Town of Niagara board sets hearing on 'sewer improvement area'

By Jill Keppeler

Tribune Editor

Step by step, the Belden Center area of the Town of Niagara gets closer to repairs for the sewer and drainage issues that have plagued the area for decades.

At a special meeting Tuesday, the Niagara Town Board voted unanimously to set a public hearing for 7 p.m. Aug. 18 at the Town Hall, 7105 Lockport Road, "to consider the establishment of the proposed Sewer Improvement Area 2015 and the construction of the improvement therein. ..."

The resolution took into account the "improvement area" would be funded, in part, by about $200,000 from the host community agreement with Fashion Outlets and about $292,000 in anticipated grant money from the Community Development Block Grant program. The anticipated total of this piece of the work is $1,316,250, according to the resolution; the remaining cost would be funded through bonding.

The work would include "the slip lining of approximately 12,000 linear feet of sanitary sewer pipe, spot repairs to existing sewer pipes, repair and sealing of manholes and the installation of water-tight lids" and other improvements to be identified in the area.

The board also awarded a contract in the amount of $972,541 to United Survey Inc. for sewer improvements in the area.

The Belden Center area of the town has suffered from drainage, sewer and flooding issues for years. Many residents of the neighborhood attended the brief meeting and professed relief that the work is moving forward.

"I'll be happy when it's done," said Tom Tierney, a resident of Rhode Island Avenue.

The board also:

•Voted to begin the process of emergency demolition on an unsafe home at 2114 Maple Ave.

•Approved the revised final site plan of U-Haul at 2485 Military Road.