Due to HVAC issues, the Clerk’s Office will be closed for the remainder of the day on Friday, December 13, 2024. The office will reopen for normal business on Monday, December 16th. We apologize for any inconvenience.
An Open House will be held on Monday, Dec. 9, 2024, from 5 to 6:30 p.m. at City Centre, One Batavia, City Centre, Batavia, NY to gather public input on the City of Batavia Brownfield Opportunity Area project.
The City of Batavia and Batavia Development Corporation want to know your thoughts on future development of the Tonawanda Creek waterfront near the Ice Rink and the eastern side of the City Centre. The conceptual development alternatives will help the City and Batavia Development Corporation guide the type and character of future development in the two areas.
This workshop is an open house format, so feel free to stop by at any time during those hours that work for you.
For more information contact Tammy Hathaway, Batavia Development Corporation, 585-345-6380, or director@bataviadevelopmentcorp.org.
About Batavia Brownfield Opportunity Area
The Batavia Opportunity Area project is focused on providing redevelopment strategies for areas impacted multiple brownfield, vacant, and underutilized sites. The project is primarily funded by a grant from the NYS Department of State.
2023 file photo of a view from behind the Harvester Center complex in Batavia. Photo by Howard Owens
With goals to improve the east side business climate, revitalize a deteriorating Harvester Center in need of rehab and renovation and increase the city’s tax base, City Manager Rachael Tabelski has recommended that City Council agree to submit a grant application for up to $1 million.
The Restore NY grant is available for communities with populations less than 40,000 and requires a public hearing, which has been set for 7 p.m. Monday in Council Chambers, second floor, City Hall.
“The Harvester Campus project qualifies for Restore NY funding for an extensive demolition project,” Tabelski said in a memo to council. “The owners of the Harvester Campus are looking to strategically demolish six buildings at the campus and commit to redeveloping the remaining buildings into a multi-use campus similar to Larkinville in Buffalo.
“Some of the buildings slated for demolition have been cited by the city as unsafe, and in need of demolition. Removal of these buildings will offer additional parking, lighting and green space to support the remaining buildings, businesses and future redevelopment on the campus.”
Larkinville is a collection of businesses, new apartment buildings and public spaces along Seneca Street in the southeast section of downtown Buffalo and has been promoted as “one of the city’s most impressive transformations.”
Where once sat empty warehouses and vacant parcels, the space now accommodates weekly concerts, food truck rodeos, beer gardens, breweries and distilleries.
Harvester Center has struggled to hold onto certain businesses, losing three eateries, a coffee shop, and a children’s entertainment and adults’ fitness venue in the past year or so.
The Restore NY grant project meets several objectives, according to the resolution, including:
Being consistent with the city of Batavia Comprehensive Plan, Downtown Revitalization Initiative, Strategic Investment Plan, and Brownfield Opportunity Area Plan.
Facilitating effective and efficient use of existing and future public resources so as to promote both economic development and preservation of community resources.
Developing and enhancing infrastructure and/or other facilities in a manner that will attract, create and sustain employment opportunities where applicable.
The hearing is part of a council conference session that also includes time for public comments and discussion about a $1.85 million Restore NY grant for the Carr’s Reborn project at 105 Main St.; taking out a bond for $2.5 million for water meters and installation; a sidewalk improvement project paid for with a $1.4 million grant; and a request from Tabelski to add a building maintenance worker to public works personnel.
The City of Batavia is pleased to announce the appointment of Gabrielle Kolo to the position of Human Resources Director for the City of Batavia. Kolo was selected following an extensive search for candidates and an active recruitment campaign. She will assume her new role on December 1.
An Elma native, Kolo holds a Master of Science in Human Resources Management from the State University of New York at Stony Brook, a Bachelor of Science in Business Studies from SUNY College at Buffalo, as well as an advanced certificate in Human Resources Management, a Public Health Essentials Certificate, and SHRM-SCP Certification from the Society for Human Resource Management.
Kolo currently serves as the Deputy Director of Human Resources for Wyoming County and Wyoming County Community Health Systems overseeing the administration of all personnel actions for the Board of Supervisors, oversite of the Civil Service Commission for the County, schools, and local municipalities in Wyoming County.
Previous to her appointment to the Deputy Director of Human Resources in Wyoming County, she served for 15 years at Genesee Valley BOCES in various roles including the Human Resources Coordinator, Senior Human Resources Assistant, Human Resources Assistant, Program Assistant in Human Resources and Enrichment as well as an Account Specialist in Purchasing. Kolo is a member of the Genesee Area Personnel Administration (GAPA) and the Society for Human Resources Management (SHRM).
“Gabrielle brings a wealth of knowledge in governmental human resource management and I am excited to begin working with her. She is a great fit for the City of Batavia and will help support the City’s workforce with her strategic thinking, ability to lead teams and desire to advance the City’s Human Resources Department,” said Rachael J. Tabelski, City Manager.
Kolo is an avid sportswoman and hunter and lives with her husband in Akron.
City-wide leaf collection will begin on November 4 and continue until December 6.
Residents are asked to rake leaves into piles and leave them in the parkway (un-bagged). Please place it close to the curb line/edge of the roadway without putting it in the street. Do not pile around fire hydrants, trees, utility poles, or signposts. Leaf piles should only contain leaves and no branches, grass clippings, or other materials.
Leaf operations typically have one crew on the Northside working from Grandview Terrace moving West, North of Main Street, and a second crew on the Southside beginning on River Street moving East in areas South of Main Street. A third crew will work using a vacuum along main roads and numbered routes. It takes about 2 weeks to go through the entire city and fluctuates depending on the size of the leaf loads.
Any resident with leaves can also bring them to the Yard Waste Station until it closes for the season. The Yard Waste hours are 12 to 6 p.m. Monday through Saturday until November 2 and will change to 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. from November 4 through the end of the season due to daylight savings time ending.
The Yard Waste Station will be closed on November 28 & 29 to honor Thanksgiving and will officially close for the season on December 14.
IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT LEAF COLLECTION:
Leaf piles must be clear of sticks and all animal waste – if animal waste or other debris is found in the piles, they will not be picked up
Grass clippings, flower pottings, branches, and pumpkins cannot be picked up and residents may bring those items to the Yard Waste Station on Law Street (open through December 14)
Leaves should not block traffic or be piled near intersection corners. This causes sight issues for motorists/bicyclists/pedestrians.
Keep leaf piles clear of drainage ways and catch basins. Blocked drainage leads to localized flooding.
Leaves should not be piled around mailboxes, power poles, fences, fire hydrants or other obstacles.
Do not park on leaf piles. The heat from a vehicle exhaust system could start a fire.
Do not wait to get your leaves out. We will normally collect leaves twice within the month of leaf collection.
If it is snowing, we plow first. If it continues to snow, leaf operations will be suspended.
There is no leaf pickup in the spring.
Contact the Bureau of Maintenance @ 585-345-6400 option 1 if you have any questions.
The Distinguished Service Award is presented to an individual who has put forth extraordinary effort to assist the New York State Association of City and Village Clerks, promote the goals of the Association, and provide support and help to Clerks and those similar positions across New York State.
Daniel Borchert has earned the coveted Master Municipal Clerk (MMC) designation and the Registered Municipal Clerks (RMC) designation, as well as served on the Executive Committee of the NYSACVC from 2006 until 2012. Mr. Borchert served as NYSACVC President from 2010-2012 and has been the NYSACVC Treasurer from 2018-2024.
Dan has always gone above and beyond to provide support and help to our members, assisting the Association in any way possible, usually without being asked. Over the years Dan has served steadfastly with knowledge, integrity and dedication.
NYSACVC is honored to award the 2024 Distinguished Service Award to City Financial Clerk Daniel Borchert of the City of Batavia.
City of Batavia Manager Rachael Tabelski announces the appointment of Tom Phelps, to the position of Director of Public Works for the City of Batavia. Phelps was selected following an extensive search for candidates.
Phelps has served the City of Batavia since 2019 in the roles of Building Maintenance, and Superintendent of Water and Wastewater. Previously he was the General Manager of the Palm Island Indoor Water Park and a special events and entertainment entrepreneur and business owner.
Phelps has a wide background in budgeting, government purchasing, maintenance, building construction, ordinance and employee management.
“I am delighted that Tom will take over the Department of Public Works (DPW) and continue the tradition of operational excellence. He has been a steady and dedicated leader in the City these last four years. His strengths include finding cost saving measures, prioritizing preventative maintenance and overseeing improvement projects at the Water and Sewer Plants,” said Tabelski.
As Director of Public Works, Phelps will jump into many ongoing and new projects in the City including the Police Facility construction, City Centre entrance project, water plant improvement project, wastewater treatment plant (sludge removal, bypass system repair, aeration, etc.) capital improvements, Cohocton/Walnut water line replacement, Pearl Street water line replacement, GIS projects, lead line identification and replacement, ice rink chiller replacement, and HVAC and roof repair projects across City facilities.
In addition, Phelps will oversee the Bureau of Water and Wastewater, the Bureau of Maintenance, the Inspection Bureau, and Engineering Bureau of the City.
The Mission of the Public Works Department is to:
1. Provide adequate, safe and environmentally sound water supply, water distribution, wastewater collection and wastewater treatment processes.
2. Provide safe and efficient vehicular and pedestrian transportation of streets and sidewalks.
3. Provide sufficient, safe parks and facilities for all citizens and visitors to the community.
4. Provide basic building maintenance services to all City owned facilities.
5. Provide for the administration of the New York State Building Code, Zoning Laws, Building Permits, Planning, Zoning, Historic Preservation and Property Maintenance Ordinances.
“I look forward to leading the DPW for the City of Batavia to continue to serve citizens and visitors of the City. This department has many talented and dedicated employees who I am proud to work with. The breadth and depth of the work done by the DPW is sizable from providing clean drinkable water, and eliminating solid waste, to mowing, tree trimming, facility maintenance, and snow removal. The Department is always active,” said Tom Phelps, Director of DPW.
Phelps currently lives in Pavilion with his wife and daughter, as well as having two adult children that are outside the home. In his free time he enjoys camping with family and friends on the family property in Allegany County. Phelps volunteers his services at the Genesee Valley Rotary Camp, Batavia Police Night Out, WoofStock, and Chamber of Commerce Annual Award Ceremony.
All motorists, please be aware the following streets (listed in the following predicted order) will experience traffic delays on Thursday, October 3, between the hours of 6 a.m. – 4 p.m. for resurfacing operations:
Thursday, October 3
Jefferson Avenue
Porter Avenue
Dellinger Avenue
Thomas Avenue
Douglas Avenue
While work is being performed in these areas, local traffic will be permitted to and from their residence/property but should plan accordingly for delays.
All residents/businesses within the work area are asked not to park on the roadway during the operation. All motorists that regularly use these streets are asked to seek alternate routes while the delays are in place.
This work is weather dependent and will continue on the next business day if necessary.
Contact the Bureau of Maintenance at 585-345-6400 opt. 1 if you have any questions or concerns. Thank you for your cooperation.
All motorists please be aware the following streets (listed in the following predicted order) will experience traffic delays on Wednesday, October 2 and Thursday, October 3, between the hours of 6 a.m. - 4 p.m. for resurfacing operations:
Wednesday, October 2
Williams Street
Osterhout Avenue
Evans Street
Jefferson Avenue
Thursday, October 3
Porter Avenue
Dellinger Avenue
Thomas Avenue
Douglas Avenue
While work is being performed in these areas, local traffic will be permitted to and from their residence/property but should plan accordingly for delays.
All residents/businesses within the work area are asked not to park on the roadway during the operation. All motorists that regularly use these streets are asked to seek alternate routes while the delays are in place.
This work is weather-dependent and will continue on the next business day if necessary.
Contact the Bureau of Maintenance at 585-345-6400 opt. 1 if you have any questions or concerns. Thank you for your cooperation.
All motorists please be aware the following streets (listed in no particular order) will experience traffic delays beginning Tuesday, August 27 through Thursday, August 29 between the hours of 6 a.m. – 4 p.m. for milling operations:
Dellinger Avenue
Douglas Street
Evans Street
Jackson Avenue
Jefferson Avenue
Kibbe Avenue
Oakland Avenue
Osterhout Avenue
Porter Avenue
Thomas Avenue
Williams Street
While work is being performed in these areas, local traffic will be permitted to and from their residence/property but should plan accordingly for delays.
All residents/businesses within the work area are asked not to park on the roadway during the operation. All motorists that regularly use these streets are asked to seek alternate routes while the delays are in place.
Resurfacing of these streets is scheduled to begin the week of September 9 and will be confirmed with a future press release.
Contact the Bureau of Maintenance at 585-345-6400 opt. 1 if you have any questions or concerns. Thank you for your cooperation.
In order to keep the public informed on the rules and regulations around parking int he City of Batavia, below are several reminders about the parking regulations as set forth by the City of Batavia Municipal Code and the New York State Vehicle and Traffic Laws.
PARKING REGULATIONS
The link below will send you to the City of Batavia Municipal Code section that outlines specific restrictions on parking in the City, however you should always abide by any signage present at the time as this does take some time to get updated with new traffic orders.
Further the NYS Vehicle and Traffic Law prohibits parking in certain areas, such as in front of fire hydrants and too near intersections. Below is a link to the NYS Vehicle and Traffic Law for further explanation rules.
Special note: Section 1202 of the NYS Vehicle and Traffic law prohibits parking on a sidewalk, this includes parking across a sidewalk or any portion of it.
OVERNIGHT PARKING
The City does not partake in any seasonal overnight parking regulations, parking is prohibited on all city streets and public parking lots between the hours of 2 a.m. and 6 a.m. If you need to park overnight on the street for some reason (driveway sealing, etc.) you may request a "parking permission" by contacting our dispatch at 585-345-6350.
PARKING IN CITY PARKING LOTS
Submitted photo.
Parking spaces in each municipal parking lot are clearly marked and color coded. The color coding corresponds to any time restriction on the parking space. Each lot has several signs that display the color coding as you enter it. The signs should look like the picture to the right.
PARKING TICKETS
Parking tickets are issued by our Parking Enforcement officer and Police Officers as needed. All parking tickets can now be paid on-line, please visit the link below for the site. Parking disputes can also be submitted online approximately 24 hrs. following the receipt of a parking ticket, although handwritten tickets will take an extra business day or two to be entered into the software. https://www.tocite.net/bataviany/portal/ticket We encourage anyone with questions to contact us by calling 585-345-6444 for more information.
The City of Batavia is launching a Hometown Heroes Banner Program as a living tribute for our community to honor past and present members of the Armed Forces and their family members.
The banners will be placed on Redfield Parkway and Richmond Ave. from Memorial Day until Labor Day starting in 2025 and continuing annually. These banners are available for purchase to anyone wishing to honor a loved one and have a life span of approximately 3 years.
If you would like to participate, have someone that you would like to honor, or would like to sponsor a veteran/family, please contact the program administrator at jbest@batavianewyork.com or 585-345-6375. All orders are due by February 1, 2025.
City of Batavia officials are working to get the lead out.
From pipes in a way that’s not harmful to drinking water, that is.
For anyone familiar with the horror stories that came out of Flint, Mich., no one here wants a repeat of that, and they are working hard now to reduce the chances of it happening.
Mike App, executive vice president of Electroscan, Inc., which will be performing work throughout the city to detect lead pipes on properties, gave an overview this week of Swordfish, a technology that can get the job done without having to drill 10-foot-deep holes on someone’s land.
Mike App, executive vice president of Electroscan, Inc.
“We have lead, we have lead everywhere. The reason they used lead, to be totally honest, is because nothing happens to it,” App said during Monday’s City Council meeting. “Unfortunately, reality has come back to get us a little bit. We’re all trying to get rid of it, and when we talk about lead we talk about Flint. Flint was the genesis of the entire thing.”
That genesis has since led to the Environmental Protection Agency creating a deadline and requiring that all 50,000 community water systems complete and submit inventory of their lead service lines by midnight Oct. 16, according to Electroscan’s website. The company takes it so seriously, that it has a clock ticking off a countdown by seconds of how much time remains.
There are some half a million lead pipes within the 60 counties in New York State, App said, and the Department of Health has issued grants to help municipalities, including Batavia, complete this task during the next two and a half months.
Electroscan will mail out a letter to Batavia residents informing them that the company will be making a visit, City Manager Rachael Tabelski said.
“It wasn't random samples. It was actually particular homes where we believe lead could be. So if you do get a letter asking you to participate, we strongly advise it right now. There more than likely isn't going to be high levels of lead coming out of your water system. However, the change over to Monroe County Water, that is the issue,” she said of the city’s future plan to make a switch to the new water source. “Not only is it good to get the lead out in general, but right now, you kind of have enough scale built up where you're not having pieces of lead not coming into your water.
"However, when we do the water and the source change, that's a whole different story, and we will need to have either chemical mitigation of the water coming in or elimination of all wet pipes in the city to make sure all our residents are safe," she said. "So it's a process.”
For anyone not familiar with the water crisis in Flint a decade ago, the city changed its municipal water supply source from the Detroit-supplied Lake Huron water to the Flint River, and that switch caused water distribution pipes to corrode and leach lead and other contaminants into municipal drinking water.
Although there hadn’t been issues with the city’s current water source, that introduction of new water created a crisis that reportedly exposed tens of thousands of Flint residents to dangerous levels of lead and outbreaks of Legionnaire disease that killed at least 12 people.
Batavia management doesn’t want to disturb the apple cart in any such way while planning on a switch to Monroe County Water Authority. They are looking for citizens to help out by responding to the letter if they receive one and making an appointment.
To view a video about how Swordfish works to detect lead pipes on a property, go HERE.
There are three ways to schedule an inspection with the company, and these options will be provided in letters being sent out to city property owners.
They are:
1. Scan the QR code.
2. Visit Electroscan’s website.
3. Call the Electroscan Swordfish Help Line at 315-856-3156 and speak to a customer service representative to book an appointment.
In an ongoing effort to obtain information from city residents about water pipe materials, city officials have issued an open letter asking for assistance. Below is the letter from city Water and Wastewater Superintendent Tom Phelps:
Dear Residents of Batavia,
The City of Batavia is reaching out to request your assistance in an important initiative to ensure the safety and health of our community.
We need your help to identify and replace pipes within our water system, specifically the buried service lines that connect the water mains in the streets to your homes. Regardless of the material your pipe is made of, it is crucial for us to gather this information to protect public health.
In the coming days, you will receive a letter from the City of Batavia Water Department regarding Home Lead Line Testing. We kindly ask that you take a few moments to complete the steps outlined in the letter and report the type of pipe that brings water into your home. Your timely response will greatly assist us in expediting the inventory process of the pipes within our city’s water system.
Additionally, some residents will receive a separate letter from our partner, ElectroScan. Their field crews will need to enter select homes to conduct a survey using a hand-held scanner at the water meter. This survey is expected to take about an hour, during which your water will be temporarily shut off, and your pipes will be flushed before service is restored. Please note that this service is provided free of charge, and no digging will be required. We encourage you to schedule the survey as soon as possible upon receiving the notification.
As part of a nationwide initiative mandated by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), all water systems in the country are required to complete an inventory of drinking water pipes from the mains to residences. The goal is to identify and ultimately eliminate any water service laterals containing lead.
The City of Batavia is a recipient of $1,153,534 to install sidewalk connecting the Jackson Street Elementary School with Batavia Middle School. The award comes from Governor Kathy Hochul as part of a $97.7M Federal Highway Administration’s Transportation Alternatives Program (TAP), being administered by the New York State Department of Transportation.
TAP grants promote alternative, environmentally friendly modes of travel, such as walking, biking or riding mass transit. The funding supports initiatives that improve access to the transportation system for all users and advance New York State’s nation-leading agenda to fight climate change by constructing new sidewalks, shared use paths and other enhancements that facilitate the use of non-motorized modes of travel and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
"The City of Batavia continues to plan and pursue funding for sidewalk projects that promote walkability and healthy living across the City. The $1.1M will help to make needed improvements to the sidewalks on Swan, Ross and South Jackson Street. Keeping sidewalks maintained, especially those on school routes, is beneficial to all our residents" said Eugene Jankowski Jr, City Council President.
The City of Batavia will install over 10,000 linear feet of sidewalks on South Swan, Swan, South Jackson and Ross Streets to connect Jackson Elementary School with Batavia Middle School.
The TAP grant program provides up to $5 million in grant funding for communities to implement alternative transportation projects, funding 80% of the total project cost. The 20% local match is typically covered by CHIPS funding received from New York State to support continual street maintenance.
Currently the project estimates are being refined but the total project cost is estimated to be $1.4 million, making the City’s local match approximately $240,000. The City can use CHIP’s funding in addition to other City funding as part of the City’s local match.
“The corridor slated for improvement encompasses South Swan Street, Swan Street, South Jackson Street, and Ross Street. These upgrades aim to improve safety and mobility for school children, neighborhood residents, including many seniors, and businesses along the route. The proposed project will not only enhance handicapped accessibility but also increase walkability throughout the entire corridor. Additionally, it will establish a connection to previously TAP-funded sidewalk improvement projects along Washington Avenue, near Batavia Middle School,” said Batavia City Manager Rachael Tabelski. “We would like to thank Governor Hochul and our local state representatives for making this award possible.”
File Photo of the spray park at Batavia's Austin Park, where water usually seems plentiful. Photo by Howard Owens
If you haven’t heard or been paying attention, there's been increased focus on water in Genesee County, from drought in some areas causing residents to drive several miles to haul water to their homes and a $150 million Phase 3 water project being mapped out for funding and the physical work, to appeals for citizens to use water judiciously in the face of potential shortages.
The city fire department had to curtail its hydrant flushing this week due to hot temperatures to conserve water.
City management is dealing with other issues as well, which have been dragging on for the last two years. Here are a few updates:
Seneca Power Partners sought to draw water from a city well, while both Seneca and city management argued their cases to the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation in 2022. City Manager Rachael Tabelski said the case is still ongoing.
After a more than four-month review process of paperwork and supporting documentation from the applicant, Seneca Power Partners, and from city, town and county management and legal sources, the DEC has opted to grant Seneca a permit to “add Well D at the Batavia Well Field as a new permanent source of water supply.”
The permit has been granted for five years, with the option for Seneca Power Partners to reapply when that time is up.
“We have the same concerns we had when we issued the letters of concern (in July),” Tabelski said. “We outlined our concerns to the DEC, and we will meet with DPW and our legal counsel to determine the next steps.”
At the time, Tabelski wasn't quite certain how the DEC arrived at its decision, given some confusing supporting information.
“It is my understanding that Seneca Powers’ Application with the NYS DEC to draw water directly from the aquifer is still under review,” she said. “The city, county and town of Batavia continue to work together to prevent this draw of water because the aquifer is a historical low. The aquifer is the city’s primary drinking source of water, which must be protected. Depending on the demand of water and the termperatures we could see shortages in water for customers, and we encourage water users to continue conservation techniques.”
In short, the permit authorizes the withdrawal of up to 698,400 gallons per day, or a total of 26 million gallons per year of water for the purpose of system maintenance, boiler make-up water, and non-contact cooling to support the generation of electric power in accordance with the terms and conditions of this permit. Water will be withdrawn from a new groundwater supply, Well D, located at the Batavia Power Plant.
Given the tenuous condition of the city’s and county’s water supply — with the county issuing similar appeals to taper water usage each summer — The Batavian asked if the city has or is formulating a plan to counteract future potential water shortages.
“The City purchases water from the county but we see ourselves as a partner to the water issues that the county is facing. We work constantly to assist the county with projects at the Water Treatment Plant to increase water production closer to the permitted level at the plant," Tabelski said. "Over $4 million has been invested in the last four years to make improvements at the Water Plant.
“In 2022, a WIIA (water infrastructure improvement) grant was secured by the City and County to complete these projects. At this time, the Batavia Water Plant produces water and services the entire center region of Genesee County."
The Batavian had also asked about the status of the lead survey, however, City Council approved another measure toward this goal during Monday’s business meeting to identify lead water lines in homes.
As a result of a recently passed Lead and Copper Rule, the city will inventory 400 water service lines throughout the city to determine where any lead lines are located. The city issued a request for a proposal to conduct the inventory and made water meter replacements were needed, Water and Wastewater Superintendent Tom Phelps said during Monday’s meeting.
Out of five company bids, a decision was made not to proceed with replacing the meters due to the cost of completing the project, he said. Electro Scan Inc. was the lowest bidder for the inventory portion, coming in at $375,000. The project is scheduled for completion by the end of September, he said.
“We will not be using an intern for this project as the timeline for the Lead and Copper Rule Planning is due in October. Once we have this data collected, the city will be able to use predictive modeling to gain more insight into the actual number of lead lines and prepare our plans for replacement,” Tabelski said. “Currently, we have 28 public sector lines identified as lead, 4,054 unknown, and 0 residential/commercial lines identified as lead, with 5,645 unknown. We need assistance from the community to help us identify lead lines and funding to start replacement.
"A video was recently released to the school district, and we continue to encourage residents and building owners to fill out our survey online that feeds directly into the City’s GIS system for identification, which can be found here: https://survey123.arcgis.com/share/40d14e33590842a088144a45cb1eee6c .”
On a related note, a $120 million expansion project at HP Hood was temporarily halted by the city earlier this year because the town of Batavia had been exceeding its wastewater limits and related wastewater facility agreement. That remains on hold, Tabelski said.
“The City continues to remain hopeful regarding the finalization of the updated Wastewater Facility Agreement with the Town of Batavia. Once the agreement is executed the city will rescind the SEQR challenge to the Hood project specific to the town’s sewer capacity,” she said. “It’s vitally important, fair, and equitable for both city and town residents that the agreement reflects the town’s current usage of sewer and that the percent of town usage is purchased via a capacity purchase agreement.
“Once the agreement is executed, both the town and city have agreed and look forward to moving forward with an expansion study of the Wastewater Treatment Plant for the potential for increased capacity,” she said.
Tabelski sent the town Planning Board a letter on March 13 notifying the group that the city had not been informed in a timely manner that the town had been established as lead agency for the proposed expansion of process lines at HP Hood on Feb. 13, 2024, and the city did not receive word of that until March 4. The city, therefore, objects to the town acting as the lead agency, Tabelski said.
In addition, ”due to violations of the town’s contracted wastewater capacity limit, the project cannot proceed,” Tabelski said in the letter.
Brett J. Frank has served the City of Batavia as the Director of Public Works since March 28, 2022, and previously as the Director of the Batavia Development Corporation. His last day in the office will be July 26.
“It is with mixed feelings that I announce my resignation from the position of Director of Public Works. I will be relocating to Portland, Maine with my family in early August. While I’m excited about this move. I am sad to be leaving the City of Batavia,” said Brett Frank, Director of Public Works.
“As Director of Public Works, he oversaw the Bureau of Water and Wastewater, the Bureau of Maintenance, the Inspection Bureau, and Engineering Bureau of the City. He was instrumental in many of the City’s street, waterline, facility and plant projects that have been completed in the last two years. He will be missed by the City, and I know everyone joins me in wishing him and his family well,” said Rachael J. Tabelski, City Manager for the City of Batavia.
“I’ve worked at the City of Batavia for the past three plus years, initially as the Director of the Batavia Development Corporation and then moving into my current role. The City of Batavia has been the best place I’ve ever worked with, and it’s the best group of people I’ve ever worked with. I’d like to take the time to thank all of the employees that I’ve had the pleasure of working with,” said Frank.
The City of Batavia will be looking to hire the next Director of Public Works. I encourage anyone interested in learning more about the job to contact the City’s Human Resources Department.
The Department of Public Works is responsible for many critical aspects of City government and resident services.
1. Provides adequate, safe and environmentally sound water supply and distribution, wastewater collection and wastewater treatment processes.
2. Provides for a safe vehicular and pedestrian transportation on streets and sidewalks.
3. Provides safe parks and facilities for all citizens and visitors to the community.
4. Provides basic building maintenance services to all City owned facilities.
5. Provides for the administration of the New York State Building Code, Zoning Laws, Building Permits, Planning, Zoning, Historic Preservation and Property Maintenance Ordinances.
The City of Batavia continues to seek funding to address aging water infrastructure and lead service lines across the City.
Currently the City has applied for three separate different water related grants including:
A Water Infrastructure Improvement Act grant for a $4.17 M project to replace two aging water lines including the Cohocton and Walnut.
A Congressional Direct Funding request submitted to Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, Senator Gillibrand, and Congresswoman Tenney for a $3.4 M project to replace aging water lines on Pearl Street.
Filed an Intended Use Plan (IUP) Drinking Water State Revolving Fund (DWSRF) funding request through Federal BIL Funding for the replacement of 900 lead service lines across the City of Batavia.
“The City is dedicated to improving our water system and making necessary repairs on infrastructure to reduce the amount of annual loss of water in the system and remove lead lines from the City. We have had discussions with County, State, and Federal representatives regarding the importance of these projects and look forward to a positive result related to our grant applications,” said Rachael Tabelski, City of Batavia City Manager.
The City of Batavia tracks lost water within our water system and currently in 2023 we lost approximately 23% of water produced at the Batavia Water Plant. This is defined as leakage. Leakage is water lost during transmission between the Batavia Water Plant and the individual meters at customer locations.
“The City conducts leak reports periodically to identify issues with City water transmission lines as a proactive measure to maintaining our water system. The leak report, along with Water Department field work, help the City identify water lines that need repair and replacement,” said Brett Frank, Director of Public Works.
As the City identifies aging and problematic water lines, they are placed into the City’s strategic capital plan and the cost to replace and repair is identified. The City then works to budget for the replacement of water lines through capital reserves and pursues grant funding for these projects.
In the past two years, the City has replaced water lines on Bank St. and Jackson St. which were identified as problematic based on leaks and breaks. Other water line improvements since 2017 include Harvester Ave., Richmond Ave., Union St., South Main St., Brooklyn Ave., and Summit St.
“Batavia is like many industrial North Eastern City’s with aging infrastructure and water loss attributed to aging infrastructure. We continue to plan for, and execute on projects that will improve the system and reduce the lost water. We are encouraged from the support we are receiving on grants for these projects to lower the burden on City residents,” said Tabelski.
According to the EPA, National studies indicate that, on average, 14 percent of water treated by water systems is lost to leaks. Some water systems have reported water losses exceeding 60 percent. Accounting for water and minimizing water loss are critical functions for any water utility that wants to be sustainable.
The Genesee County Health Department receives funding from the New York State Department of Health (NYSDOH) to carry out the Healthy Neighborhoods Program (HNP). Residents in the Town and City of Batavia are eligible to participate.
The program offers free home evaluations for asthma triggers, indoor air quality, lead-based paint hazards, fire risks, and other health hazards. At the home evaluations, residents are educated on asthma management, childhood lead poisoning prevention, carbon monoxide poisoning, radon gas, fire safety and prevention, and other home safety issues. Safety and cleaning supplies are also available to eligible participants.
Staff from the program are going door to door in the City of Batavia to raise awareness about the program and look for participants. At the homes we visit, we leave a door hanger or flyer with contact information for the Health Department.
During the spring we are focusing on Ward 1 (north of East Main Street from Vine Street to the eastern edge of the City) and Ward 6 (south of East Main Street from Liberty Street to the eastern edge of the City). We will be covering other areas of the City later in the year.
Information on the streets we are visiting each week will be posted on the Health Department’s Facebook and Instagram account under GOHealthNY.
Go to https://bit.ly/HealthyNeighbors to request a home visit from the Healthy Neighborhoods Program for yourself or to refer someone to the program. Once the Health Department receives the request, a staff member will reach out to schedule a home evaluation.
For more information, call Healthy Neighborhoods Program staff at 585-344-2580 ext. 5555 or visit www.GOHealthNY.org.
