By Jake Palmateer
Staff Writer
June 17, 2009 12:00 am ONEONTA _ A $1 million flood-prevention project on Oneonta Creek can proceed without a local share of the cost, Mayor John Nader said Tuesday. Speaking at the Common Council meeting, Nader said the project will be funded 75 percent federally and 25 percent through the state. The city received word of the funding from the State Emergency Management Office earlier in the day, Nader said. The Oneonta Creek, which flows out of the city's reservoir, Wilber Lake, was one of several areas of flash flooding that hit Oneonta on June 27, 2006, and damaged City Hall, businesses and apartments. The project involves shoring up the streambed against flooding, and it is focused between where the creek flows under Center Street and where it empties into the Mill Race. The project was delayed last year when it was discovered there were small populations of trout in the normally shallow creek. Nader said $180,000 has been built into what was an originally a $727,760 project to protect fish habitat. The project is not part of the 2009 federal stimulus and is instead coming from state and federal emergency management funding, Nader said. Nader said the city is waiting for paperwork from the Federal Emergency Management Agency to draw up bid specifications and put the project out to bid. He said he did not know when the work would start. In other business Tuesday: ä Nader thanked retiring city Chamberlain David Martindale for his two decades of service. Nader said Martindale has been a great steward of taxpayer money and has garnered a stellar reputation. Bryan Grazda was hired by the city earlier this month to take over from Martindale by July 1. ä The Common Council, by a vote of 5-2, approved a plan to reorganize the engineering and community development departments. The scenario would leave the Community Development Office focused on housing improvement, business recruitment and other community development initiatives. An engineering department, headed by a licensed engineer, would oversee code enforcement and street, sidewalk, water and wastewater infrastructure. The plan remains subject to approval through the city's budget process. Third Ward Alderman Erik Miller and Sixth Ward Alderman Veronica Diver voted against the plan. First Ward Alderman Maureen Hennessy was absent. ä Aldermen voted, 7-0, to adopt a revised duty statement for the position of city engineer, which has been unfilled since 1986. The vote was necessary for the city to order a civil-service examination.
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