Public Works committee approves bids, equipment purchases and project supplements; Route 61 bridge tree‑clearing deadline emphasized

Greene County's Public Works Committee approved a series of contracts, equipment purchases and project supplemental agreements and emphasized a March 31 deadline for tree clearing on the County Route 61 bridge replacement project.

Committee members voted to authorize advertisement for bids for propane services and for purchase of materials, approve tree removal for the County Route 61 bridge replacement in the town of New Baltimore, purchase two Ford F‑600 axle trucks with dump bodies and plows through New York State Office of General Services purchasing, extend the contract for household hazardous waste collection events, and approve supplemental and electrical agreements for the Casco Stratford Station residential drop‑off infrastructure project.

Public Works staff reported sustained winter damage to county roads and said final paving decisions will await bid returns and potential state funding through the CHIP program and emergency weather recovery funds. "This winter did a number on our roads," said Scott, a Public Works staff member, as the committee discussed anticipated maintenance and paving work.

The committee also approved a supplemental agreement for reconstruction of the tipping floor at the transfer station and authorized purchase of a 2023 wheel loader; members discussed insurance recovery and trade‑in value for damaged equipment. A budget amendment authorizing purchase of a Tyler shredder (resolution 375‑24 as listed on the agenda) was carried, and the committee recorded a separate budget amendment related to insurance recovery for solid waste operations.

Committee members discussed a March 31 tree‑clearing deadline tied to permit windows; staff said failure to clear trees by that date would push the Route 61 bridge project into the next year. Members also raised slope‑stabilization work on Route 61 and project timelines for engineering deliverables related to a reported $2,000,000 grant from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development for housing work; staff said the county is in an administrative phase awaiting preliminary survey drawings from HUD contractors.

Separately, members raised recent vandalism at the courthouse and asked about cameras. Staff said planned upgrades tied to the new justice center project and a phased courthouse camera/entry upgrade will be considered as that work proceeds.

Most votes were recorded in the meeting as roll‑call prompts with committee members responding "Aye"; the transcript does not capture detailed roll‑call tallies for each member in the public record excerpts provided.