BATH -- Financing projects head the agenda when the Steuben County Legislature meets at 10 a.m. Monday. The agenda reflects an active year for legislators, who have been called on to consider significant changes to the main County Office Building on Pulteney Square to accommodate new court requirements. Those changes will begin to take shape in 2020, with the county Legislature’s special Space Committee recently approving bids to renovate existing space for the courts in the main building. The awards fall within the amounts budgeted to revamp the building. The county Legislature also will be asked to approve a 10-year, $3.5 million statutory bond to purchase three county Community Service office buildings, located at 115 Liberty Street, Bath; 7454 Seneca Road North, Hornell; and 114 Chestnut Street, Corning. The proposed purchase essentially will allow the county to buy the properties it now rents and maintains, resulting in long-term savings, officials said. The bond also allows the county to maintain its excellent credit rating, which meets state requirements.
** Approving the use of Marchiselli funds for future bridge replacements also is slated for the full board, with the initial work on replacing a bridge on County Route 66 in the Town of Hornellsville, and a second bridge on County Route 119 in the Town of Cameron expected to begin next year.
Marchiselli funds require a 20 percent match by the state and county to receive the remaining 80 percent of the total costs from the federal government. Historically, the state pays 15 percent with Steuben paying 5 percent of the total cost. In the past, Steuben’s share has paid for the preliminary work.
** In other action, the Steuben Legislature is expected to approve the use of county deputies in village and town courts when additional security is requested by the municipality. Village and town courts now face more challenging situations during which deputies’ training in will help maintain order will and peace, officials say. The municipalities will pay the cost of overtime personnel services and mileage.
