Sheridan, Dunkirk to close out highway pact
Trending
SHERIDAN -- Now that the town is no longer sharing Highway Department services with the Town of Dunkirk, two notable transactions will need to take place to close out the canceled agreement.
Highway Superintendent Jeff Feinen said the town of Dunkirk owes Sheridan $24,674.98 for salt and sand used on its roads dating back to 2024. Likewise, Sheridan owes the town of Dunkirk $20,000 to buy out its share of a tractor purchased for both towns. Attorney Jeff Passafaro, who represents both towns, will assist in making both towns whole.
The Sheridan Town Board is looking into significant equipment purchases for the Highway Department, including a new John Deere loader and a plow truck. Several Highway Department vehicles have been serviced at repair shops recently.
Deputy Town Supervisor Eric Gentry said he is "on board with the idea" of purchasing a new loader. Gentry wants the Town to get on a regular schedule of trading in vehicles every few years to avoid deteriorating equipment. A new plow truck would cost roughly $300,000, while the Town expects replacing its loader to cost roughly $140,000.
"I hate spending a lot of money on all this stuff, but we're so far behind on keeping our equipment up to date, we don't have a choice or we're going to be in a bad position," Gentry said.
The Town Board also approved a contract extension with the Teamsters union from Jan. 1, 2027 through Dec. 31, 2030. An amendment will be signed by the Town of Sheridan pertaining to shirts provided to workers, as well as an addition of a waiting period of 60 days for employees to become eligible for health insurance benefits.
Feinen recently attended an annual Fall Conference in Saratoga Springs at a cost of $1,200. The funds came from the Highway budget. The Town Board authorized new hire Mitchell Gage to apply for health insurance and increased Holly Pilarski's hourly rate as Cleaner by one dollar. The Town Justice Court was also approved to lease a new copier from Axiom Office Imaging at a cost of $89 per month.
The Town is still awaiting a response from Nussbaumer and Clarke regarding grant funding reimbursement pertaining to the Sheridan Bay Park renovations. Jody Falkner of J.F. Grant Consulting Services has reached out several times with no response. The Town Board is hopeful for a response in the coming weeks.
Following a successful event on Oct. 3, the Town Board gave its blessing for Liberty Vineyards to schedule another SKECHERS Wicked Wine Run in July of 2027. The 5K run/walk will be held at Liberty Vineyards at no cost to the town. For more details, visit www.wickedwinerun.com.
Marguerite Kaczor, a town resident, attended the recent Town Board meeting to address the Board regarding erosion along the Lake Erie shoreline, as she did a month prior. She has started a petition in hopes of convincing local, state, and federal officials to build a breakwall along the shoreline. Kaczor was the only resident to address the Board at its October meeting.
The next meeting of the Sheridan Town Board will be on Wednesday, Nov. 4, a week earlier than usual due to Veterans Day. Two public hearings will be held prior to the regular meeting, beginning with a hearing at 6:30 p.m. on the Uniform Fire Prevention, Building Code, and Energy Code. Following that hearing, the Board will hold a public hearing on the 2027 preliminary budget at 6:45 p.m., with the regular meeting to follow.