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Legislature approves CDBG application to support Country Sky mobile-home cooperative after resident appeals
Summary
Clinton County legislators approved a New York State CDBG Small Cities grant application to support converting Country Sky Mobile Home Park into a resident-owned cooperative after residents and organizers described the project and urged county support.
Clinton County legislators voted April 25 to authorize the county to apply for and accept funding from the New York State Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Small Cities Program to support the Country Sky Mobile Home Park project.
Housing organizers from the Cooperative Development Institute told the Legislature the CDBG award is needed to complete the conversion of Country Sky from private ownership to a resident-owned cooperative. Sarah Martin, a Housing Program Organizer, summarized the project's background and said she did not know why the Town of Beekmantown chose to turn the grant back. Jeremiah Ward, also with the Cooperative Development Institute, described how the proposed cooperative would be organized and operated under the interim model being used now.
Park residents urged support. Marguerite Hart said she appreciated agency help in converting the park to cooperative ownership. Freddie Johnson, a 12-year resident, said his children were “saddened” by news the park might close and that he hopes to remain so his children can continue attending Beekmantown Central School. Public Health Director John Kanoza told legislators inspections have improved during interim cooperative operation and called recent months encouraging.
The Legislature approved Resolution #342, authorizing application and acceptance for CDBG Small Cities funding; the motion carried after routine procedural steps. Legislator Christopher Rosenquest publicly thanked county staff and project partners for advancing the project, and Legislator Mark Dame offered congratulations to involved homeowners for their accountability in repaying loans related to the project.
The approval allows county staff to move forward with a formal CDBG application; the resolution text and any award amounts were not specified in the meeting transcript. The Legislature entered executive session later in the meeting on unrelated litigation and adjourned at 8:23 p.m.
