Town of Union Receives Final Approval on Buyouts

The Town of Union has gotten final approval for a buyout program for homes damaged during Tropical Storm Lee. All 176 properties submitted for buyouts were accepted. FEMA will fund 75 percent of the project, estimated to cost nearly $17.5 million. The remaining portion will be paid through a combination of grants and the money from the property owners. The next step will be putting out bids for the appraisal process which will determine how much money each homeowner receives. Those bids will be awarded February 6th at the Town of Union board meeting with expected closing on the properties to happen in May. There will be three informational meetings for residents in the affected areas. They will be for those in Westover on January 28th; Endwell and West Corners on January 30th and Fairmont Park on January 31st. Each meeting will be held at 7 p.m. at Union Town Hall on Main Street.