Wheatfield to adhere to new lead testing requirements from EPA; park idea gets new life

By Benjamin Joe

The Town of Wheatfield Water and Sewer Department has a new set of eligibility requirements regarding lead from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

According to Mark Clark, department head of the town’s water and sewer department, previous testing was conducted at six random sites within the town every three years. Now that number is closer to 60 and required every year.

“We haven’t found any lead so far,” Clark said. “Which is great. I hope it stays that way in future inspections.”

Town to hold public hearing for proposed new lighting district

A petition for a new lighting district in the Wheatfield Crossing subdivision was presented to the Town of Wheatfield by Wheatfield Crossing LLC and its sole member, David J. Capretto, in April.

At the town’s regular business meeting on Monday, July 7, the board voted unanimously to hold a public hearing on the proposal written within the petition.

The boundaries of the lighting district would be between Shawnee and Townline roads. The district would be comprised of 17 carriage 35-watt LED lamps and 17 standard fiberglass poles for the lamps. According to the petition, the total cost to the town would be $3,100.80 annually, and include the yearly cost of electricity, approximately $1,770.22.

Park proposal gets new life

It was learned the Town of Niagara had sought to add a park in a 5-acre area by River Road, but plans were put on hold when the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation nixed the idea – citing the existence of wetlands. The ruling came after the DEC did a flyover of the area – though no one from the department checked the property on the ground.

“I said, ‘Did you go onto the property?’ And they said, ‘no,’ ” Wheatfield Supervisor Don MacSwan said.

In truth, MacSwan said the former brownfield, which has been remediated, was mostly blacktop. It remains a prime spot for recreation, including picnics and fishing.

Having sent someone to check the property, the DEC has revised its opinion to note wetlands on the property are “minimal,” MacSwan said, and the possibility of such a park on the property is now feasible in the future.

“There’s a grant for rehabilitation, because it was a brownfield,” MacSwan said. “But they did testing. They said because of what was there, they wouldn’t recommend camping … it’s more for short recreation. Like for people on their bikes. They can stop, rest, go fishing if they want to.”