North Country communities win $9.4 million for sidewalks and safer crossings
Lewis County, North Elba and Colton are among the communities receiving new federal transportation funding for walking and accessibility projects. The North Country awards total about $9.4 million, including $5.5 million for sidewalk construction or reconstruction in Beaver Falls, Port Leyden and Turin. North Elba will receive $3.1 million for sidewalks and crosswalks along Wesvalley Road, while Colton is receiving $731,923 for sidewalks along Route 56 and a pedestrian corridor to Colton-Pierrepont Central School.
The awards are part of a statewide Transportation Alternatives Program round supporting 35 projects. Nearby Boonville is receiving $4.2 million for pedestrian, bicycle, trail and streetscape improvements. The program can cover up to 80 percent of eligible costs, with sponsors responsible for at least a 20 percent match. These are funding awards for planned improvements, rather than announcements that construction has been completed.
Winter utility outlook points to higher electric bills and slightly lower gas costs
National Grid’s new winter bill outlook gives upstate households a mixed picture for the November 1 through March 31 heating season. A typical electric customer is projected to pay 3 to 5 percent more than last winter, an increase of $22 to $39 over the season depending on the region. A typical natural gas customer using 713 therms is projected to pay $9 less.
The figures are estimates based on typical winter weather and market information available at the end of September. Actual household bills will depend on consumption, temperatures, and changes in supply and delivery costs. The distinction matters for North Country residents planning a winter budget: a projected seasonal average does not guarantee a particular monthly bill. Customers struggling with payments can contact the utility about available assistance, while checking drafts and arranging heating-system maintenance before the colder months.
Ogdensburg library seeks $2.8 million for access improvements and museum space
The Ogdensburg Public Library is seeking $2.8 million in Downtown Revitalization Initiative funding for an addition intended to improve accessibility and bring more local history under one roof. The proposal would expand the rear of the library, allowing some book stacks to move into new space and giving existing shelving more room. Narrow aisles and steep stairs are among the access problems the project aims to address.
The three-story plan also includes storage and a kitchen area for cooking programs. It would provide a new home for the Ogdensburg History Museum, which currently rents space in a downtown office building, and bring the museum’s artifacts closer to the library’s historical collections. Funding has not yet been awarded. Residents are being encouraged to make their views known to the DRI committee, which is expected to recommend projects before the end of the year.
Watertown asks for more detail on a solar proposal for its former landfill
Watertown is considering a new solar-energy use for its former landfill, with roughly 40 acres of the 78-acre property identified as a potential project site. The discussion revives an idea that was explored in 2020 but did not become a completed development. Willdan Performance Engineering has presented a range of options, leaving the city to weigh different project sizes and financial exposure.
The largest option carries a wide range of projected outcomes, from an annual loss of about $151,000 to an annual gain of as much as $450,000. That spread makes the assumptions behind the proposal central to the next stage of review. Council discussion also included questions about battery storage. Members want additional figures before reaching a final decision, so the proposal remains under consideration rather than an approved construction project.
SUNY sticker voting closes today with an Oswego student among the finalists
SUNY students, faculty and staff have until 3 p.m. today, October 15, to choose a favorite design in the “I Voted at SUNY” sticker contest. Jamie Farrell of SUNY Oswego is among six finalists whose work is being considered for use at SUNY polling locations during the November midterm elections. The contest gives the region a direct connection to a statewide effort encouraging nonpartisan student civic participation.
The sticker selection is separate from registering or casting an election ballot. SUNY’s voter information reminds students that they may register at their college address or home address, depending on where they intend to vote. The New York registration deadline is October 24, and Election Day is November 3. For students at North Country campuses, the immediate task is to check their registration and polling arrangements while the sticker contest provides an additional campus activity ahead of the election.
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