Ulysses board talks ARPA projects, future of youth summer camp and town hall parking lot

The Town of Ulysses board is considering project proposals to fund with the town’s American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) federal money. Some early candidates have emerged, after the town board discussed several items at their board of trustees meeting at their March 12 meeting. 

The board is considering the following projects: 

• A revamp of the town hall parking lot to include storm water protections
• A generator design and installation at the town barn 
• Water and stormwater studies 
• Security doors for the town hall offices
• A summer camp program at the Camp Barton site that would be operated by the town

The entire discussion can be viewed here:

The town still has $196,000 left from the ARPA allocation approved by Congress in 2021. Ulysses had originally been granted $321,947 through ARPA and has used up some of those funds on other items. As per program guidelines, the town will have until Dec. 31 to make decisions on the remaining funds. Once funds are earmarked, they must be spent by 2026.

The projects discussed by the board were scored by town officials based on a number of criteria, including their benefits to town residents’ health and safety, their contributions toward sustainability and efficiency of town operations.

https://townofulyssesny.gov/__cms/docs/2024-Averages_ARPA-Use-of-Funds-Rating-Matrix-Template-Final-Packet_3.8.24.pdf

Town Supervisor Katelin Olson started the discussion at last week’s meeting by noting that the funds will likely not be able to cover the entire list of projects proposed. 

“Realistically we can’t do all of them,” she said.

Among the projects the board discussed in detail was an overhaul to the town hall parking lot, which could be repaved with permeable pavement, which can help reduce runoff by infiltrating rainwater and melting snow.

Olson said that there are several parties who own parts of the parking lot, which has made it difficult for the town to engage in talks with contractors. She said it is likely the town will have to spend on billable legal hours to figure out if they can even spend money on renovations on the parking lot due to the legal questions regarding ownership.

“It would have been done earlier if it didn’t involve so many different pieces,” Olson said. “We are going to need a new design, not just pavement, but the infrastructure around that permeable pavement.”

Trustee Elizabeth Weatherby spoke about the need for overhauls to the parking lot.

“It needs to get fixed. We need better security down there. We need lighting, better stormwater protections,” she said.

The board also discussed setting up a summer camp at the Camp Barton site, which would involve moving the current summer youth camp operated by the town from its current location at Trumansburg Central School District. 

Olson said the move would require an expansion and a sizable starter investment to set up the structure for the camp, as well as other foundational elements like camp policies and programming.

“We can open that to more people,” Olson said. “We need to bring on a consultant to actually set up a summer camp. We run a wonderful camp, but we run it on a facility we don’t maintain. A facility that is a school.”

The board will investigate the project’s costs, feasibility and procurement guidelines, and will discuss status updates at future meetings.

Ulysses Connection appears every week in Tompkins Weekly. Send story ideas to editorial@vizellamedia.com. Contact Eddie Velazquez at edvel37@gmail.com or on X (formerly Twitter) @ezvelazquez.

In brief:

St. Patrick’s dinner for senior citizens

The Trumansburg Lions Club members held their annual traditional corned beef St. Patrick’s Day complimentary dinner for senior citizens in the community on March 13. Lions members

prepared and served over 80 meals to seniors at the Trumansburg American Legion. The seniors, according to a press release issued by the Lions Club, seemed to enjoy their meals and the return of this service to their community after the pandemic had stopped this sit-down dinner. Members of the American Legion provided their kitchen and assisted.

Hutt awarded for ‘service above self’

The Trumansburg Rotary Club recently awarded Brayden Hutt, a sophomore at Trumansburg High School, with its Service Above Self award. Winners of the month award receive a $50 gift certificate to a local business of their choice. For Hutt, that is Little Venice pizza.

Hutt was nominated by Trumansburg Central School District teacher Paul Wiech, who noted that Hutt has grown tremendously as a student and as a person. Wiech works with students on a project that aims to teach others how to make their own maple syrup through a multimedia interactive network. The project’s end goal is to document how climate change has affected maple syrup production over time. 

“This year [Hutt] created an independent study for himself that has him being the maple syrup production manager,” Wiech said. “This requires him to manage all aspects of the process from identification to tapping, collecting and the final boil. He is also responsible for data collection and helping to create how-to videos that his group is sharing with New York state schools to assist them in participating in this project.”

Wiech lauded Hutt for his commitment to teamwork. 

“What makes him exceptional is that he does not do it by himself,” Wiech said. “He works with elementary and middle school teachers and students to guide them through the process. This means he must have the knowledge as well as the ability to share this knowledge and guide others. This coming from a young adult who others would describe as quiet. [Hutt] is selfless in giving his time.”

Rotary’s Service Above Self award was instituted to recognize students in the Trumansburg Central School District, including those who are home schooled, who exemplify Rotary’s motto of service above self. Awardees must also pass the Rotary’s four-way test: of the things they think and do, is it the truth?; is it fair to all concerned; will it build goodwill and better friendships?; and will it be beneficial to all concerned?

At the end of the school year, a student is selected from the group of monthly winners to receive a $1,000 award. Anyone in the community who knows a prospective nominee is encouraged to send in a nomination. Program guidelines and a nomination form are available under “Service Above Self Award” on the Trumansburg Rotary website, tburgrotary.org