5/18/07 - County moves flooding study forward

(As published by Cortland Standard, Corey Preston reporting)

The Cortland County Legislature’s Budget and Finance Committee Thursday backed a resolution committing the county to a joint project with the city to study flooding problems along Dry and Otter creeks.
The city remains tentative about the project — Mayor Tom Gallagher has said he wants to look at the impact of other flood mitigation measures first — but the majority of the committee agreed the county should move forward.
The study, which would cost up to $20,000 and be split between the county and the city, would look at the feasibility and the potential impact of placing a detention pond along Route 281.
Legislator Carol Tytler (D-3rd Ward) who has been pushing the study, which came out of the planning subcommittee she chairs, said she was discouraged that the project had not been discussed formally by the city.
However she was comfortable moving forward since ultimately the county’s contribution is contingent upon the city signing on.
“I think it’s important to keep moving forward and showing that we’re committed, and if the city agrees that it’s something we should look at, we’re ready to go,” Tytler said.
Moving forward with the study is slightly time-sensitive as the state Department of Transportation has agreed to include work on the detention pond in its construction bids for its work on the Route 281 expansion project.
This could allow for savings on construction and contracting costs; the DOT has requested an answer by November.
“I think we need to have a good engineering study to see what needs to be done down there,” Legislator Danny Ross (R-Cortlandville) said.
Committee Chairman Ron Van Dee (D-5th Ward) strongly supported the study, adding that flooding has been a significant problem in the city, especially in the last two years.
“The county has to continue on this and the city should be looking at every option, too,” Van Dee said. “I think if they stop at this point and don’t look any further, they’re just not looking at all their options.”