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Slowly Rising
Finally Towns Are Reporting Progress With Awkward State Storm Aid Project

RONDOUT VALLEY – NY Rising is the program that was slapped together by the Cuomo administration to provide relief to communities that have been ravaged by the major storms of recent years, such as Irene and Sandy. The fact that it was cobbled together was evident during the process of identifying priority projects and understanding the paperwork needed to get the ball rolling, but much of the confusion is in the past, and some major projects are actually in the pipeline.

Local town supervisors haven't actually seen any money yet, but they're saying they're also not worried about that detail.

Rosendale's James Street, along the Rondout Creek, was all but washed away during Tropical Storm Irene. That's why this is the first NY Rising project being tackled by the town; $600,000 has been promised to reengineer and rebuild in that area, including a promenade along the creek. Supervisor Jeanne Walsh reports that out of eight engineering firms which submitted proposals, the town board selected Brinnier & Larios.

"Our next step is to sign a contract with them," Walsh said, adding that highway superintendent Bob Gallagher "will act as liaison to the town" with the engineering firm as the work proceeds. Walsh also said that the process has been getting smoother as state representatives have worked to iron out the kinks.

"It's a different process than we're used to," she said. "We told them we needed help going through it, and they assigned someone to communicate with us and make sure the paperwork is properly filed."

As to when the first shovel hits the ground, "I won't want to speculate as to time," she said. "I'm optimistic, and still thankful that this was decided as the first project."

Rochester's first project is to work on the Rondout and Rochester creeks' tendency to flood Route 209. It's a big project that will ultimately also involve bridge replacement, and according to supervisor Carl Chipman, thirty engineering firms have submitted bids as of April 14, with two days left to do so. A committee will go through the proposals using a rating system provided for that purpose, he said, and a firm should be selected "within the next few weeks."

In what he called an "awfully optimistic" prediction, Chipman said he was hoping to see the engineering portion completed by summer's end, but "that depends on what they find" as they determine the condition of the creeks and what will be needed to keep Route 209 clear for cars. The flooding, when it happens, divides the town in two and necessitates placing emergency vehicles and personnel at two locations, just to make sure there's some way to reach residents in need.

Chipman also thinks the process has gotten easier.

"It's nice to know there actually is a project," he said. "There is some movement; it took a few months. I don't think the state knew what they were doing at first; but now they do, which is good."

Both communities, as well as the neighboring communities of Ellenville and Wawarsing and others throughout the region, have other projects which will be considered for engineering after this first round is in process.



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