Press-Republican

Local News

Discussion

PLEASE NOTE: There is a 150 word maximum for comments. All comments greater than 150 words in length will be deleted in their entirety.

ALSO NOTE: Derisive name-calling of an individual or group will result in the entire comment being deleted. This includes the terms "stupid" and "idiot" and similar references.

Welcome to our new online comments feature. Before you can join the discussion, you must first register with Disqus and verify your email address.

Once you do, your comments will post after they have been reviewed by a moderator.

We welcome your thoughts and your opinions, including unpopular ones. We ask only that you keep the conversation civil and clean.

Not all comments are deemed printable. Some are disqualified, at the newspaper’s discretion, for a number of reasons. Here are some typical practices to avoid in trying to get your comment printed:

There is a 150 word maximum for comments. All comments greater than 150 words in length will be deleted in their entirety.

Don’t state as a fact something that is unsubstantiated or that our editors wouldn't know to be true.

Don’t presume someone’s guilt in a case when it hasn't been established by a court.

Don’t assail or impugn an identifiable individual or group. If you have that kind of criticism, sign your name and submit it as a Letter to the Editor. (There is some leeway on this in connection with public officials, but it is not unconditional.)

Don’t use profanity. This includes the term “tea bagger.”

Don’t be incendiary or tasteless. Those qualities are subjective, of course, and our editors will be the arbiters.

Do not identify yourself in the main content area of the article content form. Only by enforcing this rule can the moderators prevent unscrupulous commenters from falsely identifying themselves as someone they are not.

Don't type in all caps. It is considered the Internet equivalent of shouting.

In sports articles, do not criticize officiating.

Remember, moderators are not allowed to edit any article comments. If an article comment fails any of the above criteria, the entire comment will be deleted.

We monitor comments Monday - Friday, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, 2 p.m. to 8 p.m. Approval of comments outside these times may be delayed.
comments powered by Disqus
November 23, 2007

Wind-farms trucks contributing to road problems

By DENISE RAYMO

MALONE — The pavement on Brainardsville Road is cracked from hundreds of truck trips made to wind-farm projects in western Clinton and eastern Franklin counties.

The damage is especially irritating in Franklin County because not only were the bridges replaced, but the entire length of Brainardsville Road from Malone to Ellenburg was widened and resurfaced as part of a $12 million state project in 2000 and 2001.

One option suggested is posting a weight limit on county-owned roads, so the heavily loaded dump trucks would be forced to use U.S. Route 11, which is maintained, repaired and paid for by the state, rather than by local taxes.

At the same time, County Highway Superintendent Gary Lewis wants compensation for the estimated $50,000 in damage already sustained on the Brainardsville Road, also known as County Road 24.

And he wants a pending agreement for highway usage between Noble Environmental Power and the county to include language to mitigate the existing problems and cover future highway damages and degradation.



CLINTON COUNTY PACT

Route 24 is the shortest path that gravel and cement tracks take from Malone to Ellenburg and into Clinton County, where Noble Clinton Windpark I, Windpark II, Windpark Ellenburg, Windpark Altona and Windpark Clinton are being constructed.

The same road is used to reach Noble Chateaugay Windpark and Noble Bellmont Windpark in Franklin County.

And it would be utilized in the future by Horizon Wind Energy if that company makes a formal application to the Town of Bellmont for a wind-farm site and gets approval.

Clinton County’s agreement with Noble designates which roads can be used, what compensation the county would get for use of those roads and the type of reconstruction each would get to make them whole again.

A complicated formula pays the county more that $50,000 per mile in compensation or a lump sum of $493,650.



POSTING POSSIBLE

Franklin County hopes to ink a similar deal.

But until those negotiations are held, legislators want some money set aside now to fix the Brainardsville Road problems.

If they can’t get satisfaction, the county might start posting roads.

“We have to keep them off as much as possible and send them to the state highway. It has more resources,” said Legislator Earl Lavoie (D-Malone), suggesting the traffic could go from Malone on Route 11 to State Route 374 in Chateaugay to reach the wind farms.

Legislator Timothy Burpoe (D-Saranac Lake) said the county needs “a sizable escrow account” from Noble that could be dipped into to make repairs as they are needed.



MEETING PLANNED

As negotiations get nearer, legislators and Superintendent Lewis will also have to address liability issues, a road-grading system and a way to record pavement conditions before and after the prolonged heavy use.

They will also determine where responsibility would lie if an emergency repair is needed.

County officials expect to meet with Noble representatives on Thursday, Dec. 6, at which time some of the concerns may be addressed.



E-mail Denise A. Raymo at:

draymo@pressrepublican.com

Text Only | Photo Reprints
Breaking News
New Today
  • sweet_adelines2_2_12_12
    Plattsburgh's Sweet Adelines sing music of the heart

    Sweet Adelines spread message of love on Valentine's Day with yearly singing valentines.

    Posted: 1 hour 1 Photo
  • Ticonderoga faces severe school cuts

    The district is starting its new budget process almost $2 million in the hole. Officials are seeking public input on the problem.

    Posted: 2 hours
  • Tentative contract reached with officers

    The deal with New York state would cover the 2,800 members of the New York State Correction Officers and Police Benevolent Association who typically work at specialized state centers such as the Sunmount Development Disabilities Services Office in Tupper Lake.

    Posted: 2 hours
Local News

Recent Article Comments
Albany Round-up

Photo of the Day
Strange News
Videos: Editor Picks
Pop Music Superstar Whitney Houston Dies at 48 Whitney Houston's Church Mourns Her Passing Reaction to Houston's Death at Clive Davis Party 79 Turtles Seized at Shanghai Airport Severe Cold Wreaks Havoc in China Fuel Removal Under Way on Capsized Italian Ship Police: Houston Found Dead in Her Hotel Room Paul Suffers Narrow Loss to Romney in Maine Palin Brings Anti-Washington Message to CPAC Obama Scraps Birth Control Mandate Navy Names Ship for Gabrielle Giffords Uzbek Man Pleads Guilty in Plot to Kill Obama Marines: No Punishment for Nazi-like Flag Vets Look to Translate Military Skills Into Jobs Raw Video: School Bus Burst Into Flames Pentagon: Allow Women Closer to Front Lines Raw Video: Italy's Mount Etna Bursts Into Life Air Force Airlines: Leaders Get Polished Service Ga Girl Fights Off Kidnapper at Walmart Skip the Coffee Cup and Inhale Your Caffeine Fix