OBSERVER Photo by Braden Carmen The Routes 5 and 20 water line project, including a recent adjustment, is still ongoing.

HANOVER — Sizable construction projects almost always have contingency funds built into the project to account for unforeseen circumstances. The Town of Hanover was smart to do no different with its water line project along Routes 5 and 20.

The Town Board recently approved the purchase of six elbows at a cost of $2,250 each — totaling $13,500 — to avoid existing utility lines in the area. The cost includes labor and required machinery.

The water line replacement project has run into utility lines “that weren’t supposed to be there”, according to Town Supervisor Lou Pelletter. It is not uncommon for projects replacing water lines several decades old to run into problems like the Town of Hanover is currently experiencing. In fact, it is not even unique to this part of the project.

The Board already previously approved a modification to one of the water lines to avoid existing utility lines. The modification incorporated multiple 45-degree angle adjustments at a total cost of $8,061.50. Following that modification, the project still had approximately $43,000 remaining of contingency funds.

The purchase of six elbows to avoid the existing utility lines was also approved by the Town’s accountant, the clerk of the works, and the engineer. Pelletter noted that another similar adjustment could also be coming down the line, as well.

This past year, the Town of Hanover awarded the bid for its Routes 5 and 20 water line replacement project to DJM Contracting Inc., of Eden, at a cost of $1,162,190. The project is still ongoing, as construction was delayed due to the harsh winter this year.

Now, the State Department of Transportation is beginning its lane reduction project on Routes 5 and 20. The timeline for that project is expected to be roughly two years as the four lanes of road will be reduced to one lane in each direction, with a turning lane in between. Pelletter said previously that the Routes 5 and 20 corridor is “going to be a mess the whole summer.”

In other developments in the Town, before the next Board meeting, the Town will be holding another public hearing for more information regarding a proposed battery energy storage system in the Town. The meeting will be held on Monday, March 31 at 6 p.m. in the Silver Creek Central School cafeteria.

Also of note, Robert Weiskerger, Dalton Neubauer, and James Tytka Jr. will attend operator training through the Chautauqua County Waterworks Association on April 9.

Colleen McKenna was approved as a permanent part-time cleaner for the Town Hall, Bicentennial Park, and the Hanover Town Beach at an hourly rate of $18.50.

The Town is also seeking bids for diesel fuel and gasoline from April 1, 2025 until March 31, 2026.

The Town Board has also approved the request of the Tri-County Girl Scouts to hold a beach cleanup day on Saturday, April 26.

An intermunicipal cooperation agreement was also approved by the Board, through Sept. 30, to cover the employment of the Town’s shared Assessor.

The Town Board also issued a resolution recognizing the month of April as Fair Housing Month, encouraging citizens to endorse fair housing practices in the month and throughout the year.

The next regular meeting of the Town Board is scheduled for Monday, April 9 at 7 p.m. at the Town Hall.