County borrows $500K from general fund for administration building project

By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 8 January 2018 at 11:39 am

Money will be repaid when financing in place

ALBION – Orleans County is borrowing $500,000 from its general fund for work on a capitol project at the County Administration Building.

The county will repay the general fund when financing is in place for the 22,000-square-foot addition, county legislators said last week.

The Legislature last year authorized a bond at a maximum $10,063,881. It will be paid back over 25 years.

The county has delayed that financing until later in 2018 so the debt service payments don’t start until 2019. Borrowing from the general fund keeps the project moving forward this year, said Chuck Nesbitt, the county’s chief administrative officer.

The county also has already been approved for a $3,682,748 state grant towards the project and could receive more assistance. The county also has been approved for a $200,000 grant through State Sen. Robert Ortt’s office to help with the project.

The county is pursuing the addition so it will have county-owned space for the Public Health Department and Board of Elections. The Department of Social Services might also be relocated to the new space.

Public Health and the Board of Elections use facilities that are owned by Comprehensive Healthcare Management Services LLC. Comprehensive acquired the nursing home and the neighboring public health building as part of the $7.8 million acquisition on Jan.1, 2015.

The County Legislature last week approved paying some bills for the project, including $29,402 to Barre Stone Products for crusher run and binder for the parking area; $13,048 to Barre Stone Products for crusher run stone for the parking area; $2,844 to Lock City Supply for work on the parking area; and $494 to Kistner Concrete Products for a catch basin on the parking lot.

In other action during last week’s meeting, the Legislature:

• Reappointed David Schubel as county attorney;

• Reappointed Nadine Hanlon as clerk of the Legislature;

• Named The Daily News of Batavia as official newspaper for carrying legal notices;

• Republican legislators elected Bill Eick as majority leader;

• Fred Miller, the lone Democrat on the seven-member Legislature, was picked the minority leader;

• Appointed the following to the Orleans Economic Development Agency board of directors: Ken Rush of Carlton, Merle “Skip” Draper of Shelby, Paul Hendel of Holley, Carol D’Agostino of Kendall and John Misiti of Medina.

The Legislature also approved paying the EDA $180,000 in $45,000 quarterly payments in 2018 for its work to retain and promote business in the county.

Return to top