Schenectady County to borrow $9.6 million

PHOTOGRAPHER: Photo Provided

A rendering of the new library in the Mont Pleasant neighborhood.

SCHENECTADY COUNTY — The Schenectady County Legislature is preparing to borrow nearly $9.6 million for 2018 capital projects, including the funding to build the new Mont Pleasant library branch in Schenectady.

The county Legislature’s Ways and Means Committee approved plans for the borrowing Monday night, sending the matter to the full Legislature for a final vote on Tuesday.

Construction of the $2.3 million library on Crane Street is scheduled to start in the spring, following demolition last fall of the former Chubby’s Pizza and other properties along a blighted section of Crane Street. The structures were taken down to make way for the new library, which will replace an aging facility on adjoining land. The county borrowing will be for up to $1,628,000, since about $700,000 in funding for the library is expected to come from other sources. Anticipated completion is in early 2019.

Other library system projects included in the county capital plan include restoration of the roof of the Rotterdam library, at an estimated cost of $166,300, and restoration of the roof at the Niskayuna library branch at an estimated cost of $70,000.

The resolution would also authorize borrowing up to $2.35 million for projects at the Schenectady County Airport in Glenville, including the county’s share of a $5.1 million runway and taxiway reconstruction project, the majority of which will be covered by federal and state funds. That work is expected to take place this year.

The county also plans to borrow $2.2 million for planned highway reconstruction projects, including the planning and engineering for construction of a roundabout at River and Rosendale roads in Niskayuna. That roundabout is needed to relieve significant traffic congestion at that corner, officials said.

There will also be $732,000 spent on infrastructure improvements at Schenectady County Community College, including refurbishing the exterior of Elston Hall. The college will also get $400,000 for public safety equipment.

Some of the projects will be financed over five years, while others will be financed with longer-term bonds, according to the resolution.

The county borrows annually to fund capital projects, and the new round of borrowing was approved as part of the annual budget.

Reach Daily Gazette reporter Stephen Williams at 518-395-3086, [email protected] or @gazettesteve on Twitter.