The Oneida Daily Dispatch (Oneida, NY)
Bolstering renewable energy in the county
Supervisors pass local law allowing property owners to finance renewable energy systems through county.
WAMPSVILLE, N.Y. >> Madison County continued to advocate for a greater share of Department of Motor Vehicle transactions and approved the first local law of the year at the Board of Supervisors meeting on Friday.
Madison County Supervisors unanimously approved a resolution urging the New York State Senate and Assembly to pass a bill that would give the county a greater portion of the revenue from the Department of Motor Vehicles located in Wampsville. The proposed legislation, S.1908 in the Senate and A.3907 in the Assembly, would seek to increase the 12.7 percent take counties are currently allotted by the state on DMV transactions. The state has received the lion’s share, 87.3 percent, of county DMV transactions since 1999.
In 2016, the Madison County DMV handled a total of 107,706 transactions, generating $9.9 million in business. Of that $9.9 mil- lion, the county retained a little more than $1 million. That revenue is allocated to the general fund, reducing the property tax levy.
Copies of the resolution will be sent to Gov. Andrew Cuomo, Sen. David Valesky, D-53, and Assemblyman Bill Magee, D-121.
Also at its meeting Friday meeting, the board approved its first local law of the year, one that will give the county another avenue to bolster renewable energy initiatives.
“This shows just how progressive our county is,” said Brookfield Supervisor John Salka.
The local law would allow qualifying property owners to finance the installation of renewable energy systems and energy efficient measures through the county. Repayment of those funds will be collected as a charge levied on the property and in the same way taxes are collected.
The local law outlines energy efficiency improvements as “any renovation or retrofitting of a building to reduce energy consumption, such as window and door replacement , lighting, caulking, weather stripping, air sealing, installation and heating and cooling system upgrades.” On a larger scale, the project will consider renewable energy systems like solar thermal, solar photovoltaic, wind, geothermal, anaerobic digester gas-to-electricity and fuel cell technology.
The programis primarily intended for commercial property. To qualify, the project has to be deemed cost effective and generate an annual savings greater than the annual repayment charge and the property owner has to be current on any existing mortgage and property taxes.
The county was also awarded a grant in the amount of $3,500,000 by the New York State Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Services (DHSES). The funds will provide 100 percent federal reimbursement of eligible costs incurred to facilitate development, consolidation, and/or improved operation of public safety communications to support and enhance statewide interoperable communications for first responders.
The board also authorized Chairman John Becker to enter an agreement with the contractor that will handle the construction of a new bridge in Stockbridge. Winn Construction submitted the lowest feasible bid for replacement and construction of a new Valley Mills Road bridge with an offer of $518,000. Sealed bids were opened on February 16.
Advancement with the government consolidation project that would see the towns of Eaton and Smithfield, alongwith the village of Morrisville share one highway garage continued at Friday’s meeting, as the board approved a contract with the firm C&S Engineers, lnc., for $19,000 to conduct a study of the scope and costs of construction of a new facility in the existing Morrisville location. Additionally C&S Engineers will provide a study of a joint facility at an undetermined location with the Town of Eaton, the Village of Morrisville and the Town of Smithfield.
In other news, Madison County has received a $200,000 Federal Community Development Block Grant fromthe New York State Housing Trust Fund Corporation (the “HTFC”) through its Microenterprise Program. Implementation of the grant money will fall to the Partnership for Community Development, a not-for-profit eligible by law to administer the grant money.
The Office of Community Renewal administers the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) program for the State of New York, according to the official website, and “provides financial assistance to eligible cities, towns, and villages with populations under 50,000 and counties with an area population under 200,000, in order to develop viable communities by providing decent, affordable housing, and suitable living environments, as well as expanding economic opportunities, principally for persons of low and moderate income.”
Furthermore, program objectives of the block grant are achieved “by supporting activities or projects that: benefit low- and moderateincome families; create job opportunities for lowandmoderate-income persons; prevent or eliminate slums and blight; or address a community development need that poses a serious and imminent threat to the community’s health or welfare.”
The board of supervisors also continued to make headway on the Madison County Fire Training Facility project. The board approved a $13,250 agreement with Barton and Loguidice Engineering to perform the additional engineering services for the training facility is planned for six acres of land in the Town of Lincoln that will include a two and a half story live fire training building, a 5000 sq. ft. classroom, indoor training area, and garage, and training pads for vehicle rescue, vehicle fires, and flammable gas fire training. The City of Oneida Fire Department recently donated a squirt engine - the engine was forced into a retirement with a cracked frame but its squirt mechanism still functions - to facility for use in training exercises as well. Additional work to be done by Barton and Loguidice includes: environmental reviews, site design, grading plan, parking area, driveways, and utilities, storm water permit compliance, site utilities, structural design and construction administration/inspection for foundations and site work.