The Sun and the Erie County Independent du lieu suivant : Hamburg, New York • Page 2

Page 2 The Sun Thursday, April 19, 2001 Boston looking to improve efficiencies in Highway Dept. "The problem started last sum miles on seven plow trucks just this past winter. That means we are covering those roads quite a bit." It appears that these changes have made a difference and have been noticed by the residents of Boston. "We have received various letters from residents asking what we have done differently this year and stating their appreciation for the work we are doing," Kreitz- bender said. The Highway Department's work in no way ends with winter.

Spring cleanup started this week, Kreitzbender said, with the sweeping of roads, the cleaning of ditches and drainage areas, and the preparing of roads for upcoming construction projects. These include the total repaving and sealing of Leibler Road, the Holi By HEATHER KAPSURIS As winter starts to fade into spring, the snow turns to rain and uncovers damaged roads, and ditches. The severity of the winter weather usually determines the amount of damage and clean-up needed to prepare the roads for springtime driving. The Boston Highway Department made some changes this past winter in an attempt to lessen road damage and make spring cleaning an easier process, so as to efficiently prepare for upcoming projdets. "We purchased two smaller trucks, each five tons, which means we are putting only half the weight on the roads as in previous years," Boston Highway Superintendent Wayne Kreitzbender said.

"Run ning two smaller trucks instead of one larger truck also allows us to do twice as much work in the same amount of time as well as use less material. Less weight, less sand and salt, all mean less road damage and less clean up." The Highway Department also converted three, two-man trucks into one-man operated vehicles, allowing more trucks to be operated with less manpower. "We simply moved the wing controls to the center of the truck, making them easily accessible to the driver," Kreitzbender explained. "With over 40 miles of town roads and almost 40 miles of county roads, we need to work smart to get the roads covered and clean. Changing the trucks so they can be run by one man helps us to do that.

We have put over 25,000 oughly used to attain a clean surface in order to ensure a proper paving process to create a True Level course on the roads surface. "This simply means that with the use of blacktop and a paver we will make sure that the road surface is even and level," Kreitzbender explained. "Then we will put two and a half inches of blacktop on top of the course and allow that to cure for two to three weeks." After this curing process, which allows the blacktop to harden due to air exposure, the final seal will be put on to keep moisture from settling into the road, freezing, and then cracking and causing pot holes. A microsealer, that is hard and abrasive, will be used for this process so as to resist becoming slippery in winter and wet weather as well as being more durable than the oil and stone method previously used. Kreitzbender is excited about the use of this microsealer.

The Boston Highway Department is intent on carrying out the Road Rehabilitation Plan as well as other plans, all designed to improve driving conditions, save time and money, and create efficiency in the department. "I have been with the Highway Department for 27 years and it is my goal to make sure these plans get put into action before I retire," said Kreitzbender. day Subdivision-, Aspen and Pinoak drives and the Weller's Subdivision. "These projects are part of a Road Rehabilitation Plan for the next five years. We are addressing every road in our district.

We have decided to start with these roads and then go from there," Kreitzbender explained. After the spring road cleaning is accomplished, the highway department crews will begin with work on Leibler Road, which will be an involved project. mer when the road started to experience excessive bleeding, which is when the tar in the road bleeds to the top, creating a very slippery surface," Kreitzbender said. "These conditions caused the road to deteriorate so much we asked Suit-Kote Oil Company for some suggestions on how to handle the situation. "After boring the road for testing purposes, it was their determination that the sun had created steam under the road, causing the tar and oil in the road to rise to the surface.

Their recommendation was to grind the road surface in an attempt to remove the excess oil." The grinding process was done before winter and entailed removing the top two inches of the road surface, leaving a bare stone road that allowed the highway personnel to examine the road for other potential problems. Kreitzbender described what they discovered: "After completing the grinding we examined the road and noticed a drainage problem in one area, where piping will need to be replaced, and about four sewer cuts at the bottom of the road that have become soft and broken apart." These problems will be addressed before the road is repaved. After repairing the drainage problem, the sweeper will be thor Dan Gernatt Sr. membership in Gowanda Country Club. He is a former board member of Collins Producers, former director of New York State Dairy Council, former advisory board Li Dan Gernatt Sr.

to receive award Boston water mains to be flushed April 24 The Erie County Water Authority will be flushing the Town of Boston's water mains beginning on April 24. This is part of a Main Flushing Program which is a preventative maintenance procedure to improve the quality of water. This program establishes a routine systematic flushing of all dead-end mains within the distribution system and will continue until this autumn. To try to keep inconvenience to customers at a minimum, flushing will be done only on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday of each week. Flushing is accomplished by fully opening a hydrant located near the affected area.

The hydrant is kept open until all sediments have been removed. Dead-end sections accumulate sediments and other solids that can reduce the carrying capacity of the pipe and may be a source of color, odor andor taste problems. Flushing will remove most of these substances and also will help in identifying areas in the system that need improvement. Customers who live in areas where the main flushing occurs can expect low pressure andor cloudy discolored water. These conditions are temporary and will'subside after the flushing procedures are completed, according to ECWA officials.

If any customer has questions regarding the program or needs assistance, call the ECWA Service Center at 684-0900. member of Marine Midland Bank and former president of the Gowanda Area Chamber of Commerce. The Phoenix Masonic Lodgo 262 is presenting the award to Gernatt on behalf of the Grand Lodge Free and Accepted Masons of the State of New York. "The DeWitt Clinton Award is the first and only award of its kind to be presented by the Grand Lodge of the State of New York since its formation in 1781. The award recognizes distinguished or outstanding community service by non-Masonic organizations or individuals whose actions exemplify a shared concern for the well-being of mankind and a belief in the worldwide brotherhood of man." The dinner to honor Gernatt is by reservation only.

Those interested in attending may do so by calling Don Campbell at 532-3394 or Lloyd Reeves at 532-2416. MffiaairfliiB By Mary Pankow On Saturday, May 12, Phoenix Masonic Lodge 262 will present the DeWitt Clinton Masonic Award to Dan Gernatt Sr. The presentation will take place at the Gowanda American Legion. Gernatt, a father of three, grandfather of 16, great-grandfather of 30, great-great-grandfather of one, and life-long Collins resident, is a successful dairy farmer who turned to mining sand and gravel. Today, the company employs between 200 and 300 individuals in seven plants, has one of the largest blacktop plants in New York State and supplies certified sand and gravel for state highway department use.

A devout Catholic and generous individual, Gernatt has contributed much over the years to his church and parish residence. His support and efforts have also been major factors in the preservation of the Gowanda Hollywood Theater, and have benefited the American Legion Post 409, and Phoenix Lodge 262 Others helped through Gernatt's charitable efforts include Kids Escaping Drugs, Boy Scouts, United Way, Hilbert College, Buffalo Museum of Science, Collins Library, Tri-County Crisis Pregnancy Center and numerous sports teams, local schools and fire departments. Gernatt is a 1991 Spirit of Gowanda Citizen of the Year award recipient and was recognized by the Harness Horse Breeders of New York State for his support and efforts in harness racing and breeding. He is the founder of the Dan and Flavia Gernatt Family Foundation, and was instrumental in establishing Valley View Cheese to provide the Amish with a local market for their milk. Past and present affiliations include: membership in the Gowanda Moose Club, Slovenian Club, Holy Name Society (St.

Jo-, seph R.C. Church) and charter Legislators oppose outsourcing by New Era Cap Erie County Legislature Chairman Charles M. Swanick (D-Kenmore) and Legislator Raymond K. Dusza (D-Cheektowaga) are sponsoring legislation opposing New Era Cap Company's decision to outsource jobs to non-union and non-local workers. "We are encouraging all parties to return to the negotiating table and develop a compromise in good faith," said Chairman Swanick.

The New Era Cap Company produces all the on-field caps for Major League Baseball and minor league baseball, and also manufactures caps for the NBA, NFL, NHL, PGA and Little League. The workers in the company's Derby plant are currently operating without a contract. On Jan. 5, New Era announced the layoff of 125 members of the Communications Workers of America (CWA), with plans for another 100 layoffs by June 1. The work these union members were performing will be sent to a non-union plant in the City of Buffalo and two non-union plants in Alabama.

"Dedicated and hardworking Western New York union employees have contributed to the great success of the New Era company and now the company is turning their back on the people who helped the company thrive for all these years," said Legislator Dusza. The CWA representing 450 workers at the Derby plant have contacted the legislators concerning the loss of jobs. Plant workers, who average $12.14 per hour, have not received a raise in three years, pay between $245 and $329 per month for, family care and receive no pen-sion. During negotiations New Era proposed to cut wages by 40 percent. BECKES OPTICAL HEARING AIDS 141 Pine Street Hamburg (Across from Village Square) 1JJJ 649-1616.