Something old, something new

for the Town of Persia    

by Terri M. Bahne

     “The biggest emergency project is the removal of snow,” Highway Superintendent Dan Ackley stated, addressing the Persia Town Board during the regular monthly meeting. “Right now, I need a piece of equipment that will work.”

     Ackley advised the board of the dependability problems he foresees with the highway trucks in the near future. The current vehicles are a number of years old and he asked the board what the probability of obtaining a new one (to the tune of $130,000) would be.

     “I don’t mind putting money into [the vehicles we have now] to increase dependability,” Ackley continued, “But there’s no point in putting more money into [them].” He advised the board that a breakdown could occur at any time and that he wished to apprise the board of the situation before anything were to happen, as the process of getting another vehicle takes well over a year to complete. “By that time,” Ackley intonated, “the present trucks will be no good or broken.”

     Although the board did not make any decision, they expressed the town’s lack of a position to afford a new vehicle.

     And new vehicles were not to be seen at the property on Broadway Road, reported Code Enforcement Officer Mel Shaw. As he had visited the property to address the situation, the response he received was that scrap was being collected in order to cash in on it. “You can’t restrict someone from making money,” Shaw addressed the board.

     What constitutes a junk yard is open to interpretation by the codes and Shaw asked the board for something in writing that states how many vehicles are allowed near a home. He also reported sending a letter to a homeowner on Nash Hill Road in regard to having the property cleaned up within 30 days due to the variety of old cars and tires accumulated there.

     Other business included:

     Town Assessor Mary Bailey’s report, stating that the exemption deadline had passed. She is continuing to review all of the exemption applications for the upcoming tentative assessment roll. Bailey also reported that last year there were 351 Senior STAR renewals and that figure appears to be up slightly this year.

     Highway Superintendent Ackley asking the board if Kevin Smith could be appointed to the full-time deputy highway superintendent’s position, as Al Conklin had resigned. The board approved the move as of April 1, 2005.
     Ackley also reported receiving survey maps from Cattaraugus County in regard to the situation on Point Peter Road. He also received a call from NYS SEMO who stated that they were in receipt of the town’s information. When Ackley forwards the gleaned information along to the federal level, an engineering study must have been completed first.

     A motion being made and approved by the board to allow the judges a constable in their courts at the rate of $10 per hour.

     An update on the Kiantone pipeline situation: the pipeline itself is pretty well settled but the pumping station is not. A specialty assessor may need to be brought in to address the situation. If this occurs, there will be a negative impact on the assessments over the next few months.

     Judge Adolph Namlik hearing 10 cases this past month, bringing in $1,090 in revenue.

     Judge Arnold Andolsek hearing 22 cases for the month of February, bringing in $2,120 in revenue.

     The next Town of Persia Board meeting is Thursday, April 14 at 7 p.m. in the town hall.