By Chris English
CARLISLE — Town of Carlisle residents who need culverts as part of their driveways will be paying more starting this year.
At their Wednesday, Jan. 8 meeting, town board members on the recommendation of Highway Superintendent Mike Broadwell voted to approve a sliding scale driveway culvert installation charge. Instead of the standard $25 driveway permit fee previously charged by the town on all driveways, residents who need culverts as part of their driveways will now pay a variable charge depending on the size of the culvert. The minimum charge will be $150.
Residents who don't need a culvert for their driveway will no longer pay any fee. Broadwell said the change was needed because the town was not coming close to covering the costs when he and his crew installed driveway culverts. Under the new system, residents who need culverts will also continue paying for the culvert itself.
Broadwell said the newly approved charge should at least cover the cost of stone used in the installation of driveway culverts.
"We're still not charging for labor and equipment," said the highway superintendent, who pointed out that his crew will also continue maintaining the driveway culverts for life at no extra charge to residents. The new charge was included in 18 organizational resolutions for 2025 approved at the Jan. 8 meeting. Others included fixing salaries, approving other annual fees and establishing the first Wednesday of every month again as the day for town board meetings.
In some regular business at the meeting, there was some brief discussion on the ongoing issue of a 20MW solar power facility that is more than likely coming to a parcel of land in Carlisle and the neighboring Town of Seward.
While the New York State Office of Renewable Energy Siting has not yet issued a final permit for the facility, most in Carlisle and the surrounding area believe that is only a matter of time.
"I've got to think it's coming at any time," Carlisle Supervisor John Leavitt said of the issuance of the final permit. The town boards in Carlisle and Seward were among many officials and residents who fought hard against the facility, saying it will have detrimental environmental and other impacts.
Bill Toohey, member of a local group called Citizens Against Solar Assault, complained at the Jan. 8 meeting that ORES has not included in the record for the project many submittals by CASA, While Leavitt said the developers of the solar facility have already done some road improvements in the area of where it will go, he, Toohey and many others continue to worry about the impact heavy truck and other traffic generated by the facility will have on roads.
"I will be on the road every day and my camera will be burning up," Toohey said.
"We'll fight the fight, but I can't sit here and say they aren't going to make a mess up there," added Leavitt.
Carlisle Council Member Mary Tillapaugh reported at the Jan. 8 meeting that the town's annual Christmas Party held at the municipal building on Crommie Road in mid-December was a big success.
"It was wonderful, it was packed and everyone had a grand time," she said.
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