×

Sherman Wastewater Plant Needs Upgrade

SHERMAN — Even though it will be replaced in less than two years because of the Wastewater Treatment Plant Project, the village of Sherman needs to purchase a triple reduction drive to keep the current system running, Jay Irwin, chief wastewater operator, told village board members at a recent meeting.

The current triple reduction drive is 45 years old and is leaking oil each week, Irwin said.

“And it’s just getting worse,” he said.

Irwin said the triple reduction drive will cost $20,000. He said the current drive could possible be torn apart and repaired, but due to its age it is not in good shape.

“It’s going to need new everything — bronze bearings, seals on three different shafts — it’s already obsolete,” he said. “That’s just the nature of the beast at this point, it’s 45 years old.”

Construction will soon begin on the Wastewater Treatment Plant project and the triple reduction drive will no longer be necessary when it is complete. “Things are going to start getting very busy real soon,” he said.

Purchasing a new triple reduction drive is “just to get us through the next year-and-a-half,” he added.

Mayor Colleen Meeder agreed that the village should purchase the new drive.

“We just need to realize that we are probably going to have to spend $20,000 just to get through the year,” she said.

Irwin said he is working on getting a quote for the new drive. “It’s an emergency; we have to do it no matter what,” he said.

Irwin also updated village board members regrading the ongoing work on First Street, which has been a source of frustration for property owners. The paving has been done on First Street, Irwin said, and the driveway work should be done soon.

“Everything is still moving,” he said. “We have to get the driveways done so we can get everything seeded.”

In other business, the board discussed the recommendation from Chautauqua County to include the installation of two electric charging stations in the Village Comprehensive Plan. NYSERDA provides $4,000 per electric charging station, and National Grid funds up to 90% of construction costs, she said.

“Initially, we’re looking at a cost of $2,000 for the application and $3,000 for grant match that the village would have to contribute,” she added.

Meeder explained that there are, however, additional costs to the village.

“There is also the expense of the network and the panel,” she said. “For the first five years, NYSERTA pays for the networking costs, which are currently $350 a year, but the village would be responsible after that,” she said.

In another matter, Meeder spoke to the board about the village’s efforts to have owners of derelict properties remedy the situation. New York state allows jail as a penalty for derelict properties, but not for low-income families, she said.

“The law does not have as many teeth as we had hoped, but we are going to keep trying,” she said. “I’m preparing you that we might experience frustration.”

Meeder also told the board that the village is eligible to receive $69,153 in American Rescue Plan Act funds. The money is evenly split over two years, she said, so the Village will receive about $35,000 each year.

Meeder said the details of how the funds are to be used are to be determined, but the money can’t be used for past loss of revenue. It is likely that the funds will be used for infrastructure improvements, she said.

Trustees subsequently approved a resolution to accept the APRA Coronavirus Local Fiscal Recovery funds.

Trustees also approved a resolution to enable Meeder to begin the process of updating the Village Zoning code with the consultation of Barton & Loguidice, with an initial cost not to exceed $4,000.

Village trustees also voted unanimously to adopt the updated 2021 Comprehensive Plan, which is the product of a year and a half of work and input from the community.

Newsletter

Today's breaking news and more in your inbox

I'm interested in (please check all that apply)
Are you a paying subscriber to the newspaper? *
   

Starting at $4.62/week.

Subscribe Today