Montgomery County legislators voted Tuesday to join the Greater Mohawk Valley Land Bank Corporation and appointed Karl Gustafson to represent the county on the organization’s board of directors.
Legislators had been talking about joining the regional land bank for some time. The regional group encompasses Herkimer, Otsego and Schoharie counties and the cities of Rome and Utica, in addition to Montgomery County.
The stated objective of the not-for-profit regional group is to “provide a mechanism for the redevelopment, repair, improvement, or, in appropriate situations, deconstruction of blighted properties” in the cities and counties represented..
Gustafson has served as an economic development specialist with the Montgomery County Department of Economic Development, Planning and Tourism, assistant director of the New York State Fair, director of marketing for the New York State Canal Corporation and director of the New York Main Street program.
Gustafson is Montgomery County’s lone representative on the regional land bank board of directors. Other representatives include legislators and administrators from Herkimer County. Otsego County, Schoharie County, City of Rome and the City of Utica.
