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WEBVTT COUNCILORS ASSEMBLED A RESOLUTION FOR US TO PASS, THAT WOULD RECOMMEND US ACCEPTING THE BOARD OF EDUCATION RECOMMENDATIO N THAT THE CITY TAKE OVER ALL THE RESPONSIBILITIE S FOR THE FOOT BRIDGE." THE WEB ISLAND FOOT BRIDGE THAT IS. BUT MAYOR COLIN READ WASN'T ON BOARD WITH THE CITY OWNING THE BRIDGE. "IN VICE OF OUR LEGAL COUNCIL, I DEFERRED THAT ACTION. ASKING THEM TO RECONSIDER." THE BRIDGE HAD BEEN USED BY DOZENS OF PLATTSBURGH HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS. TO GET TO SCHOOL AND BACK. BUT THE WEAR AND TEAR CAUSED THE BRIDGE TO BE SHUT DOWN. NOW THE MAYOR IS LOOKING AT OTHER OPTIONS. "A BETTER ALTERNATIVE WOULD BE, IF WE WERE TO EVEN HAVE A FOOT BRIDGE AT ALL, WOULD BE TO HAVE A NEW FOOT BRIDGE. ONE THAT WOULD LAST FOR 50 OR 60 YEARS." "NATS OF FENCE THIS BRIDGE HAS BEEN CLOSED FOR OVER A YEAR NOW. IT'S BARRICADED BY THESE GATES. FORCING KIDS IN THE AREA TO ADD ANOTHER MILE ON TO THEIR WALK TO SCHOOL. BUT THEY AREN'T THE ONLY ONES WALKING FAR TO GET TO CLASSES. MAYOR READ TELLS ME THAT ARE IN THE AREA OF OAK STREET HAVE TO WALK AS FAR AS A MILE AND A HALF TO GET TO SCHOOL. HE SAYS SOMETHING NEEDS TO BE CHANGED. HIS IDEA, SCHOOL BUSES." "WE COULD ACTUALLY BUY SCHOOL BUSES AND STAFF SCHOOL BUSSES CHEAPER THAN THE CITY'S OBLIGATION WOULD BE TO MAINTAIN THIS BRIDGE." WE REACHED OUT TO PLATTSBURGH SUPERINTENDEN T JAY LEBRUN. WHERE HE SENT THE FOLLOWING STATEMENT. QUOTE "THE BOARD OF EDUCATION AND I WERE VERY ENCOURAGED BY THE COMMON COUNCIL'S APPROVAL OF THE RESOLUTION WHICH WOULD SEE THE FOOTBRIDGE REPAIRED AND RETURNED TO COMMUNITY USE. NATURALLY THEN, WE WERE DISCOURAGED WHEN THE MAYOR CHOSE TO VETO THAT MEASURE. WE REMAIN HOPEFUL THAT THE RESOLUTION, WHICH WAS SUPPORTED BY THE MAJORITY OF THE COMMON COUNCIL, WILL BE VIEWED IN SIMILAR FAVOR BY THE NEW COUNCILORS." READ PLANS TO CONTINUE TO BRAINSTORM IDEAS WITH THE COUNCIL AS WELL AS THE PLATTSBURGH SCHOOL BOARD. "I JUST THINK A LOT MORE CONVERSATION IS NECESSARY BUT I THINK WE ALL AGREE THAT WE NEED TO GET OUR KIDS TO SCHOOL SAFELY."

Advertisement Foot bridge's future in question Plattsburgh school board, city to decide what to do with the Webb Island foot bridge

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Discussions are still taking place about the future of the now-closed Webb Island foot bridge.“Four councilors assembled a resolution for us to pass, that would recommend us accepting the board of education recommendation that the city take over all the responsibilities for the foot bridge,” Plattsburgh Mayor Colin Read said.However, Read wasn't on board with the city owning the bridge.“With advice from our legal counsel, I deferred that action asking them to reconsider,” Read said.The bridge had been used by dozens of Plattsburgh high school students to get to school and back. The wear and tear caused the bridge to be shut down. Now the mayor is looking at other options. “A better alternative would be, if we were to even have a foot bridge at all, would be to have a new foot bridge. One that would last for 50 or 60 years,” Read said.With the bridge being closed for over a year now, it’s forced kids in the area to add another mile on to their walk to school. But they aren't the only ones walking far to get to classes. Read said children that are in the area of Oak Street have to walk as far as 1 1/2 miles to get to school. He suggested school buses could be an option.“We could actually buy school buses and staff school buses cheaper than the city's obligation would be to maintain this bridge,” Read said.We reached out to Plattsburgh Schools Superintendent Jay Lebrun. He sent the following statement: "The board of education and I were very encouraged by the common council's approval of the resolution which would see the footbridge repaired and returned to community use. Naturally then, we were discouraged when the mayor chose to veto that measure. We remain hopeful that the resolution, which was supported by the majority of the common council, will be viewed in similar favor by the new councilors.”Read plans to continue to brainstorm ideas with the council as well as the Plattsburgh school board.“I just think a lot more conversation is necessary, but I think we all agree that we need to get our kids to school safely,” Read said.