Motorists are expected to have a smoother drive on Richmond and Harvester avenues now that City Council has agreed to move a $3.6 million project for final approval later this month.
The project is considered “preventive maintenance” and T.Y. Lin International had already been selected as project engineer during a request for proposals process. The company will assist the city in bidding the project and oversee construction. On Richmond, it will run from Oak to State streets and from routes 5 and 33 to Route 63 on Harvester.
Council is expected to award a contract during its next meeting, City Manager Rachael Tabelski said.
If all goes as expected, completion of both avenues should be done by Nov. 30, she said.
From asphalt to topsoil, council also approved a transfer of Batavia Community Garden from the city to Cornell Cooperative Extension of Genesee County.
Cornell Cooperative will take care of the property and administer related funds for a yearly fee of $2,500, plus an initial $1,000 for the current 2022-23 fiscal year.
Cornell staff is to also assist the Community Garden Committee with operations, technical and administrative support and educational programming to all garden participants.
City Council President Eugene Jankowski said that Cornell Cooperative Executive Director Jocelyn Sikorski was happy about the arrangement and that “I think we’re in good hands,” he said.
Sikorski said that agency staff has been involved in the garden since its inception in 2011, and there is a core of volunteers to help out.
“It fits in our wheelhouse,” she said. “The city asked if this is something our association was interested in, and it’s a perfect fit.”
Since it began, the Community Garden has grown from four raised beds to 42 raised beds in 2020 over the course of nine years.
A memorandum of agreement is for a five-year term.
Assistant City Manager Jill Wiedrick, who recently announced she would be leaving her position, had previously presented the garden idea to council. Tabelski thanked Wiedrick for her work this past year and wished her the best as she moves on to another job in Fairport. Friday will be Wiedrick’s last day.
Photos by Howard Owens
