Kenmore tries to beat the heat

KENMORE - Western New York - like most of the nation - has been caught in the grip of a seemingly never ending heat wave this summer.

Kenmore Mayor Patrick Mang said that while it's certainly been challenging for everyone to find ways to beat the heat, but fortunately the Village of Kenmore has not experienced any water shortage issues.

As always, in extreme heat situations like we've been dealing with, residents are asked to make the most of their watering time by watering their lawns and flowers after the sun goes down so the water has a chance to seep into the ground and do some good for lawns and other green spaces.

Obviously it feels like a losing battle to keep lawns looking lush and full in weather like this, but Mang stressed his biggest concerns is that residents please take the time to water trees.

"We encourage them to soak the trees at least once a week," Mang said.

Mang said the most vital concern is for the younger trees that were planted in the last year or two.

Trustee Timothy McCarthy noted a product called "Gator Bags" which can be purchased at Wal-Mart, Home Depot or at any landscaping supply stores, as a product that is very effective in maintaining proper watering for trees.

Ranging in price from around $22 to $65, Gator Bags slowly release water into a tree. They wrap around the tree and come in various sizes.

In other news:

The village board of trustees approved a resolution regarding police dispatcher pay rates for new hires.

The resolution, which passed by a vote of 5-0, is an amendment to resolutions that were approved in 1998 and 2006.

The 1998 resolution designated the rate of pay for dispatcher trainees to be at an hourly rate of $3.00 less than the prevailing dispatcher rate.

Now, the dispatcher rate of pay for new hires during training and for that period after training, but before completion of probation, hereby determines that probation begins upon completion of training.

The board also approved four block parties that will take place in August and September.