Farmers Market returning to Wheatfield

by Susan Mikula Campbell

With spring finally seeming to warm up, plans are in the works to reopen Wheatfield's Farmers Market.

At Monday's Town Board meeting, the board approved moving the market to the front of Town Hall, instead of the rear parking area between the Community Center and Youth Center. Town Attorney Bob O'Toole said the market's vendors expressed strong preference for the new location that will be immediately visible to those approaching Town Hall at 2800 Church Road. Parking will remain in the rear of Town Hall. The change, for safety reasons, must be approved by the St. Johnsburg Volunteer Fire Co.

O'Toole said an opening day for the market has yet to be set. If enough vendors can be found who want to sell live plants, the weekly market could open as early as the week before Memorial Day. If not, it should open in mid-June.

In other matters:

•The board tabled action on approval of using a cluster development concept for the Cobblestone Creek Subdivision now before the Planning Board. Councilman Art Gerbec requested the delay to give the board more time to study the plans and see maps to be sure the plan wouldn't cause any problems, such as with fire department access.

The 39-lot development on the west side of Errick Road, north of Lemke Drive, would have four houses on Errick Road on standard size lots, while inside the development, homes would be clustered on smaller lot sizes.

•Councilman Ken Retzlaff requested more information on the possibility of storage ponds for Quasar Energy Group's waste to energy plant being built on Liberty Drive. One of the organic by-products of the process is fertilizer that a local farmer is interested in using. Retzlaff said a storage pond was not part of the plans presented by the group.

•Supervisor Bob Cliffe reported that on behalf of the town, he is looking into joining a county consortium to purchase natural gas and electricity for town facilities. With the county's larger purchasing power, the town might be able to save about $10,000 a year, he said. Eight Niagara County towns, including Lewiston and Porter, are looking into the matter.

•Recreation Director Ed Sturgeon reported that he expects the town's planned summer camp at the Youth Center to be completely sold out by next week.

•The next Town Board meeting will begin at 7:30 p.m. Monday, May 6. A public hearing will be held at 7:20 p.m. on a proposed amendment to town code requiring that sealed bids be opened at or immediately before a Town Board meeting.