New superintendent, projects for Highland

By DAVID HULSE

ELDRED, NY — The Town of Highland’s first order of business when the town reorganizes on January 2 will be the selection of a new highway superintendent.

Incumbent Jim McKean resigned in December after having changed his residence to the Town of Lumberland.

The town board is said to have several candidates to fill out the remainder of McKean’s term, and recently retired highway foreman Norman Sutherland is said to be the leading contender among them.

	TRR file photo Highland Town Board members, from the left, Supervisor Allan Schadt, and councilmen Peter Lilholt and Joe McDonald are pictured. (Click for larger image)

The town is alive with projects for 2003.

The latest was Councilman Bob Burrow’s December announcement of a summer, Sullivan Renaissance project involving beautification of the five-way intersection in Barryville. The project, employing a state grant of $9,375, would take advantage of concurrent bridge construction scheduled at the interstate bridge, where plans would eliminate the River Road intersection at the light.

Also on the town’s plate are plans for relocating the highway department barn, currently behind the Sunshine Hall Library, to a new site near the senior citizens center on Route 55. Site clearing work at the new location was done last year and an engineer’s budgetary estimates for the building are currently being reviewed.

Supervisor Allan Schadt has for some time wanted to make use of the current highway property for park and recreation purposes.

Burrow has suggested that a portion of the old building be renovated for a youth center. Additional grant funding would be sought for recreational improvements.