HANOVER - The reason why a Sunset Bay drainage project will not be completed this year came down to paperwork,
At the recent Hanover Town Board meeting, Highway Superintendent Steve D'Angelo reported he finally got the Department of Environmental Conserva-tion (DEC) permit for Parson's Pond. However, he said wording in the easement associated with the work at the pond still needs changes.
Councilman Kevin O'Connell explained the property owner's lawyer requested some minor language changes, but once the easement goes back and forth between the town's and property owner's attorneys it will be November.
Article Photos
OBSERVER Photo by Nicole Gugino
Hanover Supervisor Todd Johnson (left) and Councilman Wayne Ashley (center) review a runoff map Councilman Kevin O’Connell brought to the board after work with a hydrologist on a drainage study for Sunset Bay.
"By the time it gets back to the town it will be the middle to the end of November and I'm going to say we aren't going to do anything until spring because we can't depend on the weather," D'Angelo said.
The town was planning to dredge and to shift some sand in the pond to allow for drainage out to Lake Erie, hoping to resolve some of the storm water buildup in the bay.
"I know everyone is disappointed but it is out of our hands, between the easement and the DEC permit, we ran out of time," D'Angelo added.
O'Connell had better news about the drainage projects for Sunset Bay.
He worked with Sunset Bay resident Karen Russell to have a hydrologist do a drainage study for the town.
He explained the study showed what the town already suspected, 70 percent of the water in Sunset Bay comes from outside.
He explained the imperviousness of the soil aids the water from Route 5/20 to run right into the lower area of the bay instead of being absorbed.
He said the study can be used to help the town in planning future projects and to acquire grants.
He also explained in light of the evidence in the study the town will be looking for drainage mitigation measures in the proposed hotel and waterpark development in the area.
D'Angelo also reported Norfolk Southern has started to address the drainage from under its tracks by beginning to trim back the brush in the area.
"They need to be able to see what is there before they can do anything about the drainage. I don't think the brush there has been trimmed in 25 years. There are some pretty large trees. Luckily, this is something they can do during the winter," D'Angelo explained.
Sunset Bay residents were disappointed at the news and anticipate a problematic spring but asked that ditches be cleared of leaves before the winter.
D'Angelo said he hopes to get to it after finishing some other projects but said even home owners using shovels to move leaves away from the pipes could help in the mean time.
Because of Veterans Day, the next town board meeting will be held on Nov. 13.
