A few flurries possible early. Cloudy. Low 28F. Winds WNW at 10 to 15 mph..
A few flurries possible early. Cloudy. Low 28F. Winds WNW at 10 to 15 mph.
Updated: March 20, 2025 @ 4:59 pm
Wellsville Town Supervisor Shad Alsworth (left) speaks with Allegany County IDA Executive Director Craig Clark during a a public hearing concerning a PILOT request from Wellsville Business Park LLC.
Wellsville Town Supervisor Shad Alsworth (left) speaks with Allegany County IDA Executive Director Craig Clark during a a public hearing concerning a PILOT request from Wellsville Business Park LLC.
WELLSVILLE — The Wellsville Business Park LLC in the former Dresser-Rand facility on Coats Street is seeking a PILOT for its proposed $1 million infrastructure project.
Craig Clark, executive director of the Allegany County Industrial Development Agency, presided over a public hearing earlier tis month to allow citizens to make statements for the record relating to the involvement of the IDA with the project. There were a dozen people at the meeting.
A PILOT is the act of making a property tax payment in lieu of taxes made to compensate a government for some or all of the property tax revenue lost due to tax-exempt ownership or use of real property. It is often used as an incentive to attract business or development.
The Wellsville Business Park has been operating in the former Dresser-Rand facility since 2021. It rents space to five businesses including Kinley Advanced Technical Services a subsidiary of Kinley Construction of Olean and Texas, and RMS (Rotating Machinery Service) of Houston, Texas.
A total of 51 people are employed at the facility.
The proposed project consists of the acquisition of three parcels of land totaling approximately 100 acres on Coats Street and Riverside Drive, in the village and town of Wellsville, together with an existing complex containing approximately 420,000 square feet of space. The project also includes the renovation of the facility and the acquisition and installation of related fixtures, machinery, equipment and other tangible personal property.
The company is asking for certain financial assistance from the IDA including the payment in lieu of taxes at an estimated value of $340,000.
Clark said a record of the public hearing will be prepared and reviewed by the members of the IDA in connection with the IDA’s consideration of the proposed project. He said the purpose of the hearing was to solicit public comment.
Questions were raised by Wellsville Town Supervisor Shad Alsworth and village Trustee Mike Roeske and attendees of the hearing, including a former employee of Dresser-Rand, Jane Nicholson, who worked in the office. Tim Colligan, who lives near the facility, also had a question.
Alsworth explained that when a PILOT is issued, the taxpayers pick up the cost and he wanted to know, “Is it worth it to the individual taxpayer?”
Clark explained that if the space is occupied and generating revenue the company plans on investing $1 million in infrastructure and generate 15 new jobs over the course of 10 years.
After hearing Clark’s answer, Roeske asked, “Why don’t you invest in the people in the community? This makes no sense to me.”
Nicholson was concerned about the infrastructure in the office area and asked what’s to be done there, since there were cracks in the wall when she worked there.
Clark said there will be code inspections on the infrastructure.
Colligan said that because he lives nearby, and has for many years, he is concerned with the type of businesses the Wellsville Business Park is attracting.
Clark explained that the facility is looking at businesses related to solar project storage and turbine support.
Near the end of the meeting Nicholson expressed her concern with the state of the property and Clark said he will relay those concerns to the company officials after she said, “(Wellsville Business Park is) not taking care of the property now, or taking pride in the property. I don’t think they have any real concern for the people.”
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