Waterville First would like to use Thoma Associates to help prepare an application for a state grant.
At last week’s Waterville Village Board meeting Trustee Brian Bogan, also president of WF, discussed a proposal from Thoma to help the village apply for either a Downtown Revitalization Initiative grant for $10 million or a smaller New York Forward grant.
The proposal, for $15,000 plus various expenses, would assist either Waterville First or a selected Steering Committee to put together an application for this year. Bogan said WF members, all volunteers, do not have enough time on their own to do the process.
Thoma’s work would include attending meetings, helping write the application, do a mailing to local business owners to solicit projects and help prepare those who would give the in-person presentation.
In conjunction with the village meeting, WF had a meeting Thursday night with Rich Cunningham of Thoma discussing the process.
He explained the process to the 20 people attending, saying the earlier it gets started the better the application will be.
Village board members had some questions, mainly whether there was interest by businesses and non-profits to put in an application.
Resident John Mariani provided correspondence he had with the State Division of Building Standards and Codes Technical Support Unit.
Mariani had written to ask if the sinkhole in front of Schoolhouse Apartments was in violation of any building codes on the state level.
The response said the hole could be a violation of grading and drainage requirements.
As the village begins to put together the budget for 2024- 25 that starts in June, Mayor Gene Ostrander said there is not yet a response from Central Oneida County Volunteer Ambulance Corp on what financial assistance they need.
COCVAC had asked last summer for municipal support.
Waterville Fire Department Chief Jarrod Waufle said all the trucks have been inspected.
In 2023 the department responded to 254 calls, with 174 of them medical.
There were six structure fire calls for the department, with one of them an involved fire.
DPW Superintendent Jamie Bechy said ...
Comments