VILLAGE OF MANLIUS – During the Nov. 9 Village of Manlius Board of Trustees meeting, Scouts BSA member Alex Thomas presented his Eagle Scout Service Project proposal and requested the village’s assistance.
Thomas explained that his project will involve repairing the Mill Run Park bridge that runs over Limestone Creek to an island.
“I want to do this, because [I used that bridge] a lot as a kid, and I know a lot of my family members and neighbors around my area loved that bridge as well,” Thomas said.
To fix the bridge, Thomas plans to support the structure in its center.
“First, what I have to do is [put] a concrete abutment midway through the bridge so I can jack it up,” he said. “[Then] I’ll replace the abutment that is rotten on the [island side]. I’ll replace that with railroad ties — it currently is railroad ties. On the concrete abutment I created, I’ll support it with railroad ties, and then it will be supported midway through the bridge, so that it will hold up and it will hold the weight.”
Mayor Paul Whorrall commented that a group of individuals from the village, including Department of Public Works (DPW) Superintendent Chris Sherwood, DPW Assistant Superintendent Jeff Lewis, and Codes/Zoning Official Mike Decker, had already met with Thomas, and that they planned to oversee the project and provide any necessary equipment and assistance.
According to Whorrall, the project will cost the village approximately $500.
“Believe me, that is far, far less than what we projected when I talked to Chris and Jeff about what it would cost to replace that bridge or remove it totally,” Whorrall said. “Anybody that goes to Mill Run and has young kids knows that that’s a highlight, going across the bridge to the island and going down below into the creek looking for crayfish and everything else.”
The mayor added that a day before Thomas came to see him the previous week, he had instructed Sherwood to pull the bridge out completely for safety reasons.
“You came at the right time,” Whorrall said to Thomas.
When Village Trustee Hank Chapman inquired about what would happen if Thomas was injured while working with the village, Thomas’s father explained that because the project is a Scout event, they are covered under their own insurance policy.
Following the discussion, the board voted to approve the expenditure of $500 to support the Eagle Scout Service Project.
In other news
Recreation Director Christine Roet reported that the Village of Manlius Recreation Department is planning its First Annual Holiday Parade of Lights in addition to the traditional Tree Lighting Ceremony on Sunday, Dec. 5
The tree lighting ceremony, which will be held from 4 to 6 p.m., will include a story time and carnival games from 4 to 4:45 p.m., carols led by the Wellwood Voices Choir at 4:45 p.m., and a special appearance by Santa.
The holiday parade will step off at 5:30 p.m. from Stickley Drive at 5:30 p.m. Registered vehicles will be asked to line up in the parking area across from 6 Stickley Drive by 5 p.m.
Businesses and families interested in lighting up their vehicles and joining in the parade can register online at manliusvillage.org
During his trustee report, Parks and Recreation Liaison Tom Pilewski commended Roet for her service to the village.
“I am very pleased with the performance of our rec director,” Pilewski said. “. . . Things are really, really in a great spot.”
For more information on the rec department, call Roet 315-682-7887 or email [email protected]
Later in the meeting, Chapman made the following motion: “To add the posting of public hearing notices on our website as part of the notification procedure of the village as a general practice and procedure, with the understanding that failure to post such notices due to things like staffing shortages, IT service issues, or similar issues, shall not constitute a failure to provide proper official notification as required by law.”
The board voted unanimously in favor of adopting the motion.
