Economic development key to supervisor’s strategic plan
Glenville’s commercial corridor saw growth during the past year, and Supervisor Christopher Koetzle said he is looking to build on that and strengthen business development to help ease the tax burden on residents.
Koetzle has drafted a strategic plan for the current year, which he previewed to the media Wednesday, March 2, with the vision to grow the commercial community, focus on town finances and improve services provided to residents. Director of Operations James MacFarland noted the Town Board’s current platform for economic development is represented in the plan, which plays a vital role in what direction the town will pursue. Koetzle said that while some goals might be lofty or difficult to achieve, he thought it was important to include all of the town’s goals.
The best way to alleviate the tax burden on our residents right now is to shift more of the tax sharing onto the business community, and we have to bring in more businesses to achieve that, said Koetzle. `These businesses have still said they want to invest in Glenville and there is a reason for that you look around and there is great movement and activity in the town, and that is because I think people recognize there is a growth opportunity for business right now.`
The cornerstone of economic development in the town currently is Target moving into the former Kmart site on Route 50, which will be an approximate $17 million investment in the town. The town is still looking at drainage issues in anticipation of Target’s relocation to the site ` a problem that was apparent when a rainstorm resulted in flooding at the Glenville Queen Diner next to the Target property ` but officials say they believe they have tackled the issue.
`We are fairly optimistic that we solved that problem and that was an important problem to solve to facilitate economic development on Route 50,` said Koetzle. `We are going to have to keep an eye on it to make sure there is no flooding in the future.`
Koetzle said the town found 900 feet of garbage in pipes. MacFarland said the town still needs to complete cleaning out the pipes, but two-thirds of the work has been completed. Working proactively on the problem, he said, will be done to ensure the systems are working properly before Target stocks the shelves.
`There is still the possibility we would have some of the flooding we have had on Route 50, but so far the indications are good,` said MacFarland.
Engaging residents in the community with the town also will focus on moving forward with plans to expand Oktoberfest, start a 5K run or 3K Family Fun Walk, promote river access and host a weekly farmer’s market.
`I think it is important for our residents that we have events in our town to build community spirit,` said Koetzle. `The more people you bring to these events, the better it is for the residents and the better it is for businesses too.`
One aspect Koetzle said he wished he could have improved upon was the reduction in fund balance usage. While the approved 2011 budget did reduce fund balance usage by $211,000, he said making a bigger dent in the usage would’ve been preferred. Due to fiscal constraints, the board ultimately decided on the usage reduction.
`I am very concerned on how dependent we are on that fund balance,` he said.
Koetzle also said he isn’t a fan of the tax cap proposed by the governor.
`We can’t live within that cap because we are being handed over half a million dollars in costs from the state, and we are not going to be able to pay them,` he said. `The mandate relief commission the governor has set up has proven to be a joke.`
Mandated costs and union negotiations putting the town at a disadvantage are all areas he would like to see reformed by the state. He also said health insurance should not be a negotiated benefit, and the town should have the authority to decided what is best for the workers and taxpayers.
`Until they reform these things, municipalities are going to continue to struggle,` he said. `We could have a zero percent tax increase if we were able to manage the town the way we know how to manage the town.“