BILL NUMBER: S8947A
SPONSOR: HINCHEY
 
TITLE OF BILL:
An act authorizing the town of Kinderhook to transfer ownership of
certain parkland to the Valatie Volunteer Rescue Squad, Inc.
 
PURPOSE:
To authorize the Town of Kinderhook to convey certain parkland to Vala-
tie Volunteer Rescue Squad, Inc. to provide emergency medical services.
 
SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:
Section one authorizes the Town of Kinderhook to convey town parkland to
Valatie Volunteer Rescue Squad, Inc. for the purpose of providing Emer-
gency Medical Services.
Section two requires the town to use an amount equal to the fair market
value of the lands to improve or expand parkland.
Section three describes the boundaries of the land to be conveyed.
Section four requires the Town of Kinderhook to meet with any federal
regulations pertaining to the alienation of parklands, if applicable.
Section five states the effective date.
 
JUSTIFICATION:
Valatie Volunteer Rescue Squad, Inc. provides vital EMS services to
multiple towns in Columbia County. The volunteer EMS squad's ability to
continue serving their community is unfortunately in jeopardy due to the
rapidly deteriorating state of their current facility. Soil oversatu-
ration has caused their septic system and floor drains to stop working,
and their building itself needs substantial repairs. The best solution
to resolve these issues in the long term is for the Valatie 4 Volunteer
Rescue Squad to construct a facility on new land, which they have
arranged to do on land within the Town of Kinderhook. Because it was
originally state-owned land, the town requires state authorization to
convey it to the Valatie Volunteer Rescue Squad. This bill authorizes
the town to convey this land to them so that they can construct their
new facility and continue delivering vital EMS services.
 
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:
New Bill.
 
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:
Minimal.
 
EFFECTIVE DATE:
This act shall take effect immediately.