By William Fredericks

Nov. 4, 2026: Thanks in no small measure to the tireless persistence of Village Administrator Jim Palmer, earlier this year, the New York State Department of Transportation finally granted the necessary approvals to replace and modernize two stormwater catch basins on either side of Route 22 (a state-controlled road) at its intersection with Sherman Avenue. 

In addition to being outdated, the concrete “lid” over the catch basin on the eastern side of the White Plains Road, across from Sherman, had cracked and broken, posing a potential risk to pedestrians.

The drains at Sherman are the only two catch basins along the nearly 3/4 mile stretch of the White Plains Road that runs south from the Village Lutheran Church at the North Road traffic light until the Village’s border with Mt Vernon.  The lack of catch basins is not a problem of the Village’s creation, as the engineering of state roads (such as Route 22) is controlled by the state DOT, rather than local governments.

It is hoped that the new catch basins will help lessen the extent of hazardous “ponding” on stretches of Rt 22 that have historically occurred in the Sherman Avenue area during times of heavy downpours. The new catch basins are deeper, which will also add sump capacity before releasing water

This work represents only the most recent step in the Village’s efforts to replace outdated storm water drainage pipes, install new catch basins, and otherwise improve drainage conditions in the general Sherman/Hamilton/Sussex/Homesdale area.