Town Board passes bond resolution for road reconstruction

‘Hometown Hero’ banner program coming to Grand Island

By Michael P. McKeating

Interim Dispatch/Tribune Editor

The Grand Island Town Board Monday night passed a $750,000 bond resolution to fund reconstruction and improvements to various town roads. The resolution, sponsored by Michael Madigan and seconded by Tom Digati, passed unanimously. Councilmember Peter Marston was an excused absence.

The board also held a public hearing covering an increase and improvement of facilities of the Town of Grand Island Consolidate Water District-Water Plant Clearwell, and a special use permit application for Allyson Gracie to use 4776 East River Road for home occupation – acupuncture. Both were approved unanimously.

Supervisor John C. Whitney was authorized to sign a contract with Edmunds Gov. Tech to design and maintain a new town website.

In the working session, the board listened to a presentation and proposal by Danna Soluri and Andy Goodwill to install a series of “Hometown Heroes” banners on light poles along Grand Island Boulevard, Baseline Road and a small portion of Whitehaven Road.

Goodwill explained the banners have been installed in numerous other municipalities around the area, including Orchard Park, North Tonawanda and Lancaster. They are suspended from streetlights and telephone poles. They each contain the image of a Grand Island resident who served in the U.S. military during wartime.

Pride of place recognitions along Grand Island Boulevard will go to 17 island veterans who were killed in combat, from World War I to the Iraq War, including Medal of Honor winner Pfc. Charles N. DeGlopper.

Soluri said neither the town nor the families of the veterans are being asked for money. They plan to secure sponsors from businesses and veterans’ groups to fund the cost.

While no formal vote was taken, the board promised to assist the project with help in securing permits from the state and the county, the owners of the roads, and also assist in installing the banners.