At its July 20 meeting, the Liverpool Village Board of Trustees approved an Onondaga County Parks plan to install a “Card-Activated Gate Lift” at the entrance to Onondaga Lake Park at the base of Vine Street.
The gate would control traffic entering the East Trail for access to the marina and collect user fees for the boat launch and marina.
Before they voted to approve the plan, the trustees heard from Onondaga County Parks Commissioner Bill Lansley and attorney Ted Spencer.
A partner in the Syracuse-based Mackenzie Hughes law firm, Spencer said the gate lift would help ensure the safety of park visitors.
The attorney welcomed village input on relevant signage and promised that county parks crews would take care of snow removal around the gate. Trustee Christina Fadden Fitch said she’d like to see signs welcoming park visitors into the village business district.
Fitch asked Spencer is a traffic study had been conducted, and he replied that the county considered such a study unnecessary.
Lansley and Spencer were accompanied by Onondaga County Parks Administrative Director Nate Stevens, who had briefed the board about the proposed gate at previous meetings.
Trustee Jim Rosier asked Lansley if the gate plan was prompted by financial concerns or safety concerns. Lansley said it was designed for safety of park visitors.
Rosier then moved to approve the plan and Trustee Dennis Hebert seconded the motion which was passed with five stipulations:
- The turn-around at the base of Vine Street would be widened to 24 feet.
- Two county vehicles normally parked at the turn-around would be relocated.
- Snow removal would be done by county crews from Brow Street to the gate.
- A second gate at the base of Sycamore Street near the Onondaga Yacht Club should also be considered.
- Access for emergency vehicles must be ensured.
The gate would be controlled with card-access or keypad entry, Stevens explained at a meeting in the spring. The outflow would be monitored by a magnetic sensor which would lift the gate when a vehicle approaches.
At the trustees’ May 18 meeting, Stevens reported that the county legislature approved the expenditure of $65,000 for the project, with plans to construct it this summer.
Police stats for June
Liverpool Police Chief Don Morris informed the village board via memo at their July 20 meeting that officers issued 105 citations for violations of the state’s vehicle and traffic laws during June, after making a total of 166 traffic stops. Nine traffic accidents were investigated last month.
Officers conducted 190 residential checks during June, and officers responded to a total of 445 complaints and calls for service.
