Board gives marina more time to complete business improvements

By BRIAN KIDWELL
JOHNSON NEWSPAPERS

MONDAY, JULY 2, 2012

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OGDENSBURG — Businesses in the city’s marina district improving their properties with money from the state’s Main Street grant program have more time to get their work done.

The new deadline is July 21, according to the Ogdensburg Growth Fund Development Corp., which approved extending the June 30 deadline.

David R. Weissbard, grant application writer for C.W. Augustine, DeKalb Junction, the city’s housing administrator, told the board that two of the $200,000 grant programs are nearly finished with their work, pending the late arrival of building materials. They are Hosmer’s Marina, 54 E. River St., and the nearby former RJ’s bar, 110-112 Lake St., owned by Karl Mayhew.

Mr. Weissbard told the board it was “a little embarrassing” to ask for more time since other Main Street clients were done with their work. They are Dixie Lee Fried Chicken, 432 State St.; Morristown contractor Bernard Bertrand for 637 State St. — now shared by Little Caesars and Create A Can — and Plattsburgh businessman Gilbert Jones, for his development of the former Ramada Inn, 119 W. River St., into a hotel and apartments.

Mr. Bertrand, Mr. Jones and Dixie Lee owner Robert Thayer all were approved for a portion of the remaining $74,328 of the $200,000 with the understanding that it would amount to a 50 percent reimbursement of what they’d spent.

Mr. Bertrand was approved for $14,500, but only $12,056 is to be reimbursed because some of the work he did failed to meet the criteria for the grant. Mr. Thayer was approved for $10,000, but will get $9,877. Their invoices will be reviewed by the board.

Mr. Jones was approved for up to $50,000. But, as he has spent more than $100,000, the board agreed to raise the ceiling to $60,000.