By Dave Lucas
http://stream.publicbroadcasting.net/production/mp3/wamc/local-wamc-924497.mp3
Canajoharie, NY – Times are bittersweet for the community of Canajoharie, nestled in the Mohawk Valley between Albany and Utica. On September 15th, the village observed "Canajo Rocks," celebrating its history and hopes for the future with Richardson Brands. At the moment, that future looks gloomy. Capital District Bureau Chief Dave Lucas reports.
The village has benefitted from state assistance which enabled Richardson to expand after Beech-Nut's decision to move out of town. Now, Ricahardson steps up to the plate as Canajoharie's largest employer. Richardson CEO Don Butte says his company has room to grow in its 180-thousand square foot facility. The 2006 flood of the Mohawk River inflicted more than 20 million dollars in damages on the village and is often cited as one of the reasons Beech Nut decided to pull out of Canajoharie after 130 years doing business there. Beech Nut is leaving antiquated factory technology behind, technology that depended on and consumed large amounts of water, which was taxed by the village. That source of revenue has now dried up. Canajoharie Mayor Leigh Fuller is taking it one day at a time. The village has been forced to double its water tax, and Fuller worries about losing residents. A recent audit by State Comptroller Tom DiNapoli led him to remark that the current situation Canajoharie faces is "unsustainable" and "devastating" - Mayor Fuller says if some help isn't coming from some direction, the burden will fall on the taxpayers.