The town of Clymer discussed updates to the water project, along with some potential problems that may come as the DOT continues to push their own town project back. P-J photo by Sara Holthouse

CLYMER — The Department of Transportation has been planning a large-scale project in the town of Clymer, but that project may now cause some problems for the town’s other large water project in regards to timing.

During the town’s December meeting, Town Supervisor Brian Willink noted that the DOT has been pushing the timeline of the project back many times, with them first hoping to meet with the department in November, then December, and now January.

“I told them meeting nights are good, because then we can do it right here and they wanted to actually have a true public hearing like we had with solar and make it almost like an open house though,” Willink said. “They would have exhibits around and some people here that would be able to answer questions. They would probably open it up but then they would use more of an open forum and people could come and go as they needed for four hours.”

With that as the plan, Willink has given the DOT a few dates and told them trying to get the school for it would be hard and that in the town building would be best. For now he said they are still waiting on more information and it keeps getting kicked down the road.

“The problem is, as we’re going to see here, the lack of movement on the DOT project is kind of putting a bit of a pinch on our water project,” Willink said.

Matt Zarbo with Square Engineering has provided the town board with an update as to where the water project currently is at, with the hope being to have the overall design done by year’s end. Multiple areas of the project have been completed, and the DOT has been met with on site for coordination for a betterment project in areas where the DOT is working, along with follow ups over the phone, but a DOT preliminary project scope was meant to be received by Thanksgiving and was not. A meeting is set with the DOT on Dec. 18 in Buffalo, but Zarbo also reported that this does not give a lot of time for the completion of designs if the DOT looks for major changes than what has already been discussed.

“So, that’s the concern is that they are going to come in and try and change some of the things that we’re doing,” Willink said. “And he says we’re already a long way down the path and he hates to do that, but we’re trying to play nice with them but we need them to move their project along a little quicker.”

Other parts of the project are continuing, including planning on placing a secondary backup well near the original, and the placing of a driveway to reach the area, with drilling for the backup well set to begin the Thursday after the meeting, Dec. 12. Drilling for the well is hoped to be done by the end of the year.

Electrical design has also begun and Zarbo reported that everything is on schedule except for the DOT coordination and well-screen delivery. A meeting will be scheduled with Zarbo and the engineers and the town in early January following more clarity on the DOT process.

Willink said he is planning on attending the meeting in Buffalo on Dec. 18, adding that it is open to everyone and anyone from the board who wants to join him or watch via Zoom are welcome to.

“Basically they’re going to try and coordinate with Matt on all of their stuff versus what we’re doing and kind of more of the same communication type stuff,” Willink said. “But, typical DOT and any state large project, you know, it’s not going as quick as they hoped.”

Willink also mentioned finding more funding for the project, along with potentially deciding what area of the system to wait to upgrade if needed, but saying that grant opportunities continue to pop up all of the time. He said Zarbo is also very attuned to those and will be helping them as much as possible, and that the town will be keeping an eye out for some, adding that he feels good about it so far. The water project is the biggest public works project for the town since the original system was put in.