Category: News

Trash Bin Exchange Begins in October!

Posted on by Village Administrator

The exchange of 64-gallon trash containers will begin in October! Bins will be exchanged during your regular trash service day. Please leave your current bin at the curb as usual so it can be exchanged.

The exchange will take place over several service days, so don’t worry if you don’t have a new bin right away.

If you selected a 96-gallon container, you will keep your existing one and continue to place your garbage out on your regular trash service day.

As a reminder, the new rates based on bin size took effect on September 1st.

Thank you for your patience as we work through the transition!

Statements of Qualifications Being Sought from Consulting Firms for a New Village Comprehensive Plan

Posted on by Village Administrator

The Village of Potsdam is seeking statements of qualification from experienced urban planning consulting firms or teams to guide the preparation and adoption of a new Comprehensive Plan with Sustainability Elements.

The project has been funded in part by the Climate Smart Communities Grant Program, Title 15 of the Environmental Protection Fund through the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation. The resulting Comprehensive Plan will integrate Climate Smart Communities and Smart Growth principles and establish a framework for future land use planning, sustainability initiatives, climate resilience efforts, and zoning updates within the Village. It will incorporate planning for biking and walking as well as an updated Complete Streets policy which will be informed by a Safe Streets for All Comprehensive Safety Action Plan that is currently being developed.

The project is anticipated to begin in the Fall 2026 and completed in late 2027. Submissions should be emailed to the Village Clerk-Georgine Scott at gscott@villageofpotsdamny.gov by Thursday, October 1, 2026, at 1:00pm. Click here to view Request For Qualifications information.

Potsdam Invites Community to Identify Traffic Safety Concerns

Posted on by Village Administrator

The Village of Potsdam, in partnership with the Town, is beginning work on a Safe Streets for All (SS4A) Comprehensive Safety Action Plan to identify opportunities to improve safety and accessibility to destinations within, to, and from Potsdam.

The Safety Action Plan is being developed with funding from the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Safe Streets and Roads for All program. The plan will examine crash data, traffic patterns, and other information to identify safety concerns, understand contributing factors, and develop practical strategies and projects to address them.

Data can only tell part of the story. Everyday users of the community’s streets, sidewalks and roadways know where problem areas are. As part of the community engagement process, Potsdam residents and visitors are invited to identify locations in the Town and Village where they feel unsafe getting around, or where improvements may be needed. An interactive online map allows community members to mark locations and share information about their experiences.

Residents can use the map to identify concerns such as:

  • Dangerous intersections or crossings
  • Locations where drivers frequently speed
  • Difficult or uncomfortable places to walk, bicycle or get around with a wheelchair/stroller, etc.
  • Missing, damaged, or difficult-to-use sidewalks
  • Crosswalks or pedestrian crossings that feel unsafe or are inaccessible for some users
  • Poor visibility or confusing traffic patterns
  • Locations with inadequate lighting
  • Places where vehicles, pedestrians, and bicyclists frequently conflict
  • Considerations for horse-drawn carriages for local Amish residents
  • Other transportation safety concerns

Visit the online map and tell us where you see safety problems at https://engagestantec.com/potsdam-sap.

“Some of the most valuable information we can get will come from people who use these streets and sidewalks every day,” said Mayor Alexandra Jacobs Wilke. “We want to know where people feel comfortable, where they don’t, and how they think we can make getting around our community safer and more accessible for everyone.”

The online map is one component of a broader public engagement process that will help shape the Safety Action Plan. Additional engagement will include a community fair, a pop-up traffic garden, and personal interviews.

The completed plan will provide the Village and Town with a framework for improving transportation safety, and position both municipalities to pursue future funding for projects identified through the planning process.

Everyone who lives, works, studies, visits or travels through Potsdam is encouraged to participate.

To learn more about the Safe Streets for All Safety Action Plan or contribute to the community safety map, visit the Village’s SS4A webpage at https://villageofpotsdamny.gov/ss4a/.

Contact: Aviva Gold

Project Manager, Village of Potsdam

agold@villageofpotsdamny.gov

315-265-1670