An endangered species, along with vacation schedules of grant administrators, will cause temporary delays in the start of the Upper Basins Stormwater Project, Sherman village officials learned recently.

Sherman Mayor Colleen Meeder explained construction within drainage area 1 will be delayed until the babies of the brown long-eared bat are mature enough to fly.

“The rule of thumb is no trees or shrubs more than three inches around, sitting taller or above chest/breast height are permitted to be removed until after November 1,” she said. “It will only temporarily delay the construction within drainage area 1, near the North Haven Apartments.”

Meeder explained that, according to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the predominant threat to the northern long-eared bat is a disease known as the White Nose Syndrome. Because of this, the bat was placed under the Endangered Species Act in 2015.

In a related matter, the project will also experience a delay in obtaining approvals for the CDBG grant from the Rural Development Agency Engineer and Homes and Community Renewal.

“We are now up against vacation schedules of engineers and grant funding administrators in the coordination of meetings to get these final approvals in order for Legend Excavating’s return,” she said.

Meeder said trustees should expect additional meetings in order to meet the timely approvals for the stormwater project phases. She thanked the trustees for their commitment.

“The stormwater project in particular is quite demanding with its multiple facets: sites, funding sources, permitting and regulatory agencies and contractors/shared services,” she said.

In other business, trustees learned that the Selection/Steering Committee for the Paint CHQ project has chosen a mural design from two samples. Two nationally known artists have been chosen to collaborate on the work and provide the samples.

“Both samples covered the west side and south side walls of 104 West Main Street (the Cornerstone Restaurant). Both were beautiful and pleased the committee, however, the committee quickly gravitated to one over the other,” Meeder said.

No details about the artists or the design selected can be released until the Paint CHQ Initiative makes the announcement, Meeder said. The mural will be painted during a week-long celebration from Sunday, Sept. 7 through Saturday, Sept. 13.

The celebration will include the Sherman Music Festival, as well as speakers and demonstrators provided by the Paint CHQ Initiative. The festival will culminate in the unveiling of the mural on Saturday, Sept. 13.

In another matter, Meeder announced the Main Street plant-watering system is complete, and the Kendrick Street sidewalk installation, including tree removal and reclamation from the earlier water project is underway.

Meeder also announced that the Restore New York grant winners have been announced, and the Village of Sherman was not awarded a grant for $500,000, which was earmarked for the We Rock the Spectrum project at 124 E. Main St.

In matters of personnel, trustees approved the hiring of Landen Swan for the full-time position in the Public Works Departments. “This position requires the ability to run equipment while working in the Streets Department with the ability to be cross trained with the Sewer and Water Departments,” Meeder said.