Fireworks display coming to Wheatfield for Fourth of July
By David Yarger
Tribune Editor
Monday night at the Wheatfield Town Hall, the Town Board held one of its quickest meetings of the year. Regardless of the length of the meeting, several items were taken care of, some of which have been ongoing within the town.
Highlighting the meeting, the Town Board issued a special use permit to Moog Inc. to store hydrazine. In March, representatives from Moog presented to the board on the company's expansion proposal, which required the Town Board to issue the permit. Prior to the permit, hydrazine, which is stored at the facility, was deemed detonable. After further investigation, the presentation from Moog representatives and a public hearing, which drew no adverse comments, the board granted the SUP.
The board also announced Oppenheim Park will host a Fourth of July fireworks show. The display performed by Skylighter's will go on for an agreed cost of $10,000.
The town will also take part in the 12th annual Ride for Missing Children. The near nine-hour bicycle ride is a 100-mile ride that'll take cyclists through Erie and Niagara counties. The purpose of the event is to remember all missing children and raise funds to support local prevention education programs in schools and the community. The ride on May 18 will run through Wheatfield from around 10 a.m. until 1 p.m. In that time, riders with a police escort will use town roads. The ride will make stops at Starpoint Elementary, Colonial Village Elementary in the Town of Niagara, and Meadow Elementary. The board approved the motion unanimously.
In other news, the board approved an item from the Water and Sewer Department formally appointing Mark Clark as the deputy water/sewer superintendent.
Also, from the Water and Sewer Department, the board approved to post for an MEO pursuant and authorized the purchase of a 2019 Ford F350 from Van Bortel Ford.
The Town Board also postponed a public hearing, which was scheduled prior to the regular meeting. Representatives from USA Cycling were sent out of town for business, forcing the board to reschedule the hearing to April 16, prior to the next regular meeting at 7 p.m. USA Cycling proposed a series of bicycle races at Vantage International Point. The racing series would run 10 straight Thursdays from June 21 to Aug. 23.
During board member items, Councilman Larry Helwig noted the importance of the upcoming census.
"By the time we get to early July, we have to send all this stuff back to the federal government and we hope we're going to add a lot of address points, because we want to make sure our census is very accurate. We get paid from Niagara County on tax dollars based on population, so we want to make sure every house is accounted for in Wheatfield," Helwig said.
Councilman Curt Doktor said the town is hosting a volunteer recognition event at 6 p.m. April 18 at the Community Center.
