FULTON – At last night’s teleconference Common Council meeting, as part of the short agenda, the council voted to decommission the Sharp’s Pond dam, an issue that community members discussed last year.
The plan is to deconstruct the dam and allow the water feature to return to its natural form – a creek. The Common Council declared the project will result in no major impacts and therefore will not cause any significant damage to the environment.
When put to a vote, three councilors voted yes and three voted no, causing for Mayor Deana Michaels to cast her tie-breaking vote – yes, to decommission the dam.
Councilors who voted no: First Ward Councilor Tom Kenyon, Fourth Ward Councilor John Kenyon, Fifth Ward Councilor Audrey Avery.
Councilors who voted yes: Second Ward Councilor Doug Chapman, Third Ward Councilor Don Patrick Jr., Sixth Ward Councilor Larry Macner.
Previous coverage of Sharp’s Pond (chronological order):
- https://oswegocountytoday.com/state-forces-the-end-of-sharps-pond/news/fulton/
- https://oswegocountytoday.com/fulton-council-hits-the-brakes-on-sharps-pond/news/fulton/
- https://oswegocountytoday.com/fulton-dpw-commissioner-presents-sharps-pond-project-timeline/news/fulton/
- https://oswegocountytoday.com/fulton-community-members-speak-on-sharps-pond-at-common-council-meeting/news/fulton/
- https://oswegocountytoday.com/dpw-commissioner-clears-air-on-sharps-pond/news/fulton/
Also during the meeting, all councilors voted against authorizing the City Clerk/Chamberlain to advertise for a public hearing in regards to amending Local Law section 640-17 B, Central Business District at the next Common Council meeting.
The council voted to approve a lease agreement with Enterprise FM Trust for one new and unused replacement vehicle due to accident and total loss for the Police Department. The vehicle is a 2020 Ford Police Interceptor Utility All-Wheel Drive.
The agenda documents can be found here.
Polling of the council following the agenda:
Second Ward Councilor Chapman said he hopes everyone is doing well and hopes the COVID-19 pandemic will soon go away.
“I would like to continually commend all our departments, especially the DPW on the job they’re doing with the yard waste; they’re flying through the wards, doing a great job. Nothing but compliments from the residents. Not only are they picking up the yard waste, they’re cleaning up after themselves. They’re doing a great job,” said Third Ward Councilor Patrick.
Patrick also thanked the mayor for keeping the council up to date and hopes everyone stays healthy. He said he has had to deal with COVID-19 first-hand with his father being ill and worrying about his wife.
Fourth Ward Councilor John Kenyon thanked the mayor for meeting with him in regards to an issue in his ward.
Fifth Ward Councilor Avery said she is pleased that a section of 481 was weeded, wishes for everyone’s safety and health, said for residents to call the police if they see anything suspicious in their neighborhoods, and said Patrick’s father and wife are in her prayers.
Sixth Ward Councilor Macner said he is glad that the region is in Phase Two or reopening and is sure Phase Three will come soon with the decrease in the COVID-19 numbers and hospital admittances. He encouraged people to utilize the half-mile trail at Van Buren Park should they want to get out for some exercise.
“Hang in there and be patient,” Macner said. “Help a neighbor if they need it.”
Mayor Michaels said she thanks the community for coming together to put up the tribute flags in the city to honor the community members who serve the country, including her brother and nephew who both serve in the U.S. Air Force.
She said with the wish for the the program to continue, she reached out to the Oswego County Federal Credit Union and there are now a limited number of spots reopened for those who are interested.
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Sucks we have a mayor who wants to tear down something our people have enjoyed for decades. I was hoping they would spend the money needed to fix the dam. I don’t believe the million dollar estimate CJ gave us last year, that number seems just pulled out of the sky. But it is what it is and we stuck with her. Maybe next decision will be better for our town. Peace out.
I agree, would like to know where the million dollar amount came from…would also like to know how much the the new police car is costing…I texted/e-mailed the mayor 3 x…maybe she’ll answer soon
Took them long enough maybe, it will cure the drug problem there. If not lock it off with a gate.
Very disappointed in the vote to decommission Sharpe’s Pond Dam. This man made pond was constructed by our for fathers of the city and now this part of Fulton’s history is gone. Sharps Pond was enjoyed by many over the years including myself. It saddens me to see it gone. Say nothing about the wildlife that will be effected from this decision. I was so hoping the new Mayor would see the importance of saving the pond.
Our beliefs are same Bonita Woodward u couldn’t find a safer place for the kids to play. There is no traffic to worry about these people need something to do in this city and that was always a great place to spend the day. There have been so many wrong decisions from taken downtown down and are still to this day. I don’t have all the answers but i do have a few.
Biggest mistake Fulton made was to believe things would change. Very sad. In the name of Progress our Historic Downtown was taken down(and we all know how that worked out for Fulton), In the name of Progress thousands and thousands of dollars were spent on a splash pad(that still isn’t finished) Now in the name of Progress Again a Historical Site is being removed. Two people that didn’t grow up in Fulton voted to decommission the Dam…Now they will wind up spending Hundreds of thousands of Dollars to make the area a usable site. Very sad. I want to thank Tom,John and Audrey for supporting the people and voting NO on this issue. I want to say shame on you Don,Larry and Doug(the Lake guy) save a lake but not a pond and Mayor for voting YES on this issue.
Wasn’t her campaign big on saving this pond?! What is going on here.?! Horrible decision made voting her in. I can see that now. Nothing she had promised has come to be. Total disaster. Unfortunate for us tax payers not to have a voice! Unbelievable 🙁
Cry,cry,cry about this crap hole.when was the last time you were there? Started down the road to the druggies about 8 or 9 years ago. So hang on to your memories of years ago.
The pond is not the cause of the drug problem in Fulton!!! The drug problem is all over the city!!! I was at the pond this spring for you information and saw potential for an area for the youth of Fulton to go and enjoy. . Take your negative energy and focus on the real problem in Fulton .. No one here is cry about the pond we are stating our opinion as well as you. Last I knew it is freedom of speech!!. Further more I will hang onto my memories of good people and good times.
I would like to purchase that property. Sell to me and I’ll take full responsibility and pay full market tax for the land. That way it’s no longer a “city liability” Sell to me and the community can make the choices with what I do with it. That will be the end of this on going issue right? Because the city is worried about liability rather than what the citizens want or pay for? I go there a lot to check in on the park and rowlee beach. Very sad to see. I’m hopeful they will sell.