The Village of Scotia got some welcome financial news with a positive report from auditors at the Board of Trustees meeting Wednesday, Nov. 12.
Village finances were dissected by auditor Steve Lubbe of Lubbe and Hosey, PC, who said that the village’s numbers were very strong from a fiscal standpoint.
There were no real problems or issues, and that is in part due to the clerk’s strong record and bookkeeping, said Lubbe.
Lubbe said that village Clerk Maria Schmitz has made an effort over the past several years to keep meticulous records, and those efforts have paid off.
Lubbe said the village is ending the fiscal year with an approximate $700,000 surplus and a $1.4 million fund balance. He said that the water and sewer budgets are strong partly due to the increases in rates that helped offset the cost of an infrastructure project. He also said the business improvement district and community development areas of the budget are both strong, while not much activity was shown in the capital projects.
Lubbe said that the village has also been successful in collecting bail bonds this year, which also added to the end-of-the-year surplus.
The village received more positive news last week with the announcement that it will receive additional Federal Emergency Management Agency money to bolster the Schonowee Avenue shoreline.
Mayor Kris Kastberg said at the meeting that the village will get $900,000 in FEMA funds in addition to the $750,000 announced earlier this month. The money will allow the village to stabilize the half-mile long area of Mohawk River that runs along Schonowee Avenue by Jumpin’ Jacks Restaurant.
`This is great news for the village because it will really allow us to not only provide immediate help, but it will enable us to provide long-term relief as well,` said Kastberg.
Close to 20 feet has already eroded from the shoreline, and further deterioration presents a risk to the area in Freedom Park where performances are held throughout the summer. Kastberg said that the village would eventually like to look at improving parking and even building a pavilion for the park to help generate revenue for the community.
Also at the Nov. 12 meeting, the board voted against taking any action to construct a new doorway for the Flint House. The board asked DPW Superintendent Tom Cushing to look into getting quotes from several contractors for the job. Trustee Armon Benny asked the village to hold off on awarding the job until officials created specifications for the job and received bids from three contractors.
`It could mean the difference in saving up $1,100 for the village,` said Benny.
Kastberg also said that discussions with Fire District 4 are still taking place with the Town of Glenville.
Glenville Supervisor Frank Quinn said recently the town is now getting feedback from the business owners in the Scotia-Glenville Industrial Park, which is covered under the current District 4. Scotia has provided fire protection to this area over the past several years at a cost to the town of about $300,000, and Glenville is looking into whether it wants to continue contracting with the village.“