OBSERVER Photo by Braden Carmen Pictured is Cattaraugus Creek from earlier this week.

HANOVER — Dredging of Hanover Harbor and Cattaraugus Creek could come as early as next spring, depending on the results of the required environmental tests.

The Town has been in contact with the Army Corps of Engineers and the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) regarding dredging of the harbor and Cattaraugus Creek. The Hanover Town Board has hired GEI Consultants to oversee the process.

The first step is surveying a portion of the harbor connected to Cattaraugus Creek. The Town Board received four quotes for the survey. Dave Romano of GEI Consultants recommended that the Town hire Littoral Services to perform a bathymetric data collection survey of Cattaraugus Creek near the harbor for an amount not to exceed $6,320.

The survey will be conducted to evaluate the harbor and the creek itself, and samples will be sent to test for chemicals. If everything comes back clean, the Town expects the dredging to take place in early spring of 2027. The Town hopes to avoid any negative impact on the fishing tournaments in the region next summer.

The overall cost could be rather substantial, so the Town is looking for grants to support the process. The Town will be reaching out to the State for assistance as the process becomes clearer.

Other areas throughout the town – including in the village of Silver Creek – will be evaluated by Buffalo area water keepers within the next month to evaluate flooding concerns.

Also of note, the Hanover Town Beach hours for 2026 were set by the Town Board. The beach is open weekends only from May 23 through June 14, then seven days a week from June 19 through Sept. 6.

Norfolk Southern and TRX will be doing maintenance of the railroad tracks on Allegany Road from May 18-22. Traffic will be diverted, and the access road will be open to accommodate the traffic.

The Town Board appointed William Kraft to succeed himself as a Zoning Board member for a five-year term, expiring in December 2030. A prior resolution to reappoint Tom Miranda was also amended to take effect April 8.

Upon the recommendation of Water and Sewer Superintendent Rob Weiskerger, the Board approved the purchase of a Toro Titan zero-turn mower from Monte’s Small Engine Repair of Fredonia at a cost of $6,850. It was the lowest of three quotes the Board received.

Regarding the enhanced police protection contract with the Chautauqua County Sheriff’s Office, the Town has officially signed a one-year agreement, rather than the two-year deal originally proposed. The Village of Silver Creek only committed to one year of the deal and sought to renegotiate its portion of the cost. The Town is hopeful to continue its contract beyond the current deal, which runs through Dec. 31.

A long list of budget transfers were approved by the Board, upon the recommendation of Bookkeeper Elmar Kiefer and Assistant Bookkeeper Vito Flitt. The complete list of transfers was submitted into the official minutes of the April 27 meeting.

The next meeting of the Hanover Town Board will be Monday at 7 p.m.