NORWICH – Chenango County Fire Coordinator Matt Beckwith requested last week that the county consider purchasing the fire and emergency management training facility located on Hale Street in Norwich.
The property is currently leased from the City of Norwich. In his proposal to the Chenango County Board of Supervisors, Beckwith said the facility currently needs some renovations and must be owned by the county in order to receive state and federal grants for the work.
Chenango County Finance Committee Chairman Jack Cook, R-Greene, asked why the building would have to be purchased to receive the benefits. Beckwith explained that the grant process is extremely in-depth, and the state won’t consider applications as long as the building is being leased.
“We have a lot of money invested into that building already,” said Beckwith. “The lease is set to expire soon and we aren’t eligible to receive grants for any more work on the structure.”
According to Beckwith, preliminary discussions began with the city last spring regarding the possibility of the county purchasing the quarter of an acre sized parcel and building. However, discussions were put on hold due to the frequent storms and flooding over the past five months.
Beckwith explained that the lease will not expire until 2013, but he wanted to “get ahead of the game.”
“[The county has] a lot of money invested into the property already,” he said. “There’s an underground water tank and a couple of trailers that we have added over the years.”
The last lease was for 20 years with the cost to the county being only $1, he explained. All of the on-site maintenance and up-keep is also done by Beckwith himself.
“There would be little to no cost to the county in purchasing the land,” said Beckwith. “Essentially the only change would be the name on the deed.”
Beckwith said that damage done to the smoke building years ago has meant that live-fires are not currently allowed inside the training facility. He explained that for any live-fire work, trainees had to be sent to other facilities in Bridgewater, Elmira and Otsego County.
Other projects, according to Beckwith, include a cover for the emergency response office on site and protection for any exposed equipment.
“During the last round of storms we had a few roof leaks,” he said. “I want to prevent that in the future.”
Supervisor George Seneck, R-Guildford, inquired whether there was any grant money that could be used to purchase the building. Beckwith responded that at present, grant money was only available for the purchase and up-keep of equipment.
Seneck requested that Beckwith provide the committee with a list and costs of the various projects, the amounts of what would become eligible grants and an overall benefit to the community.
“We have time to discuss this possibility,” said Beckwith. “But there’s little overhead cost for the facility ... and the grants and benefits would be well worth the purchase.”