OBSERVER Photo by Braden Carmen
Sheridan Highway Superintendent Jeff Feinen is shown speaking at the Sheridan Bay Park Pavilion.
SHERIDAN — The Town of Sheridan received good news at a recent meeting, as Highway Superintendent Jeff Feinen reported that the Town was awarded a $50,000 grant from the offices of Senator George Borrello and Assemblyman Andy Goodell for its Highway Department to allocate. Among the items on the Department’s to-do list is fixing broken windows and doors in the Highway barns, while a salt shed is also on the Department’s wish list.
Feinen can only hope that the issues he plans to address move forward smoother than the upgrades at Sheridan Bay Park. While the Town has received grant funding to install bathrooms at the Park, the boundary map must be updated to include the parcels of land listed in the Opinion of Municipal Council.
The Town was surprised by the amount of pushback it received during the process, as the Park has benefited from grant funding in the past without the current issues ever being raised. The Town is waiting on Nussbaumer & Clarke, Inc., to move forward with the bid process. The Town hoped to open bids by Oct. 1, but the issues pushed that date back. There is no set timeline for when the project will proceed.
“All our documents that we own the property, that worked out with the other grants. I don’t know why they are giving pushback on this one,” Town Clerk Rebecca Schafer said.
The Town is also still attempting to move forward with its Community Center upgrades. Among the new features will be a handicap-accessible restroom. Plans have been designed by Chris Cooke, of Cassadaga, who was later authorized to generate a Request for Proposal as the Town seeks bids for the project.
Cooke will receive an hourly rate of $155 for his services.
Also at a recent meeting, the Town Board approved the Highway Department purchase of a 2010 International 7600 truck, with 93,074 miles, from the Town of Ellicott at a cost of $20,000. The vehicle features a Cummings 330 horsepower engine, Allison auto transmission, stainless-steel all-season body, plow and wing, spare springs, spreader chain, spreader, and side chute. The funds to cover the purchase were available in the Highway Department equipment budget.
The Town Board also recently approved a local law to prohibit the installation, construction, or placement of battery energy storage systems in the Town of Sheridan. The local law will be effective immediately upon filing with New York State.
In the month of August, the Sheridan Town Court received 217 cases that resulted in $26,163 being turned over for distribution. The month of September consisted of 229 cases that resulted in $21,602 being turned over for distribution. The Town Justices and Court Clerks were approved to attend the Chautauqua County Magistrates Association meeting on Oct. 30 at a total cost of $108 to the Town.
The Town Clerk collected $312 in the month of August, of which $260 was turned over to the general fund, and $284.50 in the month of September, of which $257.50 was turned over to the general fund. The remaining funds were sent out to the New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets for dog licenses.
Over the past two months, Code Enforcement Officer James Crowell took in $685 for the Town, stemming from nine building permit applications and 16 inspections on construction. Crowell has also conducted two public safety inspections, two investigations of complaints, and issued two notices of violation over the past two months.
Crowell was also approved by the Board to attend the Niagara Frontier Building Officials Association annual education conference from Jan. 27-29, 2025, in Amherst. The total cost including registration, meals, and lodging is $701.
The Town will hold its next regular Board meeting on Wednesday, Nov. 13, beginning at 6:45 p.m. with a public hearing on the proposed 2025 Town Budget. The regular meeting will follow the budget hearing. Prior to that date, a Town Board workshop will be held on Oct. 23 at 7 p.m.