Project engineer Matt Zarbo of Barton & Loguidice presented the recommended changes to the board and explained why these upgrades are possible. Bids for the water system improvement project were surprisingly low, he said, so it is possible to upgrade the original plans.

The recommendation to upgrade from PVC to ductile iron pipe will cost $127,500, Zarbo said. He also described how a culvert near well 2 at the wastewater treatment plant is collapsing. He told trustees that it is necessary to upsize to a 60″ culvert to meet DEC permitting and this improvement will cost $25,000.

At a special meeting on April 7, board members awarded construction and electrical bids for the project. The contract for construction of the new water system was awarded to J.D. Northrup Construction, Inc. for the amount of $1,053,882.50. The electrical contract was awarded to BECC of Fredonia for the amount of $199,900.

At that meeting, Mayor Colleen Meeder told board members that the construction bid was “significantly under the amount we had budgeted.” She said that the low bids allow the village to re-evaluate and upgrade certain aspects of the project.

Sherman Chief Wastewater Treatment plant operator Jay Irwin is pictured.

In addition to presenting the recommended change orders for the water system improvement project, Zarbo said representatives of Northrup and BECC were recently in Sherman for a meeting.

“Everything is going to be really positive with your project,” he said. “Construction should begin in July.”

In other business, Jay Irwin, chief wastewater operator, updated board members on sewer and water systems, as well as supplying the streets report.

In response to a question from trustee Donna Higginbothom concerning the completion of work on First Street, Irwin said the work has been delayed because of inclement weather, “but it will definitely be finished by the end of the year.” Irwin also said that there are plans to plant trees between the new sidewalk and the road.

Irwin also reported on the condition of the 2007 Trackless MT5 Tractor, which the village purchased for $19,000.

“It’s running well, and will be used to mow, plow sidewalks, and can snowblow (with the purchase of a snowblower),” he said.

Irwin said the bombardier that has been used to plow the sidewalks is in need of transmission work but “it will be ready to go before winter.”

In her Mayoral Address, Meeder told the board that the steering committee will have a public hearing the night of the Village of Sherman’s Open House, which will be held on Monday, May 24, at 6 p.m. in the Stanley Hose Fire Hall.

Meeder also told trustees that on May 22 at 2 p.m., at the monument on Park Street, a bench will be dedicated to Patty (Waite) Miller, who died on Feb. 28. The bench is being donated by the Sherman Central School Class of 1987.

Meeder requested board approval for the final payment of $50,634 on the loan for the 2015 Loader, which has been sold. The payment will be debited on May 14, 2021, for the USDA RD loan.

Meeder also requested board approval for an interfund transfer of $40,000 from the sewer fund to the general fund in order to make the final payment on the loan for the Direct Inline Pump (DIP) System.

“This is it! This is it!” she said, noting that the original $100,000 loan will be paid in full.

Trustees approved both final loan payments and officially approved the delivery of the Trackless MT5 Tractor.