Closing Bolles Hill Road Bridge Although the Bolles Hill Bridge is tentatively scheduled for replacement in the Oct/Nov time frame 2011, there has been some unexpected developments.

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  I got a call, unofficially, yesterday from a Little Meadows Town official updating me on the latest status of the Bolles Hill Bridge.  Here’s the latest status and what we can do to help.
  Bolles Hill Road Bridge Status
  Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection has ordered Little Meadows Borough to remove our bridge on Bolles Hill Rd. by September, 2011. 
  As a result of the bridge being removed, access to NY from Bolles Hill Rd and Frank Mead Road from PA would no longer be possible.  The road would be closed until 2013 unless they vote to proceed with the construction of the proposed new bridge projected for this year.  The vote is expected very soon.
  The Little Meadows Borough Council has yet to fully commit to the permanent replacement bridge because of funding issues due to the storm damage to other Borough roads sustained this year with an already tight budget.  The Bolles Hill Bridge is lower priority to some on the Council than the maintenance of the other Borough roads.  The Borough has already raised taxes last fall to deal with budget issues and is not willing to raise them again.  They also recently met with PA state officials to try to get additional funding but none is available other than a low interest loan mentioned below. 
  The total amount of money in question is $10,000.  This is the amount Little Meadows needs to fund the bridge replacement and repair this year’s unexpected storm damage.   The Town has few options:·         Borrow the money
• ·         Request benefactor grants from residences above the bridge and local business to fund all or a significant part of $10,000
• ·          Defer the Bolles Hill Bridge construction till 2013.  However, there is concern this option could put in jeopardy the bridge completion ever happening.

What we can do

• ·         Voice your support for Little Meadows Board to continue with the planned permanent bridge replacement this year.
• ·         Go to Owego Town meeting Tuesday night (June 21) and request that they help and fund the $10,000.  The Borough has already sent a letter to the Town of Owego requesting monetary assistance and it is on the Owego meeting agenda.
• ·         Residents fund the $10,000 by collecting the money for Bolles Hill residents and local Little Meadows business
• ·         Any other ideas
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I’m going to the Owego meeting Tuesday, I’ll report on the meeting.

Please send this email to anyone else that has an interest in seeing the bridge replaced.  I’ll post updates to the Bolles Hill Bridge blog: http://bolleshillbridge.blogspot.com/ 

Regards,

Bob Gemmel