BY JEFF CHUDZINSKINorth Country This Week

CANTON -- More than 100 properties have been cleaned up throughout the county over the course of the last 11 years and county officials say they are doubling down on plans. 

County Attorney Steve Button provided an update for county legislators recently, remarking the blighted property and environmental cleanup programs have been in full swing for a number of years now. 

"I think everybody is aware that we have seen a massive degree of success with our environmental cleanup program, as well as our blighted property program," Button said. 

The program has been made possible with significant funding and support from the state Comptroller's Office, as well as support from the Department of Environmental Conservation, Button said. 

Though the program was originally intended to remediate blighted residential properties throughout the county, Button said legislators saw fit to expand the program further to cleanup commercial properties. 

Button said many properties are in the program now, including in Potsdam, Canton, Massena and Ogdensburg to name a few municipalities. 

In particular, the program targets former commercial locations that were home to gas stations, dry cleaners, garages and similar industries that may have petroleum based contaminants on the property. 

Button said when legislators opted to expand the program the county was able to "hit the ground running" thanks to the team already in place, which includes staff from the County Attorney's Office, County Treasurer's Office, Real Property, the legislature, County Administrator Ruth Doyle, as well as outside counsel. 

Button said municipalities have been very supportive of the program when he met with town supervisors and village mayors to detail the program. 

He called it a Jerry McGuire moment as he asked local officials to "help me help you" in identifying properties in need of cleanup. 

In total, 23 commercial properties are at various stages of environmental cleanup, he said. 

Button said each have been major community concerns, blighted and potentially environmentally contaminated. 

He said some have proven more challenging to identify due to a long history, with some having originally served as gas stations and mechanic garages in the 1930's and 40's. 

With the only known contamination having occurred more than 80 years ago in some cases, Button said those properties require more time to work through. 

In doing so, however, he said the county will eventually be able to assist municipalities in getting those properties back on tax rolls instead of sitting vacant. 

He said in many cases the properties would not sell at tax auctions due to possible contamination. 

It's why the county also avoided getting involved. 

"As you all are well aware, by entering the chain of title you are assuming liability for the property," he said. 

But legislation and recent U.S. Supreme Court rulings have created a clear pathway for the county to work with state officials and local municipalities to clean up the locations. 

The same can be said of blighted residential properties. 

Button said he met recently with local officials to identify the next round of properties to be cleaned up, outlining the requirements for consideration. 

Currently, six properties sit in various stages of the cleanup process but more will be added. 

Button said those properties will be considered based on their proximity to other residences, resale potential, the ability to impact and advance the interests of the host community and county, as well as the level of contamination, if any. 

Button said the program would not be the success it is without the foresight and support of state officials, county staff and local leaders. 

"While many other counties in the area have struggled with such properties, St. Lawrence County has really become the model for these cleanup efforts," he said.