Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Land Use topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Warren County weighs options for Queensbury landfill parcel with $32,225 in back taxes
Summary
County staff reported a county-owned, capped landfill parcel (parcel 279-1-26) near Ridge Road in Queensbury owes $32,225.64; the assessor indicated she would reduce assessed value to zero going forward, and the committee directed staff to pursue brownfield grant options and revisit the parcel after the new year.
Warren County officials discussed a county-owned landfill parcel in the town of Queensbury and directed staff to pursue cleanup and grant options rather than immediate sale. Kristen, a member of the county's real property tax services staff, told the committee the parcel (ID 279-1-26), located on Ridge Road across from the Jenkinsville landfill, cannot be sold at the tax foreclosure auction and currently carries $32,225.64 in back taxes.
Kristen said the assessor has indicated she "would be willing to reduce [the value] to 0," which would prevent further taxes from accruing, but that there is no administrative way to place a permanent exemption on the property. The parcel was taken in 2016 after a prior owner, Scott McLaughlin, lost title, and it is currently capped.
Board members discussed options including leasing the site for a solar project, noting the parcel is about 8.5 acres and earlier conversations with the town of Queensbury explored piggybacking on the town's solar plans. An unnamed board member raised liability concerns tied to groundwater and wells, saying that if the parcel were identified as a source of leakage "then the county would be on the hook for the millions of dollars." County staff confirmed the state is still studying responsibility for wells in the area.
Rather than pursue immediate sale or write-off, the committee agreed to keep the parcel in committee while staff investigate brownfield grant opportunities and other remedies and return to the committee after the start of the new year with findings. No formal vote on policy or funding occurred during the discussion.
