BATH – Accepting state funds for Steuben County’s land bank and a separate state award for police protective gear top the agenda for the Steuben County Legislature when it meets in regular session at 10 a.m. Monday in the County Office Building, 3 E. Pulteney Square. The county land bank will receive $500,000 through state Attorney General Eric T. Schneiderman for use in redeveloping vacant, abandoned and tax-delinquent properties throughout Steuben.
The county Legislature set up the nonprofit Steuben County Land Bank Corporation in July 2016 and expects to partner with a local non-profit agency to oversee operations. The award will support start-up costs associated with the land bank. Once properties become marketable, they will be sold and the proceeds returned to the land bank for future rehabilitation of other properties county Deputy Manager Mitch Alger said. The Attorney General established the initiative in 2013 with funding secured through settlements with the nation’s largest banks over misconduct that contributed to the housing crisis. The county board also is expected to accept a multi-jurisdictional grant of $49,200 from the state Department of Criminal Justice Services for police protective equipment including patrol rifles and vests. The grant will be managed by county Manager Jack Wheeler, with the funds distributed to the sheriff’s d office, and police departments in Addison, Canisteo, Wayland, Hammondsport, Corning and Hornell.
