Why Ideal Snacks should get Empire Zone status

To the editor:

During our July full board meeting, the Sullivan County legislature approved a resolution to declare Ideal Snack Foods in Liberty, NY a “regionally significant business.” This designation will allow this privately held company to begin the process to re-certify itself and gain re-entry into the state-run Empire Zone (EZ) program, which offers incentives to businesses that meet specific criteria for job creation and investment. Ideal Snacks’ re-entry into the Empire Zone is predicated by securing a favorable listing with the zone as a “regionally significant project.”

The legislature was charged with the duty of voting on this resolution based on the merits of the application. Ideal Snacks met the application criteria, and the company certainly qualified to apply for EZ benefits. Approval of this resolution acknowledges Ideal Snacks as a “regionally significant” business, but can only receive EZ incentives and benefits after it meets the pre-set standards for additional job creation and capital investments in the company’s operations here in Sullivan County.

Our vote is indicative of the positive economic benefit this business brings to the taxpaying residents of Liberty, and all of Sullivan County. The company continues to demonstrate its commitment to Sullivan County by supporting local businesses. The proposed expansion quantifies an expansion of the workforce by 50 employees, and most importantly, will add an estimated $1.6 million in tax revenue over five years for this community. This is a 200 percent increase in tax revenue the county, town, village and school district will receive, and should not be overlooked.

We are not immune to the concerns that were raised during the public hearing; however, there are agencies and proper procedures for handling these complaints and allegations. We did not think it fair to penalize the company, and jeopardize its future, and the future of its 250 employees, and believe many of these issues can and should be remedied in future plans, but not at the expense of vital tax revenues, employment and their local economic multiplier.

We would be more than happy to discuss this issue further, should you require more information.

What’s the plan?

To the editor:

Your recent editorial on gas drilling got me wondering: How do the proposed gas wells relate to the Millenium Pipeline? This pipeline is currently being installed behind Callicoon Supply and everywhere else you see the sign “access road.” What is the master plan here? The installation of this pipeline has already changed our landscape for the worse. Is it the intention of the gas companies to dig under the Delaware River (from Pennsylvania to New York) and connect to this underground snake?

Damascus, PA

Rouis misses point on landfill

To the editor:

I read with some trepidation the editorial by Mr. Rouis in the July 24 edition of The River Reporter, and found myself comparing it to Alan Sorensen’s article last week about the folly of the county landfill.

It seems just a little smug for Mr. Rouis to refer, in the last paragraph, to the expansion of the landfill as a done deal, and in the same sentence refer to being “conservative in the county’s budget projects.”

If ever there were an oxymoron!

How do “conservative” and “landfill expansion” fit into the same sentence? Is everyone missing the point here? The landfill is hemorrhaging money, while poisoning our environment. I still cannot comprehend a landfill in the county seat, let alone an expansion.