MONTICELLO, NY — Sullivan County legislators on July 16 approved an application for a state grant of $50,000 for a feasibility study on the establishment of a convention center in the county. The county’s share would be $2,500.

Legislator Alan Sorensen said he supported the study, on the condition that, if there is a market for such a facility here, that it be created by the “private sector” and not the county.

No specific location would be attached to the study, but lawmaker Gene Benson suggested that one good location would be near Sullivan County Community College, where it could be used in connection with the college’s hospitality training program.

Benson further said, “Years ago when the hotels were up and running… we used to get the New York City Fireman’s conventions here and the New York City Policemen’s Benevolent convention here, the New York State Association of Counties convention used to come down here.”

County legislature chairman Scott Samuelson said when he first opened the Bradstan Country Hotel in 1991 that some of the hotels were still operating and hosting some conventions. He said, “those were some of my best years in business, with the spillover from those conventions.”

The vote in favor of applying for a feasibility study grant was unanimous.

In voting on other grant applications through the state Consolidated Funding Application (CFA), lawmakers agreed to apply for funds to pay for a feasibility study regarding the expansion of the Ontario &Western Rail Trail program. The program would expand existing trails in the county, and the new proposed trail would stretch through most of the county following the route of the railroad, which was closed in 1956.

The application is for a grant of $150,000 and includes a county share of not more than $30,000 in cash, and additional in-kind services from county departments.

Lawmakers also approved CFA applications for $500,000 in New York Main Street (NYMS) grants from the state to be used for projects in the Village of Monticello, and for $500,000 application for a NYMS grant Downtown Anchor Program for a building at 42-44 Main Street in Livingston Manor, which would be for a mixed-use building that would involve “craft beverages.”

In other business, the legislature approved a contract of up to $25,000 with W Designs in Barryville, for water trail signs to be installed in the Upper Delaware Scenic and Recreational River.

Hangar vote tabled

Lawmakers tabled a vote on a new corporate hangar at Sullivan County International Airport. The original plan called for a 10,000-square-foot hangar, which would cost about $1 million and be 90% paid for with state funds. There was a proposal that the size should be increased to 14,000 square feet, and the new plan should include a large door that might attract corporate jets to the facility when the casino opens. But the change would double the cost of the project and significantly increase the county share. Several lawmakers have voiced opposition to the plan, and the vote was tabled. See editorial on page 6.

Falun Gong

Sullivan lawmakers don’t often weigh in on matters of international politics and possible criminal activity, but did so at this meeting, unanimously endorsing a bill that calls for a halt in the “persecution of Falun Dafa (‘Falun Gong’) practitioners in China, including the unlawful harvesting of organs.” The resolution passed unanimously.