LIVINGSTON MANOR – Twenty-two derelict structures will be eliminated and three roadside areas cleaned up through matching grants awarded by Sullivan Renaissance through its Municipal Clean Up Grant Program. 

The program was announced on Monday at 52 Pleasant Street in Livingston Manor, site of one of eight buildings being removed as part of the Town of Rockland’s Flood Mitigation Program, and the subject of a planned controlled burn by the Livingston Manor Fire Department.

In its third year, the program assists municipalities with clean up of roadside dump sites and removal of derelict, unsightly and unsafe structures.  The number of projects has more than doubled over last year’s program.  Ten derelict structures were eliminated and three roadside areas cleaned up in 2007.  Three buildings were removed when the pilot program was first introduced in 2006.

“This program demonstrates that it is possible with combined efforts to clean up some of the unsightly locations that have been plaguing many of our communities,” said Sandra Gerry, chairwoman of the Sullivan Renaissance Steering Committee.

Of the 27 applications that were received, 25 projects will be part of this year’s program.  Over 1,300 tons of debris will be generated through this cleanup, but only 260 tons from seven projects will be disposed of in the county landfill.  Sullivan Renaissance will contribute just over $50,000 in grants, to be matched by the recipients.  Sullivan County’s in-kind contribution of tipping fees has a value of $32,500, and other partners will donate over $23,000 in services.