[{"_1":2,"_98":-5,"_99":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6546995,"mediaKeyId","3407213-cbaee234e1fe8c7ca34eec9be23e1752","parentId",3407213,"title","County outlines repairs and small-grant programs for Masonic building and other redevelopment efforts","audioSeconds",109,"startMs",462000,"endMs",571000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3407213-cbaee234e1fe8c7ca34eec9be23e1752&start=462&end=571","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3407213-cbaee234e1fe8c7ca34eec9be23e1752/thumbnail_462000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6546995/Herkimer-County/New-York/County-outlines-repairs-and-small-grant-programs-for-Masonic-building-and-other-redevelopment-efforts","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6546995-cc6b9b30aca514e16a726038cd99b67b/orig.mp4?Expires=1771152486&Signature=dzTOf0hz03SSX1KHfFKxKZFACXWQYDhdXJdQWnvmNegrC-yK7ZqwXWxDzNzQvsTjjsccPKMJrr7rEPZr27Xu2AMi3jhyVIgClc8yy07TpAlnduTzkq52JwtWnf4Nb3GLiUqJxgRWc7NwRJoYH4Y~6cal3eCj5Wub7t-AX8NECgHOmqP0-IFlL7-IU2Wkbw~gP-i51INaFj375cKC1H8AOiUVd6PeuoRQR9PdhE00tretSImdGyU0dhJRXyzK2WyUT2pH3Bed6mrgtg~3Q6qpB4TFUT7ts7CVb6S83reBYoMmUduFwxM5sL929P-sgVz-NMLMouzFRQPNqfVlIRC7kg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Herkimer County, NY","date","2025-05-20T00:00:00Z","article","Herkimer County officials discussed planned repairs and grant programs for several redevelopment sites, including the Masonic building, small grants tied to a DRI award, and an upcoming Request for Proposals (RFP) to support the Remington site.

Speaker 3 said the county expects about $1.5 million for the Masonic building project and additional earmarked funds, and that staff will go out to bid for roof repairs and other work. “What we'll start doing soon is, going out to bid for some roof and repair stuff,” the speaker said. The speaker also noted National Grid programs that could support window replacement.

Officials said they were disappointed not to receive a coalition brownfields grant but that they will manage a $600,000 small-grant program linked to a DRI (Downtown Revitalization Initiative) award to help local projects. Speaker 3 said the county will serve on an AEDC panel tasked with awarding $500,000 and that staff will help select local recipients.

Staff also discussed a countywide BOA (Brownfield Opportunity Area) grant process and an RFP to evaluate the Remington site for additional points in a separate funding application. The transcript indicates the RFP selection process was underway and that staff expected to select a contractor shortly; no formal selection or contract award was recorded in the meeting.

Why it matters: These activities guide near-term capital repairs and small-grant distributions intended to support local property owners and downtown revitalization projects. The bidding and RFP steps launch procurement and selection processes that will determine which projects receive repair work or funding assistance.

Next steps: Staff will issue RFPs and go to bid on repairs; selection of contractors and distribution of small grants will follow standard procurement and award procedures. The meeting did not record formal votes on these items.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","HLDC Board of Directors Meeting 5/20/25","oneSentenceSummary","Officials discussed bids and repairs for the Masonic building, a small grants program tied to a DRI award, AEDC selection panel participation, and upcoming countywide BOA and EDC RFPs; no formal vote was recorded on these items.","taxTitle","Herkimer County, New York","taxId",76649,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6547000,"Members back MOU to pursue lien waiver and redevelopment opportunities at Charlestown site",129,289000,418000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3407213-cbaee234e1fe8c7ca34eec9be23e1752&start=289&end=418","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3407213-cbaee234e1fe8c7ca34eec9be23e1752/thumbnail_289000.jpg","/articles/6547000/Herkimer-County/New-York/Members-back-MOU-to-pursue-lien-waiver-and-redevelopment-opportunities-at-Charlestown-site","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6547000-0f70320dc2869c1fafd725524ceadcdd/orig.mp4?Expires=1771152486&Signature=nrSQB3sEQ6e8cg6MePt6y4voPorjsan5EPTm~sbqDGPvadGU9Ys5gAxjZRPBoavKz4PIT-efTVFrXKKgzp-ECNp1IKbOeWMNtv9xjUjbbcBYwsMhiBZHV7n93YM6UU3juSVjtXsvHX~xS8LWXgFFZkzjKcmjelt95MgbieOC4inF461QYM4O5wPlpmZiPNu-fSP8lGYOB6-y7Pi9BLjJFFM74FI38SlUeuSsN4Oe1GBLLrPDFJ7944-cenUu41JhR~WbOZnR2L-2VQ45cYz1mSunUh4dd7FTtK9ZOgmTME6C2iOMzYcQaVS1VtSdQ78mXuXryrYu8~UYTk89mY1CnQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Herkimer County members voted to support a memorandum of understanding to pursue approvals related to a Charlestown property, including seeking a waiver of an EPA lien, county staff reported at the meeting.

Speaker 3 said the county had negotiated with the lienholder and “finally convinced them to waive the lien for $10,000,” down from a previously cited $14,000,000 lien. The county plans to market the parcel for redevelopment and identified retail battery storage as a potential compatible use because of nearby power lines. Speaker 3 noted the parcel is roughly 14 acres.

The speaker said earlier cleanup work by the DEC (New York State Department of Environmental Conservation) and EPA indicated no off‑site migration from the property and that the county used an assessment grant to fund a Phase 1 environmental review. “We were able to use our assessment grant for the phase 1 environmental,” Speaker 3 said. The speaker also told the membership that a NYSERDA project would require an additional $10,000 payment but that the county was more likely to pursue private battery-storage developers than a NYSERDA-led approach.

Why it matters: The negotiated lien reduction and the county’s effort to clear title are prerequisites for marketing and redevelopment. Staff said the site’s condition and nearby transmission lines make it a candidate for retail battery storage, which would be a new private investment on county‑owned land.

Votes and next steps: The meeting record shows members voiced approval for the MOU and to move forward with approvals for EPA processes; the transcript does not list individual roll-call votes. Staff said there will be additional environmental work and subsequent meetings to finalize marketing or sale terms.

Supporting details: Speaker 3 described the site as largely clean after DEC/EPA work and said testing suggested contamination, where present, consisted mostly of metals rather than petroleum or chemical contamination. The speaker also noted the county has a survey map and said it can be circulated to members.","The membership supported a memorandum of understanding to seek an EPA lien waiver on a Charlestown property and discuss potential retail battery storage redevelopment; county staff said the lien was reduced from $14 million to $10,000 through negotiation.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":78,"_43":90,"_45":91,"_47":92,"_49":93,"_51":94,"_53":95,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":96,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":97,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6547005,"Herkimer County members approve contract step toward purchase of former Village of Purple school",108000,237000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3407213-cbaee234e1fe8c7ca34eec9be23e1752&start=108&end=237","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3407213-cbaee234e1fe8c7ca34eec9be23e1752/thumbnail_108000.jpg","/articles/6547005/Herkimer-County/New-York/Herkimer-County-members-approve-contract-step-toward-purchase-of-former-Village-of-Purple-school","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6547005-bbbbaf3f1f548a2b4648f4f308339346/orig.mp4?Expires=1771152486&Signature=WkZp1LrwaMR6K5gxbX5pgv-nwIwqkuapobLsqWnrddMS9He6lJw5Bbri2yfyHte~t0RjvcVByYYGueFq4aRM7WLR2Dy5QvYTRrg9uSR6XCjXUsDzvWjmbKG4yC0f0I~m1snti3cDJdPPPWMN10NIfVMLReg4~fY8tJ22g6a4S1Zj0O2gwjuLWeQC6FP3btCKp-dBaNYpab5MMbpFQ-bfqc9M6evmsbT2IpKWGG8xRyyitGeoOofB07pKI59h1Xtq8amIc2dRXU-GfDfA04cHRcbt6~txZEe6pf8YeZEaKaTEUjm7YdhjLFaafjoUiDKkHblUo-Fo8wThO-RzqC9OtQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Herkimer County members voted to approve a contract related to the potential purchase and sale of a former school building in the Village of Purple, a county representative said during the meeting. The action clears a procedural step while the county awaits an appraisal and a Phase 1 environmental assessment.

The purchase and sale contract before the meeting was described as carrying no direct purchase cost to the county. Speaker 3, an unnamed meeting participant, said the Village of Purple held a public hearing and “they declared negative declaration on that.” Speaker 3 also told members the county previously paid its attorney, Hodgkin Russ, “to support this project up to $10,000.”

County staff said an appraisal is under way. “We have an appraisal going on right now on the property,” Speaker 3 said, and added they expected the appraisal “shortly.” Staff estimated the overall transaction timeline — including any buyer-led due diligence and required environmental review — at roughly 90 to 120 days.

Why it matters: The parcel is being marketed for redevelopment and county officials noted developer interest. Speaker 3 said the property is in good condition and that the county will consider sale terms after appraisal results and any Phase 1 findings. The meeting record shows members voted to proceed with the contract step; individual roll-call votes were not specified in the transcript.

Supporting details: Speaker 3 said developers were “very interested in moving forward,” and the county plans further meetings to set a purchase price after receiving the appraisal. The speaker also said the county had already paid legal support to advance the matter through “article 19 b” (as stated in the meeting) and that the county will expect the purchaser to complete a Phase 1 environmental review before closing. The speaker noted potential funding sources that might help cleanup or redevelopment, including possible EPA funds and New York State programs aimed at commercial redevelopment for housing, though no specific program award was reported.

Next steps: County staff will circulate the appraisal when available and return to the membership to discuss sale price and any conditions the county requires before completing a transfer. The transcript did not specify a calendar date for the next meeting on this item.","Members voted to authorize a contract related to acquiring a former school building in the Village of Purple; appraisal and a Phase 1 environmental review are pending and staff said the transfer likely will take 90–120 days.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

County outlines repairs and small-grant programs for Masonic building and other redevelopment efforts

Members back MOU to pursue lien waiver and redevelopment opportunities at Charlestown site

Herkimer County members approve contract step toward purchase of former Village of Purple school