Gowanda PennySaver / October 15, 2000

Perrysburg proposes buying water from Seneca Nation

By Mary Pankow

    The poor conditions of the drinking water in Versailles has prompted the Town of Perrysburg to quick action in remedying the situation.
    With a waterline coming from the former JN Adam hospital grounds down North Road posed as one solution, Town Supervisor Myrton Sprague announced at the board's Oct. 9 meeting that the most feasible plan involves buying water from the Seneca Nation, which is allotted water via the Erie County Water Authority.
    Supervisor Sprague noted the water system is located near the Versailles bridge on the Erie County side. He added he expects the Nation will introduce the concept of selling water to the town at their next Tribal Council meeting.
    Meanwhile, the town has applied for a grant totalling almost $5,000 for assistance in preparing the $400,000 waterline project grant.
    The town is also applying to Southern Tier West for more funding to pay for the engineering study. The matching grant of $2,750 will be used to prepare preliminary reports.
    Additionally, acommittee was formed to look over the engineering reports: Supervisor Sprague, Councilman Lynn Varney, and Versailles residents Judy Forbes, Norm Hubacher, Jim Stuhr and Florence Hall will sit on the committee.

    In other matters, the board:
    *Agreed to send a letter to the Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC), objecting to the cost of the oil-spill cleanup resulting from an accident involving the town's grader. After learning the insurance will cover $10,000 of the $16,659.96 total, the town is liable for the remaining $6,659.96 of the clean-up cost. The board, feeling the cost is too high, will pen a letter stating their dissatisfaction.
    *Approved the purchase of a used grader from Cattaraugus County, similar to the town's previous grader and used in Markhams, for $3,900.
    *Approved the purchase of a 1991 Drott excavator from the Town of Busti for $40,000.
    *Agreed to sell the old 1974 Drott excavator.
    *Announced that since the sale of JN Adam property is still not finalized, nothing concrete on the water situation has yet been decided. Concerned parties are to meet again on the matter Oct. 16.
    *Noted a Collins Correctional Facility work crew will assist Maria Steuernagel at the end of October in cleaning up Mallory Cemetery.
    *Approved the hiring of Paul Timmel at $150 to cleanup the Ward property at the foot of Perrysburg Hill, pending legal counsel advisement. Although the burned-out house has been boarded up, no one has been tending to the lawn.
    *Held a budget hearing that revealed an increase of 4.5 percent overall.
    During the budget session, the board decided to award a $3,000 raise to Highway Superintendent Gary Nash (bringing his annual salary to $36,000).
    The board also determined that employees may accumulate a maximum of 60 days sick time. Upon reaching the 20-year mark, and should the employee retire or elect to quit, the sick time will be converted to cash value and applied to the employee's health insurance, extending coverage for a limited period of time.
    Since Nash's salary is affecting the preliminary budget figures, another public hearing will be set on that portion of the budget. The board did, however, approve all other portions.

    The next Town of Perrysburg Board meeting is Nov.13 at 7 p.m. in the town hall.