By ANN BELCHER

OBSERVER Correspondent

BROCTON – Portland Town Supervisor Dan Schrantz gave some bleak news at his town council’s meeting recently. As he moved down the agenda, he reported to the council on the latest word concerning the Peerless Street Bridge Project.

“The bridge is being made. However, the county is backlogged with work and may not be able to put the footer in for us,” stated Schrantz.

Not just village and town leaders, but residents who live on Peerless Street have remained patient and hopeful through the process, hoping spring weather conditions would see a beginning to the project’s legwork.

“I hope to go back to the county executive, and to George Spanos to somehow get this footer in. Even if we just have some kind of expert to set up Ron (Delcamp, Highway Superintendent) and his crew up and advise them from there. I’m pretty discouraged right now,” stated the supervisor.

Delcamp agreed.

“They said if we put this off until next spring, they would be there to help us and that has fallen through.”

The two town representatives will also continue to meet with Cattaraugus County officials to investigate what they accomplished in a similar situation. While the bridge is being formed by the contractor at this point, it was hoped that county equipment and expertise would help it get set.

“The bridge is being built, and it didn’t sound like it would be a huge issue for the builder to keep it on site. But they will want to be paid for their work. The worst case scenario is that we’re bidding concrete work out later on. The county executive has been helpful with this along the way. Hopefully, I’ll have better news at the next meeting,” stated Schrantz.

In other matters, the council agreed to begin advertising for sealed acceptable bids for mowing of town properties and for highway materials and other items. Bids will be opened April 8 and will be awarded to the most responsible bidder.

The council also resolved to begin advertising for a firm to perform an audit on the town’s water districts.

The highway superintendent also sought council approval to officially post town roads with weight limit signs, now that winter road conditions are fading away.

The town council will reconvene on April 8 at 7 p.m. at the town court meeting chambers of Town Hall.