HOUSING AUTHORITY: Bringing in the garbage

Local News

March 17, 2010

Garbage system move approved for Packard Court and Jordan Gardens

By Mark Scheer Niagara Gazette The Niagara Gazette Wed Mar 17, 2010, 12:08 AM EDT

NIAGARA FALLS — The Niagara Falls Housing Authority will spend $94,000 on a garbage collection system upgrade at Packard Court and Jordan Gardens.

Members of the authority’s Board of Commissioners agreed Tuesday to a contract for the work with Valeri Concrete and Construction, the lowest of three bids received for the job.

The project will result in trash collection containers being moved closer to each of the 266 units at Packard Court and Jordan Gardens. By locating the trash containers closer to residents’ entrances, officials are hoping they will be able to reduce the amount of loose trash on and around the grounds at both sites. Housing authority officials maintain the project will improve the appearance of both sites and help keep rodents at bay.

The contract with Valeri calls for the company to excavate areas adjacent to rear doors at each of the 266 units at both sites and install stone bases and concrete slabs. In addition, the company is being asked to replace 432 clothes posts and 266 garbage posts, backfill all the holes and seed the area. Authority officials said removal of the posts was needed because they are in poor condition, pose a maintenance concern and also hamper trimming the lawn. Authority officials maintain the work will create a safer, more aesthetically pleasing environment and help to reduce the cost of the authority’s lawn maintenance contract. Valeri also will be expected to replace 3,500 square feet of sidewalk in “areas of disrepair.”

The board approved the contract by a 5-1 vote. Commissioner Antonio Restaino voted against the measure. Before voting, Restaino questioned the terms of Valeri’s bid, noting that $94,000 was significantly lower than the other two bids up for consideration. Both of those bids exceeded $200,000.

Deputy Executive Director Patricia Barone indicated HUD guidelines were applied in reviewing the company’s bid. She also said staff rechecked the numbers and determined the bid was accurate and included all work as specified in the documents. She noted the authority’s in-house estimate for the work was $125,000 and that Valeri has worked on other authority projects in the past with success.

“They guaranteed us that they would be able to do it for this particular amount,” housing authority Deputy Executive Director Patricia Barone said.

Funds for the project are available through a grant under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. Barone indicated the authority had a deadline for using the funds or they would be returned.

Text Only | Photo Reprints

Local News

Long-range forecast favors ‘liquid’ over ‘icy’ precipitation
The climate trend that’s emerged this winter — brief spells of cold and minimal snow cover, broken up quickly by warmth and rain — apparently will hold into spring.

February 12, 2012 1 Photo
Village of Lewiston officials investigating parking as crowds loom on horizon
Parking in the Village of Lewiston is a major concern, especially when festival and concert season rolls around. Fixing it is a different matter all together, however.
Mayor Terry Collesano says the village board is investigating several small changes to parking which could provide better access once the people begin rolling in.

February 12, 2012
CITY BEAT: Can you hear us now Congress?
Feeling down? Depressed? Upset because another football season has ended?
Confused because people actually watch things like “The Bachelor” or “The Voice?”

February 12, 2012 1 Photo
Woman reportedly swept over Horseshoe Falls
Niagara Regional Police cruisers swarmed Table Rock just past 4 p.m. Sunday after getting reports of a woman going over the Horseshoe Falls.

February 12, 2012
Sheriff’s office closing in on Rocky’s successor
Friends of Deputy Craig Beiter of the Niagara County Sheriff’s Office are planning a benefit on Feb. 26 to raise money to buy and train a new dog for the K-9 Unit.
Beiter’s German shepherd, Deputy Rocky, was killed while on duty in January, and the sheriff’s office is close to getting a replacement.

February 12, 2012 1 Photo
Robber runs into wrong clerk in Wheatfield
Niagara County Sheriff’s deputies were called to a River Road convenience store Saturday night for an attempted robbery.

February 12, 2012 1 Photo
A big test for Niagara Charter School
The first official day of classes at the Niagara Charter School is a day Pastor Jesse Scott will never forget.

February 12, 2012 1 Photo 1 Slideshow
Time Warner, MSG fight could last through the end of the NBA, NHL regular seasons
As the glow fades from the Giants’ Super Bowl triumph, some New York sports fans are tuning in to basketball and hockey, with the Rangers in first place and the Knicks’ overnight sensation, Jeremy Lin, sparking “Lin-sanity.”

February 12, 2012
NIMAC gets boost from Legislature
The Legislature approved giving $40,000 on Tuesday to the Niagara Military Affairs Council (NIMAC) to assist its ongoing effort to keep the Niagara Falls Air Reserve Station open and active in defense work.

February 12, 2012
SLIDESHOW: Niagara Charter School Niagara Charter School opened with an initial enrollment of 264 students in grades kindergarten through fourth. The school has added fifth and sixth grade students since then and this year has an enrollment of about 350 students. This year, staff members are preparing to prove to the State Education Department that it made the right choice in allowing them to open the doors back in 2006.
February 12, 2012 1 Photo
More Local News Headlines

Do you think cigarette sales to non-Native American customers should be taxed on reservations?