Senate Resolution No. 873

BY: Senator JACOBS

HONORING the Town of Orchard Park upon the
occasion of its designation as recipient of the
Structures Award by the Western New York Chapter of
American Public Works Association on February 2,
2017

WHEREAS, It is the custom of this Legislative Body to honor those
municipalities within the State of New York which distinguish themselves
through outstanding professional behavior, and enduring commitment to
their community; and

WHEREAS, Attendant to such concern, and in full accord with its
long-standing traditions, this Legislative Body is justly proud to honor
the Town of Orchard Park upon the occasion of its designation as
recipient of the Structures Award by the Western New York Chapter of
American Public Works Association at its Annual Awards Banquet on
Thursday, February 2, 2017; and

WHEREAS, The American Public Works Association (APWA) is a
not-for-profit, professional association of public works agencies,
private companies, and individuals dedicated to promoting professional
excellence and public awareness through education, advocacy and the
exchange of knowledge; and

WHEREAS, Each year, this vital organization presents its Structures
Award to an institution in recognition of its remarkable, innovative,
creative or otherwise stimulating project completed within the last few
years; and

WHEREAS, This year, the Town of Orchard Park received this
distinguished award in recognition of the work done with the Green Lake
Dredging and Dam Reconstruction Project; the Town will also advance to
the next level for consideration of a statewide award; and

WHEREAS, On October 2, 2015, the Town Engineering Department began
draining Green Lake as part of a plan to clear out two to seven feet of
silt and shore up a weak earthen berm which serves as a dam between the
lake and the nearby neighborhood of Green Lake; and

WHEREAS, Dredging over the summer removed 118,000 cubic yards of
silt and sediment from the bottom at a rate of 500 dump truck loads a
day at its peak; as a result, much of the lake is at least eight feet
deep, and is about 26 feet at the deepest part, allowing for more room
for fish to propagate; and

WHEREAS, The success of the Green Lake project is in direct
correlation to the efforts of Highway Superintendent, Fred Piasecki;
Town Engineer, Wayne Bieler; and Supervisor, Pat Keem, whose involvement
is, and always has been characterized by an impressive commitment, an
unbridled enthusiasm, and an uncompromised standard of excellence in all
endeavors on behalf of the community they serve; and

WHEREAS, It is the sense of this Legislative Body that those
municipalities which enhance the well-being and vitality of their
community and have shown a long and sustained commitment to excellence
certainly have earned the recognition and applause of all the citizens
of this great Empire State; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
honor the Town of Orchard Park upon the occasion of its designation as
recipient of the Structures Award by the Western New York Chapter of
American Public Works Association; and be it further

RESOLVED, That copies of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be
transmitted to Fred Piasecki, Highway Superintendent; Wayne Bieler, Town
Engineer; and Pat Keem, Town Supervisor.