LITTLE VALLEY – After a year of talks and working on legalities, County Road 79, locally known as Wolf Run Road, is expected to become property of the Town of Portville after years under county ownership.
Members of the county’s Public Works Committee voted to send the resolution to next Wednesday’s meeting of the full Cattaraugus County Legislature.
Talks between the county Public Works Department and the Town of Portville started Dec. 5, 2012, as a way for Cattaraugus County to transfer less-used properties to municipalities, County Public Works Commissioner Joseph Pillittere said.
“Those roads that are the farthest distance from county-owned highway barns are reviewed as possible exchange candidates with municipalities,” he said. “Each road is evaluated on its condition based on county standards. If repair or maintenance is needed it is performed before the exchange.”
“Once the funding and the exchange are approved, the county’s attorney and administrator will begin negotiations with the municipality,” Pillittere said. As the county goes through the process, a similar system is undertaken, and approval or rejection by the municipalities that would receive the road takes place as well, Pillittere said.
Transfer of the road would have a return on investment of repairs in six years, according to Pillittere. In preparation for the transfer, county crews have done cross-culvert operations, driveway drainage pipes, ditching and shouldering, with a final surface treatment expected to come in the summer of 2014. Pillittere said there would also be a reduction of county taxpayer money through no longer having to pay for fuel, resources, equipment and maintenance.
“(The transfer) will allow more focus on other areas within the county’s infrastructure,” he said.
Members of the county’s Public Works Committee voted to send the resolution to next Wednesday’s meeting of the full Cattaraugus County Legislature.
Talks between the county Public Works Department and the Town of Portville started Dec. 5, 2012, as a way for Cattaraugus County to transfer less-used properties to municipalities, County Public Works Commissioner Joseph Pillittere said.
“Those roads that are the farthest distance from county-owned highway barns are reviewed as possible exchange candidates with municipalities,” he said. “Each road is evaluated on its condition based on county standards. If repair or maintenance is needed it is performed before the exchange.”
“Once the funding and the exchange are approved, the county’s attorney and administrator will begin negotiations with the municipality,” Pillittere said. As the county goes through the process, a similar system is undertaken, and approval or rejection by the municipalities that would receive the road takes place as well, Pillittere said.
Transfer of the road would have a return on investment of repairs in six years, according to Pillittere. In preparation for the transfer, county crews have done cross-culvert operations, driveway drainage pipes, ditching and shouldering, with a final surface treatment expected to come in the summer of 2014. Pillittere said there would also be a reduction of county taxpayer money through no longer having to pay for fuel, resources, equipment and maintenance.
“(The transfer) will allow more focus on other areas within the county’s infrastructure,” he said.