O’Mara, Palmesano join towns of Campbell and Hornby officials to mark arrival of new shared services machinery

Campbell, N.Y., March 22—State Senator Tom O’Mara (R,C,I-Big Flats) and Assemblyman Phil Palmesano (R,C,I-Corning) today joined Town of Campbell Highway Superintendent Tom Austin, Town of Hornby Highway Superintendent Ron Divens, highway department employees, and other officials to celebrate the arrival of a new tracked excavator for Campbell and Hornby, and Campbell’s new plow truck.

The ceremony was held on Friday at the Campbell Highway Garage (8523 Clinton Street).

Austin contacted O’Mara and Palmesano early last year for assistance.  The legislators were able to secure $300,000 as part of the 2018-2019 state budget to help the town purchase a 2019 John Deere 160GLC tracked excavator with a progressive link thumb, and a 2019 International HX 520 fully equipped with Tenco plow equipment.  Austin said that the new equipment allows the towns of Campbell and Hornby, and surrounding areas, to strengthen local shared services efforts and enhance the maintenance and improvement of local roads, bridges, culverts, and other infrastructure as well as upgrade local emergency response services.

O’Mara, a member of the Senate Transportation Committee who has worked closely over the past decade with local highway officials regionally and statewide to strengthen New York State’s commitment to local transportation infrastructure, said, “These are critical additions to the operation of county and town highway departments across the Southern Tier and Finger Lakes regions.  Assemblyman Palmesano and I have been proud of our efforts over the past decade to champion the incredible work these departments do to maintain and upgrade our local roads, bridges, culverts, and other infrastructure.  We also applaud Superintendent Austin and the town of Campbell for sharing equipment and vehicles with Superintendent Divens and the town of Hornby and other surrounding areas, as well as the State Department of Transportation, to work cooperatively on important projects and to respond to winter storms, flooding, and other emergencies when they arise.  Shared services are critical to cost-effective and responsive government.  I welcomed this opportunity to help acquire this new equipment for the towns that will only serve to enhance the services Superintendents Austin and Divens and their crews provide for area motorists, residents, and entire communities.”

Palmesano, Co-chair of the Assembly Republican Minority Task Force on Infrastructure and Transportation, said, "Senator O'Mara and I have joined forces since 2013 to build a bipartisan effort within the State Legislature to encourage New York government to make a more substantial investment to rebuild, repair, and revitalize our system of local transportation infrastructure. We recognize and understand the fundamentally important work of our county and town highway departments, and we appreciate these opportunities to support and strengthen their ability to get the job done for the sake of the local economy, local property taxpayers, and all motorists."

Superintendent Austin said, “The Town of Campbell and Hornby are extremely grateful to Senator Tom O’Mara and staff for helping both of our towns receive this new modern equipment to continue the shared services program that both of our towns have benefitted from for over 30 years and into the future.  The CAP grant made this possible with no money having to be taken from either Highway budget. Thanks also to Assemblymen Phil Palmesano for his input and guidance throughout the process.  When as a Highway Superintendent you have to figure out how to do more with less all the time, it was a great relief to receive this grant!  Thanks so much on behalf of the people of the Towns of Campbell and Hornby.”

Superintendent Divens said, “The Town of Hornby would also like to extend their gratitude to Senator Tom O’Mara and Assemblyman Phil Palmesano for their continued assistance and support toward local communities such as ours. It is really good to have people like them in Albany who listen to the needs of the small towns in New York and assist with delivering grants of this kind.”