By Melanie Lekocevic
Capital Region Independent Media
COEYMANS — Town Supervisor George McHugh cited park improvements, economic development and truck traffic, among other issues, in the state of the town address at the Feb. 9 meeting of the town council.
Addressing the board and community from the podium, McHugh thanked veterans, businesses, first responders, volunteers and others for their contributions to the town.
“The town of Coeymans is unique and special in that we have a hamlet, a village, a Hollow and an Alcove, all within our community,” McHugh said. “But regardless of which location in our town you call home, we all call Coeymans our home and we pride ourselves on the great things that we as Coeymans residents have accomplished over the 350 years we have existed as a town.”
McHugh spoke of economic development in the town, saying investments are being made that are improving the community.
“Many of the old, abandoned and condemned properties in the hamlet are being restored or razed, depending on their condition,” he said. “And with the investment of over $1.4 million into the Coeymans Landing Park, using monies received from our state and federal partners, and new permanent bathrooms going under construction at both town parks this year, our parks are becoming destination locations for people living around the area and even from neighboring states.”
The offshore wind project at the Port of Coeymans will bring hundreds of clean energy jobs and invest millions of dollars into the town, he added.
“All of our local businesses win when more jobs, more businesses and more people come to Coeymans,” McHugh said. “With its shovel-ready sites, a low tax rate, critical infrastructure in place and a workforce second to none, it is no wonder why Coeymans has been identified by many global industries, including General Electric, as the place to come and establish their facilities and invest hundreds of millions of dollars, bringing new tax revenue and jobs to our community.”
The renovation of two town parks — Joralemon Park and Coeymans Landing Park — over the past year have brought improved quality of life to the community, McHugh said, much of it paid for through state funding. Work at the two parks will continue this year with the addition of public bathrooms.
“In the spring, with the help of funding from the federal government, a contract will be awarded to construct a permanent bathroom facility at Joralemon Park,” McHugh said. “And in August, construction of a permanent bathroom facility at the Coeymans Landing Park will commence, with substantial completion of construction slated for November. These capital improvements to our parks are an investment in the future of Coeymans, and our commitment to improving the quality of life for our residents.”
Truck traffic generated from the industrial zones of the town has long been an issue raised by local residents. Alternative truck routes that would divert some of that truck traffic from the town are being considered.
“Currently, there is an engineered plan under review at the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation for an alternate truck route,” McHugh said. “Once approved, this alternate truck route will allow Holcim Cement to construct a new road off the east side of the Holcim quarry, so that trucks will have ingress and egress on County Route 101 into and out of the quarry. This will remove the large trucks from our town roads like Jarvis Road North, Jarvis Road South and Mountain Road Extension. This is phase 1 of our plan.”
Phase 2 of the plan, which is still in the planning stage, would create a truck route through the property of Holcim Cement to the Port of Coeymans, which would divert much of the truck traffic from Route 9W, Main Street in the village and Main Street in the town.
The town supervisor also cited the purchase of $25,000 worth of new audio/video equipment to broadcast town meetings, the implementation of the CodeRED emergency alert system, and the addition of four miles of new broadband infrastructure to bring internet service to areas of the town among the town’s recent accomplishments.
“As we move forward as a community, with the common goal of making sure Coeymans remains a great place to live, work and raise a family, I am confident that we will leave a wonderful community for our children and grandchildren to enjoy for generations to come,” McHugh concluded.