By JAIME STUDD

For  the Express

JOHNSTOWN — The plan to redevelop the former Tryon Juvenile Rehabilitation Center moved forward this week, with the Fulton County Board of Supervisors voting unanimously to authorize a contract between the county and C.T. Male Associates for engineering services.

The Latham-based company will begin designing the new site despite the fact that the state currently remains the legal owner.

Redevelopment of the 500-acre property remains contingent upon state officials approving the transfer of ownership from state to county control.

Board of Supervisors Administrative Officer Jon Stead said Monday the decision to move forward with the contract for engineering services was based on the county’s desire to begin work as soon as possible.

“We want to make our timelines for the spring construction season,” said Stead.

“It’s very important for the county to go through these first steps,” he added following the meeting.

The state and county have been working on the agreement to transfer ownership since last fall, when the preliminary plans for the proposed Tryon Technology Park and Incubator Center were first unveiled.

Since then, Stead said the majority of the negotiations with the state have revolved around the legalities involved with the somewhat rare transfer agreement and the minutia of the actual deal.

The majority of that has been worked out, however, and Stead said he believes the county and state are nearing an agreement that could bring the transfer to fruition some time within the next two months.

“It’s now in the stages where the Empire State Development Group is going to be going through the actual process,” Stead said.

During Monday’s meeting, Broadalbin town Super-visor Joe DiGiacomo noted that the $132,000 bid from C.T. Associates was not, in fact, the least expensive, coming in at approximately $20,000 higher than the lowest submitted bid.

Stead explained that the RFP interview committee narrowed the bidders down to two finalists, and in the process of reviewing proposals, decided to add in some additional services, including survey work.

“Bundling” those additional services, Stead said, brought the bottom line slightly higher, but likely saved the county money in the long run.

In December, the county was awarded $2 million in funding for the project as part of the $60.2 million granted the Mohawk Valley Regional Economic Development Council for local projects.

In addition to the engineering services, which include an evaluation of the sites existing infrastructure, the redevelopment proposal calls for construction of new roadways within the parcel, the installation of new water and sewer lines and natural gas and electrical work.