County allocates $200k for site engineering

YATES COUNTY— The Yates County Legislature approved the allocation of $200,000 for engineering services associated with the remediation of the former Penn Yan Marine site during their regular meeting Monday, Jan. 13. The resolution allocates $200,000 from the environmental cleanup reserve for the engineering work, which will be provided by LaBella Associates.
County Administrator Sarah Purdy said the county is “close to the finish line” with negotiations at the former Penn Yan Marine site. Purdy said there has not yet been any cleanup work conducted at the site, but it should begin soon. Purdy said it should begin “this spring, if not sooner.” She said the allocation is for engineering service and does not include the expense for the actual demolition. Purdy added the county may not be responsible for it and that negotiations are ongoing.
Some of the work to be conducted at the site includes the demolishing of a 115,000 square foot building and out-buildings. The buildings to be demolished will also require updated asbestos and regulated building material inspection analysis to be provided by the developer. The work will also include the removal and transportation of soil as well as the monitoring of volatile organic compounds in the groundwater for approximately five years.
In other business:
• Taylor Howell was selected as the Yates County Distinguished Youth for the fourth quarter of 2013. The award recognizes her for her outstanding service to her family, school and community. (See related story on page 3.)
• The legislature approved the appointment of four people to the Finger Lakes Economic Development Center Board. The appointees are James Willson, Jerry Hiller, Mark Morris and James Long. Their term will run from Wednesday, Jan. 1, 2014, to Dec. 31, 2015.
• The legislature approved authorizing the sheriff to establish pharmacy services as of Dec. 5, 2013, “without delay.” This is due to provider Henderson’s ending services promptly, allowing the county to have Health Direct Institutional Pharmacy Services of Gouverneur continue the service without interruption. The program will allow the Yates County Jail to provide its inmates with prescription drugs and other related medications for the treatment of health problems.
• The county honored three employees for their 30 years of service to the county. Donald Danforth and J. Edgar Emerson of the sheriff’s department were honored along with Deborah Rogers of the treasurer’s office.