F’ville sets 2021 goals, recaps 2020 highlights
Jason Klaiber
Contributing Writer
At its Jan. 11 meeting, the Village of Fayetteville unveiled goals for the new year and recapped notable area developments that occurred in the last.
As has been customary year to year, Mayor Mark Olson laid out the village’s top 10 initiatives, this time at the outset of 2021.
“I think it’s important that we put together a roadmap of what is gonna make our village thrive during the next year while also trying to make sure that we can obtain these goals,” Olson said.
Taking the No. 1 spot was the aim to make progress on the project involving construction around Bishop Brook and Limestone Creek.
Olson also said that he plans for the village to roll out initiatives headed by its newly formed communication committee while also starting up the Fayetteville Cares program, which would entail the coming together of community members to help residents in need during the holidays.
The list of goals also included Limestone parking reconfiguration, Coulter Park improvements and the intent to work with FEMA and state officials to help residents in the floodplain area.
Olson plans for the village to collaborate with Minoa to pass tax caps legislation from the state while also stabilizing the tax rate.
“During the pandemic, I think it’s more important than ever to try to do the best we can without raising taxes and continue to do the programs that we do,” Olson said.
In addition, Olson said he expects to start the process of updating the comprehensive plan for the village.
He also said he would be willing to have the village step in and help local Eagle Scouts finish the creation of a dog park at Duguid Park.
Recapping the year 2020, Olson mentioned that ambulance billing was revised to meet the same criteria for all three villages in the town of Manlius.
He said that the village’s deer culling agreement was approved by the county and that a mandatory referendum for Length of Service Award Programs (LOSAP) was approved.
Olson also said the village had closed on acquiring 12 acres of land near Brookside Lane and had approved a Water and Environment Protection (WEP) agreement for a sewer system lease.
He further noted that a safety plan for ice clearing on Beard Pond was approved and that yoga classes were started in Beard Park.
The Salt Springs Bridge over Bishop Brook, the BoxCast live streaming technology as well as the village’s first-ever duck permit were all approved as well.
Other highlights included the fire station’s full switch to LED lighting and the county’s awarding of a $275,000 Main Street grant to the village.
The village also oversaw construction on the Fayetteville Senior Center and utilized its set guidelines for pandemic preparedness.
“I want to again thank everybody who has worked so hard in this pandemic,” Olson said. “It is not over by any means, but we continue to learn how to deal with it on a daily basis.”
