Until the sinkhole in front of Schoolhouse Apartments in Waterville is repaired, a solution has been found to provide access for firetrucks.
Waterville Fire Chief Will Beach told the Waterville Village Board at their meeting last week that the trucks cannot get around the narrow driveway in use because of the sinkhole at the bigger entrance. In addition, firefighters would have trouble accessing the one stairwell that allows for a fire hose to go straight up rather than wrap around levels.
The sinkhole, created by the Halloween 2019 storm, remains in front of the driveway entrance as it was the morning after the storm, although now fenced off. Schoolhouse owners and the state Department of Transportation have not agreed on who is responsible for filling the hole and how it has to be done.
Because the sinkhole encroaches on the driveway and is over a culvert, no vehicles are allowed to use that side of the driveway. The solution, Beach and Villages Codes Officer Kevin English said, appears to be to widen the other driveway.
Beach said the sidewalk can be removed to bring the driveway closer to the building, even allowing for two cars to pass each other near the Stafford Avenue entrance.
Beach said once the modifications are made, he will ask Clinton or Hamilton fire departments to bring their ladder truck over for a test run.
In other matters discussed during the one-hour meeting, Board members approved an application to the Edward Barton Trust Fund for a compressor fill station for air tanks for the fire department. Cost is about $50,000.
A First Responder Appreciation Night is scheduled for Wednesday, June 23 at Roc-Star Ice Cream in Waterville.
Board members heard some details from a person interested in buying the village-owned lot on Buell Street. The person and English planned to go over the plan to see if it can be done.
The Board also tabled an offer from someone else for $500 for the property, which…
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