Help for critical infrastructure along I-88.
More support for fire and rescue volunteers.
More working together.
That’s what Schoharie County wants from Washington, local representatives told United States Senator Charles Schumer Friday.
Senator Schumer was in Schoharie to bring attention to more than $42 million in federal funding for the Bridge Street bridge, broadband, and the Schoharie Fire Department.
After a brief event alongside the bridge and the Schoharie Creek, he took questions—and requests—at the fire house.
With work underway to make I-88’s Exits 22 and 23 shovel-ready—with Exit 21 maybe next—Schoharie County is poised for growth, Schoharie Supervisor Ben Oevering told Senator Schumer.
But what they need to make it happen is help covering the costs of infrastructure—water, sewer, and power.
“We’re in a position to grow,” especially in light of chip manufacturing growth to the east and battery storage to the west, Mr. Oevering said.
“But we need help. Water, sewer, and power are very important.
“We’ll try to help with that,” Senator Schumer said, and in fact, he said, by adding Schoharie and Wyoming Counties to the Northern Border Regional Commission, something he said he’s been working on for three years, he hopes to do just that.
The Northern Border Regional Commission is “an incredibly successful federal grant program that has brought millions to Upstate NY,” Senator Schumer said and would make making federal funding available to address broader economic concerns, including business creation, workforce training, childcare and health care needs, and infrastructure investment.
“I’m fighting tooth and nail to make sure this gets passed,” he said.
“Thank you for pursuing this,” said Supervisors’ chair Bill Federice.
Senator Schumer also heard from County Office of Emergency Services Director Mike Hartzel and County Fire Coordinator Matt Brisley.
Both spoke to the cost of equipment and services and the difficulty of finding volunteers.
Some towns have tried to help by giving volunteers tax breaks, Mr. Hartzel said, but in the end, all that did was shift the burden on to everyone else.
Again, Senator Schumer said, they’re trying to find ways to help.
Things are different today, he said, with not only a lack of volunteerism, but times; most families rely on two jobs.
Steve Mann, Senator Schumer’s deputy state director, knows that story well: for 30 years, he was Rensselaer fire chief.
Training is a huge commitment, Mr. Mann said, and becomes almost cost-prohibitive, even on Long Island, Senator Schumer said.
“It gets crazy,” Senator Schumer said. “It starts out as a good idea…”
Democrat Bridey Finegan said she’s looking forward to strong support of democratic ideals.
“We want to save America,” she said.
Democratic chair Theresa Heary said the same.
“I think we should all be able to work together,” she said.
Senator Schumer said that’s how he governs.
“I always try to do things bipartisan,” he said. “With the eight big bills we did, seven were bipartisan. That’s always the best way this country works. We can’t let polarization get in the way.”
The federal grants Senator Schumer highlighted at his visit: $12 million for the Bridge Street bridge, $30 million for high-speed broadband, and $180,000 for equipment for the Schoharie and Richmondville Fire Departments.