Libous checks out the fruits of his grants

By Brittany Bishop
Correspondent
OXFORD – More than year after severe flooding hit Chenango County, repairs to damages are still continuing to come together.
Meeting Thursday at the Oxford Fire Department, New York State Senator Thomas Libous (R-Binghamton) was on hand to view the equipment he helped buy. A demonstration was given by firefighters as to how each piece of equipment is used.
With the support of Libous, the Oxford Fire Department was granted $25,000 to purchase all new gear. “We helped all fire companies who were internally hurt by the flood waters,” said Libous.
New gear was needed because of the high level of contaminants firefighters ran into when called during the floods last year, said Oxford Fire Chief Ron Martin, adding that the gear became inoperative following contact with certain chemicals. “Not a single cleaning company would touch the gear,” he said. The grant allowed up to 14 new sets of gear to be purchased, and “everything that was lost in the flood was able to be replaced,” said Martin. The gear averaged around $3,000 a person, he said.
Libous’ district represents 110 fire companies. “Without you we’d be lost,” he said to Martin and the Oxford firefighters. “As long as I’m in office, I’ll continue to do everything I can.”
After his visit at the Oxford Fire Department, Libous traveled to Norwich where he met with city officials and Department of Public Works employees to see how member item funds he had distributed to the city were paying off. City officials showed Libous the progress of the Sidewalk Replacement Program, which Libous helped to fund by providing a $50,000 member item grant. “Last summer, we were able to replace sidewalks on 43 properties in the city at a 50/50 match, and we will continue the program in the next year, thanks to the senator,” said Norwich City Mayor Joseph Maiurano.
“This is a rare and good opportunity to get new sidewalks at a cost shared by the people and the public works department,” Libous said. “The home owner feels the value and is willing to pay for half, and the public works department does a tremendous job, providing great work in the city. It’s excellent to see the success of the program.”
Libous also had the opportunity to see a dump truck he had helped the city to purchase. “One of the ways I’ve worked with the mayor was to try to keep property taxes down. We’ve done this with programs like the 50/50 sidewalk program, with the state grant providing the funding for the city share. The other way is to help buy essential equipment to help the city,” Libous said. Libous provided the city with $110,000 for the purchase of a new back hoe and dump truck equipped with a plow.
Jessica Lewis contributed to this story.

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