Cooperation works for Wheatfield, North Tonawanda

Wheatfield often has too much water, especially off Krueger Road. North Tonawanda has two huge, unused pipes going under River Road to the Niagara River.

With the help of State Sen. George Maziarz and Rick Pope, director of the Niagara County Refuse Disposal District, Wheatfield residents should not have to put up with annual flooding along Wilrose Court. Further, N.T. residents along Witmer Road will have their flood waters directed to Wheatfield's southern drainage ditch to lessen their rear yard flooding.

In this agreement shepherded by Maziarz, Wheatfield Supervisor Robert Cliffe and N.T. Mayor Robert Ortt are seeing the opening of the two pipes, which will more than triple the rate at which water can exit the southern part of Wheatfield to the river.

"It's always a pleasure working together with understanding leaders such as Mayor Ortt and especially, Senator Maziarz. Their concern for the needs of both municipalities made this project happen," Cliffe said.

This week, they were cutting the second hole for the 36-inch diameter pipes to go through, Cliffe said.

The project came in at $120,000, plus engineering costs.

N.T.'s side of this project has not yet gotten permits. It will be a minor project for them unless DEC disallows the permit in the fashion they wish to handle the water. Cliffe said. "As their area is a wetland, they have to be careful not to drain it completely so have to set approved heights."