Village Officials Emergency Light Would Have Been Cost Prohibitive

MIDDLEBURGH - At the public hearing last month on whether to make Railroad Avenue a one-way street in the Village of Middleburg, it was suggested that instead of making the change, an emergency light be placed at the intersection of Main Street and Railroad Avenue to inform drivers that a fire truck is coming down the street.

Fire Department Chief Darwyn Gregory said an emergency light at the end of Railroad could work, but would not be cheap. 

He was definitely right.

Mayor Tim Knight said Monday that he received an estimate from the state DOT on an emergency light and the cost was about $250,000, much higher than costs that the village had considered last month.

Village board members agreed to make the street one-way, starting in January, removing the need for the light.

"A local law and a couple of hundred dollars in signs will have the same effect," Mayor Knight added.

A business owner on the street asked the village to look into having an emergency signal placed at the end of Railroad Avenue and that the decision on the street should be postponed until the village has "solid numbers" for the cost of a signal.

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In other action, board members:

* Approved request for residents for the village to trim tree branches/limbs on several streets.

* Heard that there is a public hearing being held on price increases being planned by National Grid of 20 to 30 percent by next April.

* Heard the code enforcement officer Rick Fink said the latest buildings being constructed at Middleburgh Meadows are "good to go."

* Heard Mr. Fink say that he has to follow up on final inspections for building permits and projects.

* Heard that the breaker at the Danforth Avenue wastewater station failed and needs to be repaired.