranac Lake’s “avoidance” from having to filter its drinking water.  The village was given 18 months to come into compliance, either by filtering the existing water supply or finding another drinking water source.

Eight companies submitted proposals to study the two possible options.  The bids were ranked by the village manager, Community Development Director Jeremy Evans, Public Works Superintendent Robert Martin and Sewer Plant Operator Kevin Pratt.

A proposal from Barton and Logudice was ranked first, followed by bids from Stearns and Wheler, O’Brien and Gere and AES Northeast.  But there was a wide variation in what each firm would charge to do the study.  Barton and Loguidice, the top choice, submitted a $320,000 proposal.  AES Northeast’s bid was $271,000 and Stearns and Wheler $259,000.

Murphy recommended the board select the Barton and Loguidice proposal, citing their knowledge of the village water system and their “proven track record” on similar projects.  “I think we’d be comfortable with any of the top four,” he said.  “But we did feel Barton and Loguidice was the best qualified.”

Muphy acknowledged their bid was $50,000 more than the next closest proposal, but said that amount of money will seem “miniscule” compared to the total cost of the project.

But Trustee Dan Olson questioned why they wouldn’t try to save the $50,000 and go with the bid from AES Northeast, a company that he said has helped the village “immensely” over the years.

Trustee John McEneany noted the amount proposed in the bond resolution to cover the cost of the study was $390,000 – well above even the highest bid. 

Murphy said he recommended the village bond for the maximum amount because of unknowns and contingencies.  He reminded the board again that the village is under a “tight schedule” to get the study done.  “The longer we wait, the further we jeopardize hitting that August deadline,” he said.

But McEneany, citing his six years of experience on the board, said if the money is approved it will be spent. He also objected to the deadline. “I’ve sat around this table for too many years having this stuff shoved down my throat at the eleventh hour,” he said.  “And every time we do this, they spend every nickel of it.”

Dan Olson agreed.  “Usually when we borrow an amount of money, somehow somewhere that money does get spent,” he said.  “It’s incumbent upon us to make this project as affordable as possible for the village taxpayers.”

A four-fifths vote of the board was needed to approve the bond resolution.  With Mayor Tom Michael absent from the meeting attending a New York Conference of Mayors event, it was clear there weren’t enough votes to move forward last night.

McEneany said he had additional questions for Robert Martin and Kevin Pratt.  The board tabled any decision and will likely call a special meeting to consider the proposals sometime in the next week.

-Chris Knight

AUTOMOBILE ICE RACE ON LAKE COLBY GETS BOARD’S OK

A car racing club from the Southern Adirondacks will be putting on a race on the frozen surface of Lake Colby in less than two weeks.

The Adirondack Motor Enthusiast Club approached the Saranac Lake Village Board on Monday night seeking approval for an automobile ice race March 8-9 on Lake Colby.

Bruce Carlton said they’ve been hosting an ice race series since the mid-1960’s.  Normally they run 6-7 races per winter in places like Lake George, Lake Algonquin and Caroga Lake. 

But warmer weather this winter has led to the cancellation of nearly all the group’s events, prompting them to look north for better conditions.

Carlton said they visited Lake Colby earlier on Monday and found the ice was 15-16 inches thick.  They require a minimum of at least 12 inches to race.  “It looks very good,” he said.

Assuming the ice holds up, the event would involve 50-70 cars, some with studded tires, racing on a plowed, mile and a quarter long track marked with pylons.  Organizers say they typically draw drivers across the Northeast.

If the races are a success, Carlton said, the village may want to consider adding the event as part of the Saranac Lake Winter Carnival.

Board members and the audience asked a number of questions of the race organizers.    “I just haven’t ever seen anything like this before,” said Trustee Susan Waters, who wondered how noisy the vehicles would be considering the lake is directly across from the hospital. 

Claude Hutchings, president of the club, said they have muffler rules. “It doesn’t sound like NASCAR by any stretch,” he said.  “They’re pretty quiet.”

Asked about the environmental impact of their “pit areas” on the lake, Carlton said all entrants are required to have a shovel, pail and spill pillows.  If any fluid is spilled on the ice, it has to be removed in the pails.

Trustee Dan Olson said the event would bring a lot of people to town at a time when not much else is happening.  “Anything we can do to help the tourism economy, I think is a good thing,” he said.

Sylvie Nelson, executive director of the Saranac Lake Area Chamber of Commerce, also endorsed the idea.  “I think it’d be a great thing,” she said.

Trustee John McEneany suggested they meet with the Lake Colby Association, local police and the fire department to see if they have any concerns.  The only potential down side, he said, would be the noise the vehicles could generate. 

If noise is an issue, organizers said they can move the track farther out onto the lake.

The board approved the request contingent on a review of the proposal by village staff and the village manager.

-Chris Knight

SWEENEY DROPS OUT OF VILLAGE BOARD RACE

John Sweeney is dropping out of the race for Saranac Lake Village Board, although his name will still appear on the ballot.

Sweeney wrote a brief statement that was mailed to WNBZ on Friday.  “I am withdrawing from the Village of Saranac Lake Board of Trustee campaign and I will not seek placement with the village as a trustee at this time,” he said.  “I withdraw my name with regret and wish the remaining candidates the best of luck.”

Sweeney, a former village manager and former trustee, said in a conversation Monday that he’s taken a new job and would be too busy to serve on the board.  “I just don’t have time for it,” he said.  “And I don’t know how welcome I am there anyway.”

Sweeney said he wasn’t expecting to be nominated to run for a trustee seat when he came to the Democratic caucus in January. 

The nomination was made by Village Justice Paul Herrmann and may have violated a rule barring judges from political activity.

Sweeney said that didn’t play a role in his decision to withdraw from the race.  “But after the fact I’m glad that I have stepped down because of some of those issues,” he said.

His decision, however, comes too late for his name to be removed from the ballot on Election Day, according to Village Clerk Kareen Tyler.

The move means there will be just one Democrat – Jason Brill – in the race for two village board seats.

Two Republicans are also in the running – John McEneany, who’s seeking reelection, and former trustee Jeff Branch.

Both McEneany and Branch have filed to run on an independent line, under the Integrity party banner.

Dan Olson, whose seat also expires this year, failed to get the support of the Republican Party caucus last month.  He has decided not to run on a third party line, meaning his term in office will come to an end in early April.

The three candidates in the trustee race have agreed to participate in a forum March 12 at the Harrietstown Town Hall, organized by the Saranac Lake Area Chamber of Commerce, the Adirondack Daily Enterprise and WNBZ.

-Chris Knight

FIERY CRASH CLOSES PART OF NORTHWAY

One person was killed early this morning when a tractor-trailer and a car collided in a fiery crash that closed a stretch of the Adirondack Northway.

State Police said the southbound and northbound lanes were closed after the 4:30 a.m. crash on I-87, just outside Glens Falls, about 45 miles north of Albany. Troopers closed a 5-mile stretch of the highway between Exit 18 in southern Warren County and Exit 17 in Moreau in northern Saratoga County.

The crash involved a tractor-trailer owned by the Malta-based Stewart's Shops chain of convenience stores. The truck caught fire and the charred rig remained at the side of the highway during the rush hour. 

A state police investigator confirmed that the driver of the car died in the crash but the person’s name was not being released because next of kin had not been notified.

The truck driver was not seriously injured. He was treated at Glens Falls Hospital and released.

No other details were immediately available.

-AP wire reports

SAYWARD BACKS CUOMO’S E-STOP LEGISLATION

Assemblywoman Teresa Sayward announced Monday she’s backing a proposal from Attorney General Andrew Cuomo that’s designed to protect children from sex offenders using the Internet.

The Electronic Security and Targeting of Online Predators Act or E-STOP would create new laws to make it illegal for convicted sex offenders to use social networking websites such as Facebook and MySpace, among other measures.

“In today's day and age it has become increasingly more important to protect children from online sexual predators,” said Sayward, in a news release.  “This landmark legislation will go a long way towards making the Internet safe for children.”

The Senate has already passed similar legislation that will expand Megan's Law by requiring convicted sex offenders to register their screen names and other Internet identifiers as a condition of their probation or parole.  It will also prevent Level 3 sex offenders, or those whose victims were minors, from viewing Internet pornography and communicating with anyone under 18.

Sayward said she’s in full support of the E-STOP legislation.  “The Internet is an invaluable resource for our children, and now we must do everything we can to ensure that they are able to take advantage of its potential in a safe and secure manner,” she said.

There are 25,000 registered sex offenders in New York State.

-Chris Knight

CHAMBER HOSTING ICE OUT FUNDRAISER

The Saranac Lake Area Chamber of Commerce is putting a new twist on its annual fundraising event.

Instead of the Spring Fling Lottery, which the chamber has held the past five years, the chamber is introducing the Great Ice Out 2008.

Executive Director Sylvie Nelson described how the fundraiser will work in a recent appearance on WNBZ’s K and J show.  “Basically we’re going to putting an Adirondack Chair on Pontiac Bay,” she said.  “People can buy tickets and guess when the date, time, minutes and seconds when the chair goes down.”

Whoever correctly guesses the time, without going over, that the Adirondack chair sinks into the water could win 50 percent of the funds raised through the event.

Tickets are $2, or three for $5.  The deadline to purchase tickets is April 1. People need to be 18-years or older to purchase tickets and/or win.

Nelson said the chamber’s events committee felt the fundraiser would be a great way to get people excited about spring and at the same time, support the chamber. “[It supports] Pretty much all our operations and different events like the concert series, legislative issues,” she said.  “Its very important for us and we hope people will participate and have some fun with it.”

Tickets can be bought at the chamber, located at 39 Main Street, as well as several retail locations in downtown Saranac Lake:  Borealis Color, Bear Essential, Mountain Gift & Powder Company, Blue Line Sport, Christian Bookstore and Two Horse Trade.

The chamber asks those who want to check out the Adirondack chair not to venture onto Pontiac Bay. 

The event is sponsored by Mountain Gift & Powder Company and Upstate Vinyl Graphics.

For more information, contact the chamber at 891-1990 or by e-mail at info@saranaclake.com.

-Chris Knight

FIRE REPORT

Lake Placid firefighters were called to 77 Deerwood Trail at 5:56 p.m. Monday night.  One truck and 14 members responded to a report of a carbon monoxide alarm activation.  A search of the building with a gas meter detected low levels of carbon monoxide.  The homeowner was advised to have their fuel burning appliances inspected.  Firefighters were back at the fire station by 7:24 p.m.