County awarded for environmentalism

WAMPSVILLE » For its leadership in the environmental field, Madison County is one of two counties to receive a New York State Energy Research and Devel- opment Authority award.

Madison County is one of two counties t hat will receive a $ 250,000 award for completing the Clean Energy Communities designation by NYSERDA. The Board of Supervisors accepted the award Tuesday and designated the funds to reinvest in energy efficient buildings and to purchase electric cars and charging stations.

Funds will be dedicated specifically to energy improvements in downtown areas of municipalities. An application process will be used to select which buildings. Five electric cars and charging stations will also be purchased and be used by county employees. The county has until 2021 to complete the projects.

Madison County has also been awarded a $450,000 Affordable Home Ownership Development Program grant by the New York State Homes and Community Renewal Office. The money will be used to improve and rehabilitate existing homes, primarily in the towns of Eaton and Madison.

Individual appropriations of the grant will be based on income; each recipient will be eligible to receive up to $25,000.

“The project will result in substantial benefit to Madison County in the form of improved housing stock, which will boost commercial and residential ac--

tivity and invigorate economic activity,” said a res- olution passed Tuesday accepting the grant.

The board also gave the go-head for the county to submit a grant application to the New York State Office of Community Re- newal for a Community Development Block Grant. If awarded, the funds would be dedicated to the implementation of a microenterprise assistance program in the towns of Cazenovia, De- Ruyter, Fenner, Georgetown andNelson. A public hearing was held Tuesday to gather comments; no one from the public spoke.

If the county receives funding, the microenter- prise program would assist with the development and expansions of businesses and create employment opportunities. The Cazenovia Area Community Development Association would im- plement the program.

The board also approved a resolution that will allow the county to sell solid waste punch cards at the new Byrne Dairy on Route 5 in Oneida.