Town of Hunter Applies for Shared Services Grant

By Max Oppen

TANNERSVILLE – The Town of Hunter successfully met the January 24 deadline to apply for a $1.25 million Local Government Efficiency Grant, also known as a Shared Services Grant, from the New York State Department of State (NYSDOS). This funding would contribute to constructing a new Town Highway garage and Town Hall, including a heating/cooling emergency shelter for area residents. While the grant represents only a fraction of the project's cost, it's a significant step forward for the Town.

At a January 14 Town Board meeting, Town of Hunter Supervisor Sean Mahoney explained the structure of the grant, which incentivizes collaboration between local governments. "For every partner that we sign on to this effort, they would have a stake in it and would each be worth $250,000," Mahoney said. The five partners required for the grant include the Town of Hunter, Village of Tannersville, Village of Hunter, Hunter-Tannersville Central (HTC) School District, and Greene County.

The Town Board unanimously voted to be the lead agency for the grant application, allowing Mahoney to approach additional municipal partners. At the meeting, Mahoney noted that while some partners had already expressed interest, he still needed to meet with others, including representatives from the Village of Tannersville. "All they have to do is sign on, and we will do the work," Mahoney emphasized. "It's a win-win situation."

The grant proposal outlines numerous benefits for the involved partners. The Villages of Hunter and Tannersville would gain access to the new emergency shelter/community center and benefit from the new highway garage. The HTC School District would secure access to one bay for bus maintenance solving space limitations they have at the High School. Greene County's participation would help address the regional need for an emergency shelter, as identified in the Town's Hazard Mitigation Plan.

"Nothing like this exists in either village or the school, so if we build this into our plans, we are eligible for the maximum amount of $1.25 million," Mahoney explained. Town Councilman Dolph Semenza echoed the sentiment, stating, "I think it's a great idea."

The motion to proceed with the grant application passed unanimously.. By January 16, Mahoney had secured commitments from the Village of Tannersville Board, Greene County, both villages and the HTC School District. The grant application was then submitted before the January 24 deadline.

Despite the collaborative effort, Mahoney stressed that receiving the grant is not guaranteed. "It's competitive," he said. He read the draft resolution at the public meeting, highlighting key elements such as relocating the Village of Tannersville's Department of Public Works (DPW), which currently sits in a floodplain. The proposed plan would likely move the Village DPW to the new Town Hall site, with the Village of Tannersville possibly contributing funds from the NYS Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) flood buyout program. The new Town Hall complex includes an additional 9 acres adjacent to the existing Town Hall which may also serve in the future as a home for a new joint fire station for the Haines Falls and Tannersville fire companies.

The state grant requires a local match of $138,889, which would be distributed over the next two to five years. Mahoney noted that HTC School District has shown interest in contributing to these costs in exchange for access to the new garage. The Town's Federal American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funding is $40,000 - $50,000, and with Greene County contributing $100,000 from its ARPA allocation, it totals up to $140,000-$150,000, which will be used for planning efforts for the New Town Hall complex.

ARPA funding will cover the project's planning, design, and engineering. Mahoney explained, "All of the moving around the resources and designing a space that actually works for our Town is what the ARPA money would pay for. The $1.25 million DOS grant would go toward construction. This is going to be a multi-million dollar project. Right now, we're preliminarily looking at a 10-bay garage," Mahoney said, emphasizing the necessity for expanded facilities. "It's not big enough," he said of the current Town DPW building.

Mahoney credited Troy-based River Street Planning and Development, which the Town hired about eight months ago, for identifying the grant opportunity. The firm will also assist in project planning. Preliminary designs include a 10-bay garage: one bay for the HTC School District, two for the Village of Tannersville, and the remaining for the Town of Hunter.

Mahoney noted that the NYSDOS typically follows through on funded projects. "When the Department of State gets involved with capital [funding], they see it through." He added that the total $1.25 million grant opportunity would not have been available had the Village of Tannersville dissolved.

Supervisor Mahoney expects to find out from the State if the Town will receive the grant sometime later this spring or early summer.

As the Town awaits the results of its application, Mahoney remains optimistic about the project's potential. "This would greatly benefit the overall community," he said.