Glode acting on survey results

The people of Saratoga have spoken in the surveys for the master plan, and Saratoga Mayor Ed Glode saw the biggest problems named by residents—cleaning up the junk in yards and flood control.

“We have a nuisance ordinance on the books and we’ve talked to the town attorney,” Glode said of noticeable trash around town. “I think we’re going to revise that before we start a huge campaign. That’s next on our list. We just hate to do too many ordinances at one time.”

In order to re-word the ordinance, they will define what a “nuisance” is to include junk.

With regards to flood control, Glode said the issue is complicated and difficult to get a consensus on. “Personally, I’d like to see the river study reform. That would be nice, but I don’t know how long it’s going to take to do that. If we get another big snow pack in … town, I’m just afraid we’re going to start losing things,” Glode said, adding that some agencies at the state level have said that the river is “fine” and to “quit messing with it,” and others have said that they agree help is necessary but they need a plan.

Glode said that with the help of Jon Winters, Director of Public Works, he has been participating in studies and tours of the river that will shed light on what should be done, including a recent tour with the Army Corps of Engineers.

This tour explained the remaining process for the Saratoga Sewer Outfall project. The town is required to test above and below the outfall area, which is a 200 foot area in this case. The area includes a cliff face, which cannot be tested. “We’re hoping for a process that allows us to test what’s going into the pipe, knowing that it will be the same coming out of it. So that’s the other thing we’re waiting for from the Department of Environmental Quality, to see if that’s part of our permitting process,” Glode said.