Lake Street project reminds us of long-term concerns

Dear Editor,

The Lake Street project reminds us of long-term concerns. On Feb. 21, approximately 36 Lake Street merchants and others who are concerned with the timing and financial impact on their businesses came, once again, to the Village Board to hear and further understand the proposed SUEZ / Owego Nichols United Water (ONUW) water main project scheduled for Lake Street in Owego.

As was noted in the article published on Feb. 25, the primary project is to replace an 1882 water main in Lake Street that is in a seriously deteriorated condition and a potential risk for catastrophic failure. 

The water main project was originally scheduled for last fall and was brought before the Village Board by SUEZ for the board’s concurrence to proceed. The Mayor and the Village Board solicited the Lake Street merchants and tenants for input and clearly identified that to do the SUEZ work last fall would risk great financial harm to the fourth quarter earnings of the Lake Street merchants. Fourth quarter earnings are vital for many of the businesses to survive. 

The Village Board and SUEZ / ONUW listened to the merchants and deferred the project to start in the spring of 2017 with a projected start date between April 19 and May 1, 2017.  

An unknown was if there would be any NYSEG work during the SUEZ project schedule. A serious concern of NYSEG not pursuing their work at the same time as the SUEZ water main project is the redundant financial impact it will have on the Lake Street merchants. This was strongly emphasized at the Feb. 21 meeting.

As of this writing, SUEZ has worked out the details with NYSEG, and NYSEG will be coordinating their work with the SUEZ water main project. 

Unlike the Strawberry Festival that has the ability to coordinate with the Village on reshaping their geographical boundaries, the Lake Street merchants cannot do so. For them it comes down to what offers the best odds for financial survival. Hence the decision to hold to this spring’s construction schedule and let the Strawberry Festival adjust their boundaries. 

Although there is no ideal timing for the Lake Street businesses, people need to know that even though there will be no parking on Lake Street during the projects, the sidewalks will remain open and shoppers will have access to all of Lake Street’s merchants. 

I have referenced several times the financial impact / threat the projects pose to the Lake Street merchants, which is the basis of why I write this. 

During the Feb. 21 meeting, the merchants stressed several times that although there are signs of modest growth in their post flood recoveries, there are still many just barely making it. If they lose the “Holiday” fourth quarter it may be the end for some of their businesses. 

To me, that is yet another clarion call to how fragile many of our Village businesses are. Any financial actions without careful thought may harm them beyond recovery. That includes adding to their tax burdens. 

There are groups within the Village that are lobbying, or agitating for tax increases to serve their special agendas that if honored, in part or in aggregate whole, would raise the Village budget (9.25 percent to 15 percent) before we can even start to budget for the mandatory expenses that must be met to just hold the budgets where they currently are. It has potential to not only further tax burdened homeowners, but to close down some of our businesses. 

I have repeatedly listened to, and resisted, those who continually say, “Raise the taxes to cover it.” We are trying to get new residents and businesses to come to our community, but what is the incentive to come here if the taxes are steadily being raised. We are already nearing the 34th highest within in the state for taxes, right alongside wealthier communities such as on Long Island.

So when I hear our merchants’ qualms about potential financial harm to their businesses by a short term water main project I am even more resolved not to permit long term harm to them or any resident by ever higher taxes to satisfy special interest groups, especially when opportunities to secure funding for those groups already are or may be available to do so.

Sincerely,
Earl Hartman 

Village of Owego Trustee