DUANESBURG Cleanup to begin at former gas station County, state approve deal to remediate site BY JUSTIN MASON Gazette Reporter Reach Gazette reporter Justin Mason at 395-3113 or jmason@dailygazette.net.
County officials secured a deal with the state this week that will allow the demolition and environmental remediation of the former Check Marks Realty building to proceed. Schenectady County Metroplex Development Authority will pay $45,000 to the state, which will then fund a full cleanup of the quarter-acre property through the Comptroller’s Oil Spill Fund. The estimated $125,000 cleanup will create a vacant lot at the corner of the routes 7 and 20 intersection that is now being considered for a substation to serve the Schenectady County Sheriff’s Department’s road patrol. “That’s one of the places we looked at,” said Democratic county Legislator Judith Dagostino, the Legislature’s vice chairwoman. “But there’s nothing concrete yet.” County legislators approved a resolution Tuesday taking title on the former gas station, which contains at least five buried fuel tanks and some petroleum contamination. The resolution also allows the county to enter into an agreement with Metroplex and the state, enabling the cleanup to begin. Under the agreement, Metroplex will fund a demolition of the lot’s existing structures and pay the $45,000 fee assessed by the state. In turn, Dagostino said, the county will monitor groundwater on the site at a nominal cost. For years, the derelict Check Marks Realty building has been a visible blight at the bustling crossroads. The property was owned by the estate of Glen Marks, who died in 2006 and hadn’t paid taxes on the property since 1995. Dagostino offered the pending cleanup of the eyesore property as yet another successful environmental remediation negotiated by the county. Others include the Burgess tank farm in Glenville, Campbell Plastics in Rotterdam and the illegal dump at the Marotta property in Rotterdam Junction. “This project will allow us to clean up a threat to our environment and make it suitable for new development,” she said. The county’s negotiating and subsequent announcement about the substation came as a bit of a surprise to town officials. Supervisor Rene Merrihew said she had discussed a project to clear the land with the county but was under the impression the property would be given back to the town to create a veteran’s memorial and park at the western edge of the crossroads. Merrihew doubted the property would be large enough for a substation. She said the lack of space was among the reasons the land was never cleared for redevelopment. “There isn’t enough room to do anything with it,” she said Wednesday. Duanesburg and officials from the Sheriff’s Department have had informal discussions about creating a substation in Duanesburg. Deputies with sheriff’s road patrol now must travel more than four miles from the department to reach the edge of their coverage in Princetown. Merrihew said the town had considered including room for a substation in plans for a possible expansion of Town Hall, but initial estimates last year suggested the project would cost upward of $1.2 million. “It was way too expensive,” she said. Acting Sheriff Gordon Pollard also was unaware of the county considering the property for a substation. He said the location would be ideal for the road patrol, which includes up to three vehicles per shift and a total of 10 deputies. “We’d certainly be centrally located,” he said of the site.
Well one can tell this is an election year! There have been sightings of Judy Dago in Duanesburg. First time in 8 years. And not just sightings, she is actually out doing the bidding for the plex and the sheriff's dept.
Now don't get me wrong. The idea of a sub station in Duanesburg isn't such a bad idea. But I believe, the supervisor of Duanesburg was thinking more in the line of having the location at their town hall. Which would leave the location where Judy Dago wants to place a sub station, available for a veterans memorial park. Which is what the supervisor of Duanesburg was proposing.
I don't live in Duanesburg, but that intersection can get congested at times and the idea of a sub station at that location just doesn't make sense. As did the Rotterdam Little League land that Judy Dago proposed in the last election year.
Well, perhaps Duanesburg will luck out like Rotterdam did and this proposal for a sub station, at that location, will not pan out. To me, it just appears to be political pandering for votes, at it's best, just before an election. IMHO
When the INSANE are running the ASYLUM In individuals, insanity is rare; but in groups, parties, nations and epochs, it is the rule. -- Friedrich Nietzsche
“How fortunate for those in power that people never think.” Adolph Hitler
And.....isn't or wasn't the purpose of the plex to create jobs? A sheriff sub station is certainly not a 'job creation' project.
When the INSANE are running the ASYLUM In individuals, insanity is rare; but in groups, parties, nations and epochs, it is the rule. -- Friedrich Nietzsche
“How fortunate for those in power that people never think.” Adolph Hitler
Metrograft was supposed to increase sales tax revenues in the County. That's why last quarter County sales tax revenues tanked almost one million dollars compare to the year before?
You're right about a rare Judy DAG sighting in Duanesburg-yes she must be up for re-election AGAIN. We need a 2 term limit on these do nothing County Legislators.
As far the project-at least something is coming back to Duanesburg instead of the usual dumping all Metrograft funds on a 2 block section of State St and allowing the rest of the County and City neighborhoods to disintegrate.
How much you want to bet that the demolition / deterioration may start before the vote, but nothing will happen with it after. Gee, how many times since she was first elected has Judy Dagostino been out to Duanesburg? Too bad the State Police sold their old barracks and there's someone living there, that would have been good to just be handed over from state to county.
Lot is .14 acre. Configured in a triangle. Had she and Jasenski come out to see that they would have realized it probably won't work. Don't know why they didn't want to pursue my idea of accomodating the Sheriff's at Town Hall if we could get some financial help with our expansion. Guess they just didn't like it. I even met with Harry and others from the Sheriff's Dept. about 18 months ago to get their requirements as to space, entrances etc. Engineering is complete and good to go, just need some financial help. I had wanted to accomplish it on our own and just have them bring their stuff and move in but the final cost made us realize that couldn't happen. PS I've been working with our Metroplex Rep and Ray Gillen for atleast the last 4 years on that parcel. Geez, you'd think she and Tony discovered it on their own............
I'm sorry, I didn't mean to sound sarcastic, allow me to rephrase the above.........When they came out to see the parcel I'm surprised they didn't realize it probably wouldn't work.
Another publicity stunt to get them re-elected and sadly they will use hundreds of thousands of tax payer money for the stunt too. Reminds me of the Little league swampland they almost bought and spent tens of thousands going through the motions over. How is that new County Duanesburg Library coming along by the way, the big one they stunted last time?
"While Foreign Terrorists were plotting to murder and maim using homemade bombs in Boston, Democrap officials in Washington DC, Albany and here were busy watching ME and other law abiding American Citizens who are gun owners and taxpayers, in an effort to blame the nation's lack of security on US so that they could have a political scapegoat."
Sheriff candidate backs Duanesburg substation Thursday, August 20, 2009 By Michael Lamendola (Contact) Gazette Reporter
SCHENECTADY COUNTY — One of two candidates for Schenectady County sheriff believes building a road patrol substation in Duanesburg is a good idea. County officials are proposing to build the substation on a quarter-acre site that contains a former gas station. The county reached a deal in early August with the state Department of Environmental Conservation to clean up the site, making it eligible for redevelopment. Joseph Lazzari, a member of the Independence Party who has the endorsement of county Republicans, said a substation at 6904 Duanesburg Road is an excellent idea. “The road patrol officers were hired for the suburbs and they should be closer to their duties,” Lazzari said. “It is viable and should be looked into.” Dominick Dagostino, a member of the Conservative Party who has the endorsement of county Democrats, did not respond to requests for comment. His mother, Judy Dagostino, D-Rotterdam and vice chairwoman of the Schenectady County Legislature, suggested the county build a substation at the site. County Legislator Judy Dagostino is running for re-election in District 4, which consists of Rotterdam, Duanesburg and Princetown. In a news release, she said a substation would help the patrol officers do their jobs more efficiently. “The time they spend traveling back and forth is time they are not spending on their chief mission. Cutting down on the time they spend going back and forth improves efficiency and reduces the wear and tear on the vehicles,” she said. County Legislator Anthony Jasenski, D-Rotterdam, joined Dagostino in announcing that the county is considering the Duanesburg site for a road patrol substation. Jasenski is not running for re-election this year. Jasenski said county staff spent about 18 months investigating locations in District 4 for a substation. “It’s open-ended right now. We are looking at all possibilities,” he said...............>>>>..................>>>>...............http://www.dailygazette.com/news/2009/aug/20/0820_substa/
Not a lot of votes, but the people there use their heads when they vote for the most part. As far as money, why would that enter the equation? do you think there is some illegal scheme going on where politicians and public servants "get money" from a town for their own use? I am not sure where the constant mention of the "money" and the "money trail" comes from. The idea that there is money changing hands that readily is a little bit much in every situation. Some people only operate for money, some for better reasons, some not at all. A public servant salary won't make you rich at this level. I am sure Rene and the Duanesburg Board make VERY little money and could do far better in the private sector.
"While Foreign Terrorists were plotting to murder and maim using homemade bombs in Boston, Democrap officials in Washington DC, Albany and here were busy watching ME and other law abiding American Citizens who are gun owners and taxpayers, in an effort to blame the nation's lack of security on US so that they could have a political scapegoat."
Logged
Metrograft was supposed to increase sales tax revenues in the County. That's why last quarter County sales tax revenues tanked almost one million dollars compare to the year before?
