This past year has been a very difficult year for many of our residents and businesses. The June 2006 flood brought extreme hardship to many in our village and town.  Recovery and clean up efforts are still ongoing. It has been encouraging to see residents lending a hand to help others get back on their feet.  

 The following is an update of the damage caused by the June flood.  This data includes only the Town outside of the Village.

 The town (outside the village) had six structures damaged so that they could not be re-occupied. There were 31 structures where the occupants had to leave their homes on a temporary basis (estimated time of a few weeks to a few months) while repairs were being made. And there were 115 structures with minor or almost no damage - the occupants were able to stay in their homes. The initial estimate of damage to homes in the town was $5.5 million.

 There are eight homeowners in the town who wish to have their homes purchased by the town and demolished under the FEMA buyout program. The total assessment for these properties is $423,300 (Full market value of approximately $470,333.) We should be hearing from FEMA sometime in 2007 regarding whether the town will be awarded the funds for these buyouts.

 The town's infrastructure suffered the following damage (with approximate costs) from the June flood:

 Highway: Roads, culverts, highway office and debris removal costs, $364,000.
 Parks: Hickories Park and Campville Commons, $75,000

 Sewer and Water: Apalachin Sewage Treatment Plant, $500,000; Sewer Pumping Systems, $50,000; Water systems (wells and well houses), $550,000.

 Total damage to all of the town's infrastructure and clean-up costs,  $1.54 million. So far we have received $114,803 back from FEMA and SEMO.  

 The following is the status of the repairs:

 Highway Work:  90% of repair work from the June flood had been completed before the November flash flood hit. The November flash flooding caused more damage to our roads, bridges and culverts than the June flood. The flash flooding in November affected a wider area of the town and caused extensive damage, undoing some of the repairs from the June flood. Some road projects will most likely have to be delayed in 2007 until all of the flood damage from the floods in June and November has been repaired. 

 Sewer and Water Repairs: The repairs to the Apalachin Sewage Treatment Plant are approximately 75% complete. The repairs to the Depot Street Water System building have not started.  The town is waiting on FEMA to approve the proposed plan for this building. The building was four feet submerged and all electrical equipment and controls were lost.

 Hickories Park and Campville Commons:  The Hickories Park office has been repaired. Work on the grounds will continue in the spring.  The creek banks in Campville Commons that were repaired after the June flood were damaged again by the November flash flood and will need to be repaired in the spring.

 In 2007 the Town of Owego will continue to process the mounds of FEMA paperwork from both floods and continue the repairs to all the town's structures. The town is also working with experts from the Upper Susquehanna River Coalition, Tioga County Soil and Water Conservation District, NYSDEC, Cornell University, FEMA, and others to assess the storms we have been through and learn what is feasible to lessen future flooding.  

 In addition to completing the flood repairs to the Town of Owego's water and sewer infrastructure the town will continue with two major water and sewer capital projects in 2007.  The town will be refurbishing or replacing all six of the town's forty- to fifty-year-old water tanks and installing emergency back-up power to all of the town's wells. The final capital project (as part of a five-year capital plan) for the thirty-five-year-old Apalachin sewage treatment plant is to replace the original digester covers, which have corroded. (The digesters are the two round brick buildings.)  This project is being ordered by the DEC.  Hopefully, both of these projects will be finished by the end of 2007. 

 The Town of Owego experienced considerable growth in construction of single family residences in 2006. In 2005, eighteen building permits were issued for new homes with an approximate total value of $3.2 million. In 2006, forty building permits were issued with an approximate total value of $7.7 million. This is a 141% increase in the value of new homes for 2006. 

 The Town of Owego has a Web site. Visit us at www.townofowego.com. You will find contact information for all of the town's departments, 2007 budget and tax information, downloadable forms for some departments, links to New York State information and, coming this year, the town's agendas and approved minutes from all our board meetings. If you have any ideas for improvements to the Web site, please let our webmaster know.  

 I look forward to continuing to work with you to make the Town of Owego a better place to live, work and raise a family. My very best wishes for a dry and sunny 2007!