Island Dispatch, 2006-02-17

              Island Dispatch for Home Delivery of the Island Dispatch Call 773-7676 S Niagara Frontier Publications proud publishers of Nhgara-WheatHeld Tribune Island Dispatch Lewiston-Porter Sentinel Grand Island Penny Saver www.wnypapers.eom 20 Pages $1.00 February 17,2006 Vol. 61 No. 48 Vikings hockey season ends page 8 Middle school cares page 12 School business partners page 20 South Bridge project estimated at $20 million by Donna M. Webb It took a long time to paint the Grand Island bridges in their current blue, but even though that phase is finished, the construction "blues" will Ikely continue.New York State Thruway Authority officials, reporting on current and future projects affecting both the South and North Grand Bridges announced some significant work for the South Bridge span heading into the Island. Doug Tokarczyk, division construction engineer for the Thruway Authority reported that the South Bridge would be undergoing a $20 million project in 2008 to replace the deck and survey work on the bridge's concrete piers. The project is expected to result in a complete closure of the northbound South Bridge span. Two-Veer Project This is a pretty large project - about a $20 million project," Tokarczyk said. Lane closures will be involved. "The northbound South Bridge will be completely closed. Northbound traffic will be diverted to the other bridge," he said. Tokarczyk expected this to be a two-year project. "They are still designing it right now." The contract will be put out for bids in October 2007, so the actual work will not begin until 2008. He added there are several aspects to this particular project. Referring to the roadway surface, Tokarczyk said, "That whole deck will be cut out and replaced. The Piasecki Construction Co. of Castleton, currently is working on a construction project to remove leadbased paint and repair some steel pieces on the South Grand Island Bridges, (photo by Donna Webb) Slaughter tackles the issues at Town Hall by Donna M. Webb Local jobs, Medicare Part D and crossing the U.S.-Canada border were a few of the big topics when U.S. Rep. Louise Slaughter paid a visit to Grand Island Town Hall on Saturday. The Democrat from Fairport drew about 25 people to her town meeting. "listening to my constituents is so important," Slaughter told the audience. This was the third of her four stops that day in various towns and villages, where she came to present her views and answer questions from the public. Grand Island Town Board members Mary Cooke, Susan Argy and Gary Roesch attended, as did Erie County Legislator Michele lannello, D-Tonawanda, Grand Island.The Company that Got Away The first issue Slaughter addressed was what she called "a dcv- astating blow," to Western New York as the region lost out on a potential 1,000 jobs. The German chemical company, Wacker Chemie AG, had considered building a new manufacturing facility in Niagara Falls and wanted a commitment of 70 megawatts of low-cost hydropower from the New York Power Authority. Lacking that commitment, the German company decided against pursuing a Falls plant. While there was much finger-pointing as to who was at fault, Gov. George Pataki blamed "the inability of the Power Authority to commit to 70 megawatts ... They could find only 35 to 37 megawatts of power that they had available." Slaughter said, "We haven't seen 1,000 jobs come into this part of the state for 20 years. I think it was a colossal blunder." She added, "We have got to sell ourselves. We've lost too many jobs and too many young people." Domestic Policy Differences Concerning the federal budget, Slaughter noted, "Now we've got the largest deficit we have ever had." She said she opposes the idea of permanent tax cuts. "It doesn't make sense - having tax cuts when your country is at war." The congresswoman also mentioned her displeasure with the growth in the number of lobbyists since 2000. She said there were 9,500 lobbyists when President Bill Clinton left office, and today there are about 34,000. That" s 63 for each one of us (members of Congress)," Slaughter observed. Medicare Pari D Slaughter also had harsh words for the Bush administration's prescription drug plan for the elderly, Medicare Part D. "The problem with this drug plan, there is no guarantee that the HMO you sign up with will provide the drugs you need." She said the administrative costs for traditional Medicare amount to 2 percent, while the same costs for HMOs that Medicare uses in its managed-care program are 25 percent to 30 percent. "Look, it should be repealed," she said of the drug plan. "It is an emergency at this point" One of Slaughter's handouts at the meeting explained that she recently co-sponsored a bill called the Medicare Prescription Drug Emergency Guarantee Act. U.S. Rep. Louise Slaughter, D-Fairport, addresses an audience of about 25 at Grand Island Town Hall on Saturday, (photo by Donna Webb) continued on page 2 continued on page 2 KutzbachflElf Associate Broker Krjkm #1 island Agent W[jt^K #1 Company in WNY 745-7S«l©r 628-1719 «• Do yon need to buy or • tell a home? it* Call Linda Katzbach, •••she knows how and wonldlevetonetpyoa. I mmmmmmHm 1 4gg»ggy 2055 Fix Road IIBPBBj Grand Island IBSBI Call Joan for ali your » Real Estate Needs!