It is time to address the physical well being and progression of West Monroe
Many times it doesn’t appear anything is happening, but the rear view mirror says:
Cost savings and efficiency: This year was a busy one, we facilitated the addition of a playground for 5 to 12 year olds in the park to benefit the education of youth and of course amusement funded by a legislative grant. Residents will install the purchased play equipment June 4th as a community build one day project. Highway’s talented personnel designed, built and installed a beefy and attractive security gate at the park entrance. A fire alarm system was installed in the Town Hall and a security alarm in the offices, for the safety of office employees and the judicial department. In the town hall, under the heading of cost savings, a new high efficiency lighting system was installed, aided by NYSERDA with very minimal if any cost to the town, and existing windows were insulated. A long awaited, lighted signboard was purchased and fastened to the building to announce town functions. A Mack Truck was purchased for snow removal and outfitted internally by our own highway personnel. An agreement was secured with Brewerton Ambulance for service in the Big Bay District. Along the lines of combined services, an automated paver was procured and the cost equally divided with Constantia. An inter-municipal agreement was signed specifying the use of this paver along with an agreement combining labor and placement of blacktop. An intermunicipal water board was created with constantia for the Toad Harbor water district.
Tax levy: Roads are the identifiable trophy of the town budget that we normally visualize with taxes, yet there are also many other supplied services: buildings, cemeteries, recreation, youth and parks, sewer, water, drainage, health, safety and emergency services. Roads are kept free from snow and ice along with the annual repairs and maintenance. Our buildings are in excellent shape and structurally sound. Abandoned cemeteries receive their well deserved attention by the highway department along with park maintenance. The park is used by the youth group, public recreation and the annual Old Home Day celebration. Areas that have services need constant maintenance such as municipal sewer and water systems and structures. Major time and funding is also spent addressing one of the most important and generally overlooked services; storm water drainage. Without proper attention to drainage, flooding and destruction rapidly deteriorates any building, road or project.
Restructuring and operations: Rehabilitation of the current Big Bay sanitary sewer system has been addressed along with extending sewer into the Toad Harbor area which will lower the cost per unit charge of the entire project. Applications have been submitted to the funding agencies looking for 0% interest loans and supplemental grants for these projects. Capitol reserve accounts were assembled to aid in reducing the financing amounts. A dialogue had been struck with Hastings Town to attempt combining services related to the sewer rehabilitation and extension. Currently the Toad Harbor water installation project is on the verge of completion. A fiscal audit committee was created to oversee accounting procedures. Town Clerk Christine Shaw, with help from Tug Hill procured a records grant and now past and current building records are computerized and accessible. Dog licenses and enumerations are now town responsibility with the revenue as well. Old Home Day festivities were expanded and state legislative representatives invited to attend. I think Old Home Day is one of our most delightful accomplishments.
Transparency and future plans: New plans have been introduced to simplify the building permit process and create a smoother and logical sequence. Master Plan adjustments are at planning and as suggested by county, being refined. Planning board regulations and code enforcement changes have been addressed by their respective members, but not forwarded to this board, it is forthcoming. Highway building windows are in the replacement process, again with installation by highway personnel. The plan is to weatherproof the building and correct current problems using the same labor. The volunteer fire company has returned to town board meetings, reporting monthly and residents also have an open invitation to participate as well. A dialogue has been opened to address extension of existing municipal services such as water, sewer, natural gas and cable tv.
The county has converted the O & W rail bed from a walking and sled trail to include ATV. We will work with facilitating ATV clubs and trail heads along with safety regulations to encourage respect of others properties and help direct revenue into local business cash registers. We are also looking at the possibility of a new boat launching site on our crown jewel Oneida Lake, and a canoeing and kayak event on Big Bay creek. Any progress in the recreation department should help relieve the tax load on the locality and invite more business development, such as the two recently completed sports bars-restaurants of Two Guys and Glenwood, each located on Rt 49. Five new homes were built and more are in development.
Community: Committees were formed and positions filled by volunteers. I want to praise the time spent by every volunteer, and their progress. A community development committee was initiated to advise us about the town’s future development. It is the central hub about which the other committees revolve and report. One segment of this committee addresses an area which will predictably develop without intervention, but with a little supervision can be designed to allow efficient ease of travel without restrictions on development. It will give us a focus of where placement of light commercial development will integrate with current residential lifestyles and also accommodate the future. Four additional committees were formed to advise us of assessments, parks, land use and infrastructure.
As a closing statement: I am creating a 2 year tentative budget in an attempt to confine the tax levy and have specifically worked for your best interests and will not promote ideals of personal or collective agendas. In short, I work for you, not anyone else. You as a taxpayer have a Responsibility to oversee the budget and expenses of the taxing district such as the county legislature, school board, town board, fire department and other special districts - that execute taxes in your community. In the end, we are in excellent financial shape and committed to advance and improve without increasing the cost to residents.
John Messere Superisor
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