Town announces Dutchess County grant, cooling centers and parks updates

Town officials at the July 1 Union Vale meeting announced several administrative and community updates. The board said it has received a grant from Dutchess County to support the town’s "hometown heroes" program; the grant was described as intended to help cover the cost of a bucket truck for banner installation. The supervisor said the sheriff and district attorney will present at the next board meeting to demonstrate how they are using technology in crime fighting and to discuss ways residents can assist.

Officials warned of a multi-day heat wave and designated the town hall as a cooling center from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.; the Verbank Firehouse on Route 82 will also be open 8 a.m.–8 p.m. on the two peak days. The town clerk reminded residents that the Dutchess County Veterans Affairs office will be at town hall on July 28 from 1 to 4 p.m. and that Balloonfest tickets are being offered to town residents at a reduced price ($20 weekend pass; $7 morning; $12 evening). Officials also noted that state sportsman hunting licenses go on sale Aug. 1.

The board reported $31,000 in proceeds from a recent surplus equipment auction and said it will bring a resolution at the next meeting to return those proceeds to the highway equipment reserve fund. Council members praised the recent community night event and thanked staff and volunteers for organizing activities, and parks staff reported that mold remediation work in the large hall had succeeded and that reconstruction can proceed while camp continues to operate.

The board did not take any final funding action on the auction proceeds at this meeting. Next procedural steps include placing the auction-proceeds resolution on the July 15 agenda and hosting the sheriff/DA presentation at the next regular meeting.