The Town of Owego continues to be a great place to live, with clean water and air, and well-maintained parks, not to mention a friendly and hard working population and a beautiful rural and small town atmosphere. This past year has fortunately been a much drier year than 2006 was for our residents.  The town spent a good portion of the year finishing work on FEMA projects from the floods in 2006 and working on major water and sewer construction projects. 

 The following is an update of the construction and cleanup after the two record-breaking floods in 2006.  This data includes only the town outside of the village.

 The town received approval from FEMA to go ahead with a buyout program for the eight homeowners who had expressed an interest in this program. As of today there are five homeowners who wish to have their homes purchased by the town and demolished under this voluntary buyout program that is funded by FEMA and NYS. The total pre-flood assessment for these properties was $260,400, with a full market value of approximately $325,500.  The town will be closing on these houses and demolishing them in 2008.

 The following is the status of the FEMA flood repairs:
 Highway Work:  All of the roads that were damaged in the floods of 2006 have been repaired. There is still clean-up work to be done in the ditches and creeks from these record-breaking storms, which is ongoing.

 Sewer and Water Repairs: The repairs to the Apalachin sewage treatment plant are approximately 80% complete. Outstanding work to be done includes installing door dams throughout the treatment plant (to keep out any future flood waters) and relocating the underground electrical wiring overhead. The reconstruction of the Depot Street well house has not started. The town is working on payment issues between FEMA and the town's insurance company.  Since this building was four feet submerged and all electrical equipment and controls were lost, the new building will need to be elevated four feet above its current elevation so that it is above the 100-year flood level.

 Hickories Park and Campville Commons:  The Hickories Park office and grounds have been repaired and were enjoyed by many this past year.  The creek banks in Campville Commons that were damaged again in the November 2006 flood are scheduled for repair in the spring of 2008.

 The town has been 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 do to lessen future flooding.  

 In addition to completing the flood repairs to the town's water and sewer infrastructure the town proceeded with two major water and sewer capital projects this past year.  The town replaced three of its oldest reservoirs with new concrete wire-wound tanks and re-painted the other three steel tanks. In addition, the town is in the process of installing emergency back-up power to all of the town's wells so that, in the event of losing power for any length of time, water will still be available for our residents. This major capital project will enable the water department to be able to supply water reliably for many years to come. The final capital project (as part of a five-year capital plan) for the 36-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 was ordered by the DEC.  The first digester cover (roof) is currently being installed and the other digester cover will be done in the spring of 2008. 

 Construction of single-family homes again was strong in the Town in 2007. This past year thirty-five building permits were issued for these homes with an approximate total value of $5.8 million.  

 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, 2008 budget and tax information, downloadable forms for some departments, and links to NYS information. 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 wonderful 2008!