Mayor LaRose to seek reelection

By Derek Liebig

Granville Mayor Brian LaRose confirmed last week he will seek a second term in office, saying there are a number of projects he would like to see finished.

LaRose outlined an ambitious agenda he hopes to complete if he’s reelected in March, including the completion of the village sidewalk project.

The village, in cooperation with the town, broke ground on the project in 2012, installing a new sidewalk on both sides of Quaker Street from near Rite Aid to the southern entrance of Tractor Supply. The second phase of the project would install a new sidewalk from the northern entrance of Tractor Supply to Granville Elementary School.

Officials had hoped to complete that work earlier this fall, but didn’t receive any bids for the work.

LaRose said the project should resume this spring.

“Another thing on my agenda is to look at what can we do to increase the disbursements of sales tax revenue,” LaRose said.

He said that while Washington County’s sale tax revenue increased again this year, the disbursements to towns and villages in the region did not. He said he plans to work with Granville Supervisor Matt Hicks and Hampton Supervisor Dave O’Brien to see if that can be changed.

“We’re looking at things we can do to bring more of that into the communities. We’re not trying to get a bigger share for just Granville, but for all the towns and villages in the county.”

LaRose said the village also needs to examine its property maintenance laws to see what can be done to address vacant properties.

He said absentee landlords and foreclosed properties owned by banks from out of the region can be difficult to bring into compliance.

“We need to, using our current codes, find a way to pressure these absentee landlords,” LaRose said.

He also hopes to facilitate a meeting with Washington County Water and Soil Conservation District and property owners along Rathbun Avenue and Factory Street whose properties were damaged by Hurricane Irene, an event that LaRose described as the biggest of his tenure.

The village recently completed a flood mitigation project along the Mettawee River, stemming from damage caused by the storm. That project, however, was limited to municipal property and some residents along the river have expressed frustration that nothing was done to repair their properties.

LaRose said the village is limited in what it can do on private property, but will act as a facilitator between the residents and state agencies.

“I want to see what the village can do to help secure permits so these people can repair their properties and prevent future damage,” he said.

LaRose said he hopes to pursue grants to improve local infrastructure, explore further development of Mettowee Park, and negotiate a new contract with the village’s police department.

“These are the things that are driving me to do this another four years,” LaRose said.

LaRose is one of four village officials whose terms will come to an end this April. Trustees Dean Hyatt and Paul Labas and Justice Roger Forando have all announced they intend to run for reelection.

To date, no one has submitted a petition seeking to run against them. Candidates have until Feb. 10 to submit a petition for inclusion on this year’s ballot.

The elections will be held on Wednesday, March 18. The polls will be open from noon to 9 p.m. at the village offices on Quaker Street.