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Otsego County committee approves $400,000 site-assessment request, OKs 9/11 memorial
Summary
The Public Works Committee voted to pursue a $400,000 bond to fund site assessments for a proposed fire training center, potential correctional facility siting and related campus planning, and unanimously approved a resident's request to coordinate a Sept. 11 memorial on county property.
The Otsego County Public Works Committee on July 16 moved to seek up to $400,000 in bond financing for a comprehensive site assessment of county-owned campus land intended to inform siting for a potential fire training center, highway facility relocation and to reserve land that could be required for a future correctional facility.
Committee members debated an earlier $1.8 million figure and a revised request. The revised proposal called for up to $400,000: $100,000 to pay for an initial overall site assessment and the remainder to contract technical expertise (committee members referenced a firm identified in earlier planning as SMRT/SMRA) to evaluate locations and provide recommendations. Committee members repeatedly emphasized the need to determine suitable locations before committing to design or construction.
"If the county board is going to build a jail in the future, it has to go in a specific place," a resident speaking to the committee said. "Therefore, we don't want to put the training center in where that was supposed to be." In response, members said a professional site assessment would identify optimal locations and mitigate future conflicts between proposed uses.
Steve (committee staff) urged caution on financing structure and recommended consulting county administration (Alan) for options, including whether to use contingency funds or a small bond. After discussion the committee moved and approved the measure to seek funding for the assessment; the motion passed with four ayes and one no.
Separately, the committee unanimously approved a resident's request to coordinate a 9/11 memorial on Sept. 11 to be held on the lawn at 197 Main; the resident said there would be no cost to the county and that the event would be scheduled to avoid parking impacts. "It'll be something likely that'll be held on the lawn at 197 Main... there'll be no cost associated with it," the requester said; the committee voted in favor.
Other business included a highway-department request to purchase portions of real property and temporary easements for a bridge/culvert project (parcel owners and tax-map numbers were read into the record and purchase prices were cited). The committee completed a roll-call vote on that item during the meeting and reviewed highway purchase vouchers; committee members asked that administration clarify funding sources and next steps for the campus assessment before decisions on contracting or design.
The committee directed staff to take the bond request to administration for cost and financing options and to confirm any existing contracts with consultants. The meeting adjourned after members agreed to follow up with a site tour and further administrative review.
