Pictured is the rodeo fairgrounds in the town of Gerry. Town Supervisor Richard Heath said he is looking forward to a safe return to the event after it was canceled last year. P-J photo by Nikk Holland

GERRY — Town of Gerry officials are reviewing where COVID-19 relief funds might be allocated.

In March, a bill was passed to allow cities, towns and villages in New York to receive both state and local aid in the COVID-19 relief stimulus package. The money should cover revenue losses, water and sewer and broadband; the money received cannot be used to offset taxes.

The use of the relief money is still being reviewed, Gerry Town Supervisor Richard Heath said.

“As of now, we haven’t really made a decision because we don’t know the exact total of what we’re going to get,” Heath said. “Basically, it’ll be a little bit before we get that.”

Heath said a consideration of the budget is necessary before making any decisions on the allocation of funds.

“We’ll have to look at our budget,” Heath said. “Obviously, we’re down on income tax revenue. We’re going to have to evaluate that.”

Heath said it’s hard to determine the use of it since the town has yet to receive the funds.

“We haven’t really talked a whole lot about it because it’s hard to talk about something you don’t have,” he said. “It’s hard to budget anything we don’t have in our account.”

Although the money hasn’t been received, Heath does have some idea where the money could be best used.

“We can’t use it to stabilize taxes, but we can offset it with road projects and stuff we had to hold off and cut in the last year because of the COVID issues,” he said. “Right now, we are looking at a couple things just to make sure our budget is back to normal again — just try to get things stabilized here.”

“We don’t know exactly how things are going to shake down here, but our accountants work with us hand-in-hand daily with things like that, and help us with recommendations with our budget and keeping us afloat,” he added.

One of the things in discussion by the Gerry Town Board regarding the use of the relief funds is the renovation of the current town hall or building a new one. Board member Gary Swan said in an April meeting that renovating the town hall should be looked at because this opportunity won’t come around again.

“That’s been on the docket for the last five or six years,” Heath said. “The Army Reserve center in Gerry has now been shut down for the last three or four years. Obviously, it was the old school in Gerry, and at some point we would like to acquire that if we make it down the pecking list.”

Heath said a survey on the Army Reserve center is being completed, and he is hoping that the results of the survey will be released to government agencies looking to acquire the building.

“The building is sitting there with nothing going on,” Heath said. “It’s a perfect place for a town hall to go. We’d like to improve things for the taxpayers and anybody that might come do business with the town. That seems to be the perfect location.”

In other Gerry business:

¯ The Gerry Rodeo is set to return in early August after being canceled last year due to the pandemic. Heath said he is looking forward to a safe and fun event, given that everyone follows the restrictions in place.

¯ Zoning officer Eric Yager was approached by the Broadway Group, associated with Dollar General, about bringing a new location to the town. Heath said there has been no update on the project and nothing is set in stone.

¯ There have been many complaints to Heath about speeding on Gerry-Levant Road. Heath said a resolution to lower the speed limit was sent to the county, which then sent it to the state. Heath said it was denied, as it didn’t meet the state’s criteria for lowering the speed limit. Heath said he has reached out to state police and sheriffs to police the area.