Prosperity Partnership dissolved
Saratoga County has dissolved its economic development arm, the Saratoga County Prosperity Partnership, with $5.1 million tax dollars spent and only a few dozen new jobs to show for it since its inception in 2014, the Albany Business Journal says. By comparison, the “builder- and banker-led” Saratoga Economic Development Corporation has drawn nearly 1,432 jobs while using just over a quarter million tax dollars, the story says. The Prosperity’s board voted to stop on Monday Feb. 28.
Mohawk Auto contracting
Mohawk Auto Group will move about 15 sales and service people from Schenectady to their Glenville and Malta dealerships and stop selling used cars out of Schenectady today, the Albany Business Journal says. The finance department will remain in Schenectady and payments are still due there, the story says.
60th Winter Carnival ends
The 60th Lake George Winter Carnival came to a close over the weekend, and the Post-Star has the story. The lake’s ice coverage–pretty much total, officials have said–was a big draw as Lake George Village could hold motorcycle races, car races, golf and other events on the hard surface, though the melt has begun and many of the on-ice events were canceled over the weekend. Still, people could walk on it, and that was a big draw for families, the story says.
Saratogian splits property to donate half to Habitat for Humanity
Willard Chamberlin Jr. of West Circular Street in Saratoga Springs wants the city’s approval to subdivide his land and give the new parcel to Habitat for Humanity of Northern Saratoga, Warren and Washington counties. Chamberlin’s lot is a third of an acre, and he hopes to split and give 0.16 acres to the home-building group. Habitat has proposed a three-bedroom, two-bathroom house for the land, a story in the Daily Gazette says. The home would be Habitat’s fifth in the city.
Lt. Gov public receipts don’t ad up
The Times Union has found a dozen times where now-Lt. Gov Brian Benjamin as a state senator, submitted receipts for taxpayer-funded travel reimbursement but also used a campaign-issued debit card, though he said he was the one bearing the costs, a case of potential double-dipping which, historically, has caught others in its trap, though the trap often does not close a political life.
Is there a doctor in the Park?
Newcomb, a town deep in the Adirondack woods, needs a doctor. The town’s only doctor, a physician assistant actually, is ending a 30-odd year stretch of “working eight days a week,” and being on call 24/7, the Adirondack Explorer is reporting. The town pays the expenses of the healthcare center and the PA’s $65,000 annual salary, the story says. PA Kevin Bolan has told the town he is retiring, despite pleas and a petition drive to keep him on. He works under Long Lake’s Dr. Russell Bolan, the story says.