M'burgh May Extend Clauverwie Sidewalk

MIDDLEBURGH - An extension of an important Middleburgh village sidewalk may be approved as part of the Clauverwie Road reconstruction project.

Mayor Tim Knight said last week that he has received requests from residents to extend the Clauverwie sidewalk to Indian Acres.

A similar request had been made in the past but failed when several properties would not give permission for sidewalks to go on their property.

The cost of the extension could be part of the street, which is a county road, and would be about $20,000, the Mayor said. 

The attitude toward a sidewalk may have changed on the street and there may be more of a willingness to have an extension, Mayor Knight said.

The county does not install sidewalks, but new sidewalks could be part of the project, the Mayor added.

Village officials last week agreed to ask property about placing sidewalks on the street and go from there.

Sidewalks on the street is a safety issue, Trustee Bob Tinker said.

The corner leading to Indian Acres is very tight and "cars are moving" there, Trustee Tinker said.

"It needs to be done," he added.

Village officials noted that the portable speed trailer shows that many people far exceed the posted speed limit.

The village and Schoharie County are teaming up on a Congressional member item to help reconstruct Clauverwie.

Village board members last month agreed to submit a request for federal funding for the project through a member item from Congresswoman Elise Stefanik.

Clauverwie Road needs new water lines, new sidewalks and a road resurfacing.

Mayor Knight said the request has letters of support and is a solid application.

Clauverwie is a county road so the county would be responsible for the road resurfacing. Officials want the water line replacement done before the roadwork. It is harder to get funding for water projects, Mayor Knight noted.

The water project is sorely needed as there have been about 10 water leaks on the street in the last five or six years, Mayor Knight added. 

The funding request would be about $1.3 million.

If the village does not get the funding, the new sidewalks will still be on the schedule to be replaced next year, Mayor Knight said.

The Mayor noted that the village missed out on two federal members items. The village had one approved through Congressman Antonio Delgado's office but then he was named lieutenant governor and the funding was removed. Another member item through Senator Kristen Gillibrand's office was not approved in committee.

The village will be responsible for replacing the sidewalk, a job that will cost about $75,000, the county will be responsible for redoing the street, and the water line replacement will cost between $350,000 and $400,000 will require grant funding. The street reconstruction, about 1,000 feet, will cost between $50,000 to $75,000. A new water line is very important to the project, Mayor Knight added. Drainage may also be part of the project.

A sewer expansion has also been mentioned for the road. Mayor Knight noted that it would probably take more than five years for a sewer expansion in that part of the village.

Other board members said a sewer line is a good idea but not feasible at this time because of the cost.

The results of the Clauverwie project submission should be known in two to three weeks, Mayor Knight said last week.