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County manager: Comfort Care House transfer requires legislative route; NYPA green projects raise tax concerns; Fort Drum liaison work advancing
Summary
County Manager Tim Hunt told the legislature the Comfort Care House transfer must go through legislative or ESD channels and described talks with NYPA about several green-energy projects that could affect the county tax levy.
County Manager Tim Hunt updated the legislature on several items including the status of the Comfort Care House transfer, the county’s conversations with the New York Power Authority on proposed green-energy projects and liaison work with Fort Drum partners.
Hunt said the Comfort Care House can be transferred only through legislative action; he has contacted state legislative offices and the governor’s office and staff expect the process to move slowly because the Legislature is not back in session until January. He said there is a potential path to transfer using Empire State Development (ESD) as an intermediary, a route county staff are exploring.
Hunt also reported on meetings in Albany with the governor’s energy office and NYPA. He said NYPA’s updated strategic plan lists several projects that include AES solar in Krogan, the Deer River wind project and a hydro storage project in Krogan and that NYPA indicated a 51% ownership stake on projects. Hunt said the county pressed NYPA for clearer, written commitments about what host communities might receive in tax benefits; his description of NYPA’s response included the comment, “trust us — we’ll pay you something; we don’t know what, and we don’t know how that looks,” language that Hunt related to the board during his report.
Fort Drum liaison: Legislator Nortz, the county’s Fort Drum regional liaison representative, summarized listening sessions Advocate Drum (formerly Fort Drum Regional Liaison Organization) held with county leaders. Topics included improving 911 interoperability with the post, childcare availability for on‑post personnel, potential shuttle service for county events to bring Fort Drum families to local festivals and an on‑post bus run for dependents starting Sept. 22. Nortz described continued coordination between the county and Advocate Drum and said more updates will follow.
Other items: Hunt introduced Joanne Witt as the new executive director of Naturally Lewis to the legislature. Committee chairs and staff also reminded the board about community events and ATV/trail seasonal closures.
Why it matters: Transfer of the Comfort Care House requires state action and could affect local service availability; NYPA involvement in major energy projects with potential county tax implications is a fiscal concern for the county. Fort Drum coordination touches childcare, transportation and public‑safety interoperability for a significant regional employer and population.
What the transcript does not provide: precise dollar estimates of tax impacts from NYPA or explicit timelines for Comfort Care House transfer beyond the note that legislative action will be needed after the next session.
