Board members, as well as many residents of Mina, received a presentation on the proposed Wastewater Treatment Plant. Matt Zarbo and Andrew Meyerhofer of Square Engineering presented basic drawings of the proposed project.

Zarbo, President and Director of Engineering, presented a basic drawing of the sewer lines that will be installed around the lake. He also showed a drawing of the location of the wastewater treatment plant, which will be located at the former site of Findley Lake Landscaping and Garden Supply at 3025 Route 426.

Town Supervisor Rebecca Brumagin told those in attendance that the plan is to get the project underway this spring. “The plan is for them to put it out for bid in the late spring,” she said. “Construction might start as early as the fall of 2026, depending on how the bid process goes.”

Brumagin also noted that obtaining materials will influence the plant timeline.

Maplevale Farms has begun site preparation for the construction of a distribution facility in Findley Lake. Photos by David Prenatt

“A lot of it has to do with obtaining the materials,” she said. “When I asked about the rising cost of materials, the engineer said he believes we have enough of a cushion.”

Another project which is taking shape is the construction of the Maplevale Farms Distribution Facility. According to the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation website, the plan is to build the facility on an approximately 194-acre parcel of land known as 3196 Route 426, Findley Lake, NY.

The project will begin with “the construction of an approximately 144,405-square=foot building on the land, together with related improvements to the land, the acquisition of certain furniture, fixtures, machinery, equipment and building materials necessary for the completion thereof, all of the foregoing for use as a refrigerated food warehouse and distribution facility.”

Brumagin said Maplevale has not begun construction of the distribution facility.

“They are just doing site preparation,” she said. “They are starting to build an earth barrier which will have trees on top of it to separate Maplevale from nearby residences.”

Work has begun at the old gravel pit in Findley Lake where National Grid will be installing a “boutique substation.”

Matt Fitzgerald, a partner at the law firm Phillips Lytle, which acts as the legal council to the Chautauqua County Industrial Development Agency, said the SEQRA for the Maplevale project was approved in September. He noted Maplevale plans to build their facility at least 300 feet from adjacent properties. It also plans to leave 60 acres of meadow and grassland, as well as 112 acres of forested land undeveloped to serve as a buffer between itself and other properties.

Fitzgerald also said that Route 426 will not need to be upgraded to accommodate the increase in traffic. He explained that, during the busiest hour for traffic, it is believed that there will be a maximum of 68 vehicles on Route 426. A traffic study is required only if the peak hour is expected to exceed 100 trips, he added.

In a related matter, Brumagin noted that the existing grid facilities are being upgraded, initially to provide sufficient power for several needs in the area, including Maplevale. “National Grid has indicated that they are going to be adding a ’boutique substation.’ It will be built where the old gravel pit was, just past Bailey Hill Road,” she said.

Brumagin noted that this is a temporary solution which is capable of serving the area for 15 to 20 years. “It will have an overall budget of about $1.5 million, and it won’t look like a substation,” she said. “It will be more like a rectangular box with poles around it. It is an upgrade for the whole community.”

Paul E. Kazmierczak, Jurisdiction Manager for National Grid, said the project is only the first phase of upgrades in the area. “To enhance electrical capacity and reliability in our region, National Grid will be constructing new electrical assets,” he said. “Beginning March 26, this work is scheduled to be completed this summer.”

Kazmierczak said that forestry and site grading work will begin on the south side of Route 430 at the intersection with School Street at the end of March. Later on, new utility poles will be added. “Then, in the fall, National Grid will begin upgrading and modernizing assets along School Street and north of Route 426,” he said. “This project is scheduled to be completed next spring.”

Dave Bertola, in charge of US External Affairs for National Grid, confirmed the project would cost approximately $1.5 million, but would not impact customer rates. “Ratepayers will not incur any additional charges related to this project, as it is budgeted in our current rate plan,” he said.

Bertola said the substation would be capable of providing power for many needs. “The station will serve a few customers initially. It is built to provide reliable and resilient electrical service, and last for decades,” he said. “As more customers come online in the coming years, it will serve them.”