. 

Guest Column: Mayor Gerry Messmer

“We need folks who want to get involved”

The following is one in a series of columns about life in Odessa written by Mayor Gerry Messmer.

ODESSA, Oct. 14, 2024 -- As I wind down my final term in office as mayor, I would like to thank the Odessa Village Board for being so supportive and helping move our projects along. It has been a long seven years and in March it will be time for me to let the next person jump in and take our village to new heights. That could be you!

Odessa really needs folks to step up and run for mayor and two board positions. We have been trying to fill our planning board and could use new energy to work with Watkins Promotions and The Bucket on the Odessa Community Day. We have room at the new village office to host events like a BBQ cookoff or maybe someone will even start up the Odessa Old Home Day again. There are so many possibilities, but we just need folks who want to get involved.

With our new hiking trail, an event could be hosted there like a Halloween Walk, Hike and Sip Wine Tasting or even a cross country race. These things all need volunteers to make them happen. Please consider helping. Perhaps a non-profit community organization could be started up to support the efforts?

During my tenure the Village of Odessa has seen over $21 million in investment into our infrastructure that was long overdue. Our very degraded water system is amid a complete overhaul with the new treatment plant starting construction in the spring. Included will be a two-bay garage, with heat, for DPW to work out of and a state-of-the-art treatment process to ensure clean and safe drinking water for generations to come.

We have long since finished the wastewater treatment system and sewer lines to save Main Street. Many people do not realize that the buildings on the Catlin Mill Creek side, once their septics failed, would be condemned. Water Shed and DEC will not allow construction of new or repair of the old septics along the protected trout stream. There simply isn’t room for them. The sewer system has allowed every building to open a business, except the bank, which has yet to sell.

Currently, the Cotton Hanlon Bridge is in the process of replacement. An application to Bridge NY was approved 18 months ago. Long lead times for steel has delayed construction from this year until next spring. That bridge was built in 1929 and really needs to be replaced as it is literally crumbling.

A huge thank you goes out to Vacri Construction Company for over 2,000 feet of new sidewalks on Church, Merchant, and Maple. They were desperately needed and are a welcome sight to many who we already see using them. They will be a tremendous asset for Halloween and to our daily walkers.

Next spring we can do some street repairs beyond what was done with the water project. We may oil and stone them or even do a 2-inch overlay depending on what is the best option. We did not want to do repair while the streets were being torn up during construction.

As you have noticed, the next stage of restoration has begun which includes topsoil, seeding and straw. Due to the lateness of the season, Vacri will be back next spring to re-seed and take care of the areas that don’t grow. Remember, restoration is required as per our contract. Just give them a chance to get to everything.

We know that the construction has everyone on edge and quite worn out from it, but it had to be done. Other than construction of the new treatment plant, 2025 will bring relief to our streets from early morning beeping of backup warnings and nonstop detours.

I hope everyone has a great fall as we roll into the winter season. October baseball is the best and the football season is just heating up!

Photo in text: Odessa Mayor Gerry Messmer.

To see Mayor Messmer's first column, click here.
To see Mayor Messmer's second column, click here.
To see Mayor Messmer's third column, click here.
To see Mayor Messmer's fourth column, click here.
To see Mayor Messmer's fifth column, click here.
To see Mayor Messmer's sixth column, click here.
To see Mayor Messmer's seventh column, click here.
To see Mayor Messmer's eighth column, click here.
To see Mayor Messmer's ninth column, click here.
To see Mayor Messmer's tenth column, click here.
To see Mayor Messmer's eleventh column, click here.
To see Mayor Messmer's twelfth column, click here.
To see Mayor Messmer's thirteenth column, click here.
To see Mayor Messmer's fourteenth column, click here.
To see Mayor Messmer's fifteenth column, click here.
To see Mayor Messmer's sixteenth column, click here.
To see Mayor Messmer's seventeenth column, click here.