SHERMAN — Despite preparation by the village of Sherman, work on sewer, water and storm water projects will be significantly postponed due to the effects that the COVID-19 pandemic is having on government agencies, trustees learned at their recent meeting.

Sherman Mayor Colleen Meeder gave board members an update on the village’s capital project, explaining how the anticipated beginning of construction and subsequent completion might be delayed.

“All the extensive work we did back in February was put on a shelf for months,” Meeder said.

She explained to trustees how the shutdown of government offices caused loan applications to be neglected for several months.

Meeder said when offices such as USDA RD were ordered to remain closed due to COVID-19, the village’s loan applications were suspended. Furthermore, the Community Development Block Grant application has been held up and there were no state Consolidated Funding Applications during the summer of 2020. The Consolidated Funding Application was created to streamline and expedite the grant application process by allowing applicants to be considered for multiple sources of funding for a project by filling out just one application.

Meeder noted that because the CFA was suspended for a period of time, the village revised its construction schedule.

“We are one full year behind with the sewer project,” she said. “Since there was no CFA this summer, we don’t know what work will be done in 2021.”

Therefore, Meeder said, it is anticipated that construction on the sewer project will take place throughout 2022 and 2023, with completion coming in 2024.

Work on the water project should take place throughout 2022, Meeder said.

“(Department of Streets and Water Superintendent, Doug Crane) is nursing pump No. 1,” she said. “He has already met with engineers on material specifications.”

She expressed the hope that the water project would be completed by 2023.

The schedule for the stormwater project, which is designed to channel runoff water and avoid flooding in the village, is similar to the wastewater treatment plant construction schedule. The project is slated to be completed in 2024, she added.

In other business, Meeder said there have been inquiries about the hours that the village office is open. She said that whether or not there is a car in the parking lot, the office is open during regular hours and village clerk Jeanette Ramm is working. The village has purchased an “Open” sign to indicate this.

Meeder also told trustees that there has been an unexpected rise in new cases of COVID-19 cases in the area. Including 32 cases that very day. It remains to be seen how this could affect matters in the village such as office hours, she said.

Ramm gave trustees a financial report, including CD and checking account balances, and a breakdown of village receipts , which totalled $82,236.

Meeder requested that trustees approve the reinvesting of $110,000 in a CD for one year with a remaining balance of $41,000 going into the village checking account. All board members approved the motion.