The Town of Owego: 
2003 in Review and Looking Ahead to 2004
by Carol Sweeney, Town of Owego Supervisor

 The Town of Owego continues to be a great place to live, with clean water, well-maintained roads, and ample sewage capacity, not to mention
a friendly and hard-working population and a beautiful rural and small own environment. That said, the town faces challenges due to the continued economic stress in our local area, as well as the budget troubles facing New York State. However, the Town of Owego continues to be able to provide the services that are essential to basic public function as well as those things that add to the quality of life.

 In June of 2003, the beautiful new Court Street Bridge opened as the main entrance into our historic village. Everyone from Bernadette Castro, Commissioner of the NYS Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation, NYS DOT Region 6 Officials to members of the Court Street Bridge Committee are to be commended for working so hard to bring this beautiful bridge to our area.

 The town continues to responsibly maintain our sewer and water infrastructure. This past year we completed the second year of a five-year capital improvement plan that the DEC ordered for our thirty-two-year-old Apalachin sewage treatment plant, adding emergency back-up power and improved aeration. We are now starting the engineering to replace the original digester covers, which have corroded. The town has so far utilized a $323,000 EPA grant along with town sewer funds to pay for the upgrade. Once this upgrade is complete, there will be even cleaner effluent to the Susquehanna River and better odor control at the plant.

 Our other sewage treatment plant near Sanmina and Lockheed Martin continues to function well and serve the needs of our industries, commercial establishments and residents in that area. In addition, over
the last three years we have been in the process of rebuilding or rehabilitating the town's fourteen sewage pump stations. By the end of
2005, the town will have completed this major upgrade.

 The town is just starting a five-year capital improvement program for our water system. By the end of 2008, the town will have provided emergency back-up power for all of our wells, as well as rehabilitating or replacing all of the thirty- to forty-year-old reservoirs. Our wells are in excellent condition with ample capacity to serve our future needs. During 2003, the town extended water service to 61 residences in the Griffin Drive/West Brookside Avenue area.

 Hickories Park was well utilized again this last year. The Hickories generated $158,530 in camping and pavilion rental revenue this past year
which is used to help offset the property tax. New soccer fields are scheduled to be added to the Campville Commons Park this year to meet the needs of all our youths. We are looking forward to everyone being
able to continue to enjoy all of our parks in 2004.

 The town's Assessment Equity Project was completed this past year. Due to the successful completion of this project the town received a state
aid check in the amount of $45,700 and will annually be eligible for this aid as long as we continue to maintain an equitable assessment role.

 As Supervisor of the Town of Owego, I remain dedicated to ensuring that the town provides the services and facilities that help to maintain a good quality of life and that are attractive to residents and businesses. As we deal with the challenges before us, I value your input and ideas. Please contact me at the supervisor's office at 687-3535. 

 My best wishes to you for a wonderful 2004!