Chemung County IDA approves arena video and signage quotes, updates committees and authorizes broker retainer

The Chemung County Industrial Development Agency on March 13 approved three vendor quotes to upgrade arena video screens, a replay system and ancillary signage and voted to seek reimbursement for the items through ARPA funding.

The agency also ratified recent repair payments at 17 Aviation Drive, approved a $7,500 update to an appraisal for 155 North Main Street and named members to several standing committees. In executive session the board authorized staff and counsel to finalize a listing agreement with Pyramid Brokerage that reflects a $50,000 retainer, and separately approved engaging a law/consulting firm to provide services to the IDA.

Warren Roman, introduced at the start of the meeting as the new labor board member, said he is the business manager for IBEW Local 139. The board moved quickly through routine business before addressing the arena and property matters.

On arena upgrades, staff presented three separate quotes. The board approved a Digi LED video-screen package described in the materials as about $159,000, a replay system quoted at $10,002.95 (with a competing quote near $9,999 that staff said would be more expensive after required hard drives were added), and ancillary equipment and installation from Markertech described in the packet at roughly $24,003.78. Board members were told staff expects those expenses to be eligible for reimbursement through American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funding; staff said they had discussed the reimbursement possibility with the county executive.

The board ratified a payment of $9,224.01 for controller work at 17 Aviation Drive that had already been paid. Members also noted that Carrington Aviation has invested about $150,000 into the building for repairs and upgrades; that investment was described by staff as having been made by the tenant rather than the IDA.

The board approved an update to an appraisal for 155 North Main Street from Integra Realty Resources for $7,500. Staff said the previous appraisal, completed in February 2020, is now more than a year old and not reliable for current use.

On committee assignments, the board made several changes required by state rules. The audit and finance committees were adjusted with Mike Contando moved into the vice-chair slot vacated by Don Berlou. The governance committee was rearranged with Marty Fennell named chair, Danny Mandel and Marty Chalk listed as members, and Kathy Searson stepping down from that panel.

After moving into executive session to discuss pending litigation and real estate, the board returned and approved two resolutions by roll call. The first authorized IDA staff and counsel to work with Pyramid Brokerage to finalize a listing agreement that had a $50,000 retainer described in the proposed agreement. The second authorized engaging a firm identified in the minutes as "Airspeech Mirtha Kalina, PLLC" to provide services to the IDA; the board approved the engagement by roll call.

All motions reported in the meeting minutes carried on voice votes or roll calls as recorded in the transcript. No additional public comment was recorded.

The board adjourned and then reconvened concurrent business for the Capital Resource Corporation.