Please consider reprinting this letter as a Letter to the Editor.
County Executive MaryEllen Odell received this thank you note from Mr. William Binns who wrote to thank her and the various persons involved in solving a long-running drainage problem that affected his property adjacent to the Bike Trail in Mahopac.
December 20, 2013
MaryEllen:
I am writing this letter to thank you for your help in resolving long-term problems I had with the Bike Trail drainage system. I was unsuccessfully seeking to have a portion of the Bike Trail refurbished to prevent flooding onto my property and that of my neighbors.
I thank you for contacting Mr. Fred Pena, (Commissioner of Highways & Facilities), Mr. Christopher C. Ruthven III, (Deputy Commissioner of Parks) and Mr. David Keith, on my behalf. I hope that the public will take notice of the beautification of the Bike Trail, will respect the work it took to accomplish this project and stop disposing their trash, tree prunings and other items into this system.
Chris Ruthven and his work crew accomplished all the work required for the protection of the wetlands while refurbishing the existing drainage system along the northerly line of the former Railroad Right of Way, now the Putnam County Bike Trail. They completely restored the drainage swale, removed grown trees and their roots as well as bushes, built up sludge and various debris. They also cleaned up the area bordering neighboring properties, retrenched the drainage swale, reconstructed the drainage system, installed new drainage stone, etc. once again allowing the flow of storm waters from the wetlands to the drainage tunnel under the railroad tracks/bike trail. In doing so, the wetlands could once again accumulate surface storm waters from roadways and surrounding lands and distribute it via the drainage swale systems which direct the flow of storm waters into local ponds, streams and reservoirs thereby preventing flooding on adjacent properties.
Chris and his work crew worked diligently to refurbish the drainage swale system in a workmanlike manner. I took pictures to show the ‘before’ and ‘after’ accomplishments of this team effort. I will show them to you when I get them developed.
Your loyal friend,
Bill Binns
5 Veschi Lane South
Mahopac, NY10541
(845) 628-7592