The Yates County Legislature has approved an additional $100,500 in funding to address contaminated soil issues at the Benton Center site, part of a $26 million capital project. This decision follows a previous allocation of $65,000 for the same issue, with the contract amendment directed towards C&S Engineering, the firm responsible for overseeing the construction of the new county highway department, emergency services office, and public health department clinic space.
The need for extra funds stems from the discovery of contaminated soil, attributed to an old fuel facility with corroded pipes, complicating the project’s progress. Despite this setback, county officials, including Highway Superintendent Doug Rapalee, affirm their commitment to working closely with the state Department of Environmental Conservation to navigate the challenges posed by the contamination.
With the total contract amount with C&S Engineering now reaching $1.255 million, Yates County legislators, except for Terry Button and Jesse Jayne who voted against the amendment, express confidence in the project’s direction. The county pledges transparency and assures the public of their efforts to manage the situation effectively, emphasizing the overall success of the building project aside from the soil contamination issue.
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