OBSERVER Photo by Braden Carmen Hanover Deputy Supervisor Bernie Feldmann spoke to a modification in the ongoing Routes 5 and 20 waterline project at a recent meeting.

HANOVER — Harsh winter weather has led to delays in the ongoing capital improvement waterline project along Routes 5 and 20 in the town of Hanover. The delays put added pressure on the project as it is lined up to conclude right around the time another major project is set to begin later this spring.

According to Town Supervisor Lou Pelletter, the project is expected to be completed in March, right around the same time as the New York State Department of Transportation (DOT) project to reduce the lanes from four to three. Pelletter said with the delays to the current project and the DOT project still on track for this spring, Routes 5 and 20 from the split near Save A Lot down to just before the roundabout on the Seneca Nation land will likely be disrupted with construction for the foreseeable future.

“(Routes) 5 and 20 are going to be a mess the whole summer,” Pelletter said.

The project has also required a modification to one of the water lines as part of the project to avoid existing utility lines. The modification incorporated multiple 45-degree angle adjustments at a total cost of $8,061.50. The modifications were funded through contingency allocations in the budget. Approximately $43,000 remains in the project’s contingency funding.

“In every project, something comes up,” Deputy Supervisor Bernie Feldmann said. “… That’s exactly what happened here. Where our line was on the map was not where the line was. It was right next to a big gas line.”

The Town also recently dealt with a series of four water line breaks in Hanford Bay in the past month. The Water and Sewer Department workers dealt with the breaks in chilling, sub-zero temperatures until the issues were addressed in-house.

“It was 13 below wind chill and they were in a hole with water squirting all over them. God bless them,” Feldmann said.

Feldmann expressed a desire for the Town to evaluate waterline improvements in Hanford Bay and Sunset Bay with a future project once its current project completes later this year. Pelletter suggested the Town look into submitting a request for proposals in the coming months.

In other water related news, Pelletter stated that Erie County raised its rates approximately 11% last year and another increase this year is at approximately 9%. Together, at approximately a 20% increase, with uncertainty surrounding future years as well, the Town of Hanover saw the need to increase its rates for this year.

While the Town could have avoided an increase this year, it cannot do so in future years if the increases continue at the current rate. The recommendation of the Town’s Accountant, Elmar Kiefer, was to not exceed a 3% increase this year, while Pelletter suggested the increase to lessen the shock in upcoming years when another increase is expected. The Board voted unanimously in favor of a 3% tax increase.

The Town Board also approved seeking bids for the purchase of a paver upon the recommendation of Highway Superintendent Peter Pelletter. The Town is in need of replacing its current paver, so it will advertise for sealed bids to be submitted to the Town Clerk’s Office.

Also upon Pelletter’s recommendation, the Town Board approved the purchase of two 2026 dump trucks from Regional International Truck at the state contract bid price of $165,264.78 for each vehicle. By approving the purchase now, well in advance of the delivery, the Town saves approximately $10,000 on each vehicle and can spread the cost across two budget years.

Also approved by the Town Board was the donation of two 2025 Boat Launch Passes to the Southtowns Walleye Association; a drive-through Girl Scout cookie sale in or around the shopping area in the hamlet of Forestville on March 11 from 4-7 p.m.; the Town Clerk’s annual report from 2024; and the acknowledgement of a completed audit of the Town Court’s finances.