The Development Authority's administrative offices are located in the
Dulles State Office Building, 317 Washington St., Watertown

The Administration unit of the Development Authority of the North Country consists of executive management, the compliance officer, finance department, human resources and public affairs.  Administration oversees the daily operations of the organization and ensures compliance with the New York State Public Authority Accountability Act.

The Executive Director is appointed by the Board of Directors and takes his/her direction from the Board.  Most senior managers report to the Executive Director.  Also reporting directly to the Executive Director is the Compliance Officer. The Compliance Officer ensures that the Development Authority and its staff are meeting all levels of compliance with not only New York State and the Public Authorities Accountability Act, but also the policies and procedures enacted by the Authority itself to ensure a transparent and accountable organization.

The Chief Fiscal Officer for the Development Authority of the North Country oversees the financial performance of the organization and operational budgets. The Chief Operating Officer for the Development Authority oversees the organization's operating divisions - Water Quality, Engineering, Materials Management and Telecommunications. 

The Authority’s Administration offices are located in the Dulles State Office Building in downtown Watertown. Hours of operation are 7:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Monday through Friday.

The Development Authority partnered with the Village of Lyons Falls to clean up the Lyons Falls Pulp & Paper site in preparation for redevelopment. 

The Authority’s Engineering Division staff is comprised of licensed professionals supported by sophisticated computer monitoring programs and equipment.  Their expertise is used internally to ensure the Development Authority is compliant with all federal, state and local safety and regulatory requirements, and externally on a contractual basis to help solve complex problems for North Country municipalities that have limited resources and staff. 

Development Authority staff have a solid track record of helping communities understand their technical challenges and working in partnership to develop cost effective solutions. Authority staff work with communities to devise solutions for a wide range of technical challenges. On an as-requested contractual basis the Authority also hosts Geographic Information Systems (GIS) for communities, and provides Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) system access.

The Development Authority can provide:

• Infrastructure capital project management, grant-writing and administration
• Asset management planning
• Water/sewer rate structure review and development
• Management of redevelopment/Brownfield projects

For information on Engineering services, contact Thomas Haynes, Director of Engineering, at 315-661-3223, thaynes@danc.org. 

The Regional Materials Management Facility provides efficient, environmentally responsible disposal of non-hazardous solid waste for Jefferson, St. Lawrence and Lewis counties. The state- of-the-art, double-lined landfill facility opened in 1992 and operates in full compliance with all applicable New York State Department of Environmental Conservation regulations. The regional landfill accepts waste from permitted and approved haulers and does not take waste from individual residents.

Early in its history one of the Authority’s biggest challenges was to tackle the issue of safe, environmentally conscious waste disposal for the region. At the time, the region was facing population growth due the expansion of Fort Drum and the closure of many traditional municipal “dumps” that could no longer meet environmental guidelines. Working with its regional county partners, the Authority developed the regional landfill to help municipalities meet their waste disposal needs. The Authority is permitted to construct and operate a 154-acre landfill. The Authority owns 1,543 acres, which provides for ample buffer between the landfill and its surroundings. Due to the numerous safeguards built into the landfill’s liner system, the containment system has never been compromised.

The regional landfill is located in the Town of Rodman in Jefferson County, and the town receives host community revenue-sharing payments from the Development Authority.

The beautiful, heavily wooded site is home to an abundance of wildlife which the public can enjoy on two, year-round recreational walking/hiking trails.

Reuse and Recycling 

Over time it became apparent that the environmentally responsible operation of the landfill would also require a strong regional waste diversion plan to incorporate recycling and reuse into waste disposal. With its landfill partners Jefferson, Lewis and St. Lawrence counties and the City of Watertown, the Authority has undertaken a number of recycling initiatives. The website, www.NorthCountryRecycles.org  serves as a resource for residents and educators, to help them reduce, reuse and recycle waste. Successful reduction, reuse and recycling of waste cuts down on the materials going into the landfill, maintaining this resource for future generations. Each of the county partners are responsible for their recycling; recyclables are prohibited from disposal at the regional landfill.

Educational Opportunity 

Educational tours of the landfill are offered for student groups. Through guided tours and presentations, visitors gain valuable insight into waste management processes, the importance of recycling, recycling techniques and environmental conservation efforts at the facility. Materials Management staff members serve as guides on your bus. 

Field trip tours are limited to weekdays between 8 a.m. and 3 p.m., April through October. For more information see EducationAndEngagementOpportunities.pdf or contact recycle@danc.org. 

The Development Authority works to improve the economic viability and well-being of communities in the North Country. The Authority has formed robust partnerships with local, state, and federal organizations to promote business and housing development throughout the region, to strengthen our communities and encourage private investment.

The Development Authority administers several business funding programs to promote job creation and retention among small businesses, and provides funding for the development of quality, affordable housing in Jefferson, Lewis and St. Lawrence counties through its housing programs.  

Additionally, the Authority administers several business loan programs on behalf of other organizations, including the North Country Alliance's Regional Revolving Loan Program and the North Country Economic Development Fund.  Staff also provides loan underwriting services and housing program oversight and administration for area organizations and municipalities.

Staff also work with regional economic development partners to highlight the assets of the counties closest to Fort Drum to encourage business expansion and attraction through an initiative called Drum Country NY. 

The Development Authority’s extensive telecommunications network started out as a means of providing broadband access to schools in the North Country, but now the Authority’s network has literally connected the region to the rest of the world through more than 2,100 miles of fiber network that stretch across the top part of the state.

The Authority’s Open Access Telecom Network (so named because it means any provider can use the network) completed its initial backbone construction in 2003.  It is a carrier-class telecommunications network which connects the region to carrier collocation facilities in Syracuse, Albany and New York City. The network is comprised of approximately 2,100 miles of fiber optic cable and 32 Central Offices (COs), which contain the electronic and optical equipment that power the network.

Staff work in all kinds of weather to ensure the OATN keeps running.

Working in partnership with telecommunications carriers serving Jefferson, Lewis and St. Lawrence counties, the OATN helps power the economic future of the North Country by:

• Helping local businesses and institutions become more competitive and grow.
• Creating job opportunities.
• Making the region attractive to telecommunications-intensive businesses like back office support, publishers, high-tech industries, or logistic services looking to relocate or expand.
• Creating advanced networks for education, health care and government.
• Positioning the region for investment in economic development initiatives.

Network Location 

Click to view Central Offices  

The reliable service and carrier class redundancy that businesses and organizations depend on is facilitated by 32 Central Offices (COs) located throughout the network. The COs allow service providers to connect with local customers and to services outside the region. They are equipped to support any type of national or regional service provider such as Verizon Wireless, AT&T, Slic or Westelcom, and are designed with the flexibility to interface with traditional and advanced service offerings.

System Characteristics 

The Authority’s network provides carriers with security and diversity:

• Carrier class network reliability;
• Offerings that include TDM, Ethernet and wavelength services;
• Around-the-clock network monitoring and support;
• Redundant connectivity for greater security;
• Point-to-point, or ring, configurations;
• Fast provisioning times and;
• Scaleable network design to accommodate rapid growth and new service offerings as required.

The network is monitored by a comprehensive provisioning and monitoring system based on several tools, including SolarWinds, Ethernet Network Management System, Ethernet Switch Manager, and others. This allows Authority engineers to take immediate action if service is affected.

Telecommunications Services 

The Development Authority of the North Country's telecommunications network is a middle mile network that provides transport services for telecommunications carriers.  In addition, the Authority constructs and operates large private networks for customers that require high-speed connectivity between multiple locations.

The purpose of the middle-mile carrier network is to enable multiple service providers to deliver services to the North Country market.  This fosters competition for telecommunications services in the area, resulting in lower prices and more options for the businesses and residents of the North Country.

The Authority is currently providing transport service for 16 different telecommunications service providers who are using the network to obtain direct access to their customers in order to deliver cost-effective and innovative solutions.

In addition to our service provider customers, the Development Authority also connects many community anchor institutions in the North Country through extensive networks, including:

• Two large Telemedicine networks that connect approximately 105 healthcare facilities in the North Country
• Education networks linking approximately 70 schools with broadband services
• 40 libraries through the North Country Library System
• Over 150 cell tower back haul circuits to provide services to cell towers

For Telecommunications Services please contact Brian Zuris, Telecommunications Division Director: bzuris@danc.org or (315)-661-3200

The Development Authority's service offerings include:

To file a complaint with the Department of Public Service please email your complaint to www.dps.ny.gov/complaints (http://www.dps.ny.gov/complaints) or call the DPS HELPLINE (800-342-3377)

Water and sewer infrastructure were the foundation of the Development Authority, with initial projects built to serve the wastewater and drinking water needs of a growing Fort Drum. The Water Quality Division emerged as the Authority evolved to assist an ever-growing number of communities struggling to meet their water and wastewater needs. The Authority’s technical expertise and ability to implement solutions that cross municipal boundaries has made it a valuable partner in helping communities across the region develop cost-effective methods of meeting their water and wastewater needs as well as providing the capacity for growth.

The Water Quality Division operates and maintains approximately 45 miles of water and sewer pipelines and associated pumping stations. These facilities serve Fort Drum and western Jefferson County, and are linked to the City of Watertown water and sewer treatment facilities and the Village of Cape Vincent water treatment facility. The Development Authority's licensed professional staff, supported by sophisticated computer monitoring and control equipment, manages its water and wastewater facilities. The staff also provides contract operation and maintenance services for 26 water treatment facilities and 16 wastewater treatment facilities in various towns and villages in Jefferson, Lewis and St. Lawrence counties, helping those communities to meet the needs of their residents as well as regulatory requirements, in a cost-effective manner.

On a contractual basis, the Development Authority can provide to municipal customers:

• Full-service operation and maintenance contracts
• Selective operation and maintenance assistance
• Operator-of-record services
• 24-hour on-call coverage for emergencies
• All required DOH and DEC sampling and reports
• Preventative maintenance
• Meter readings as required for water usage or billing
• Hydrant flushing and valve exercising
• Inventory maintenance
• Manhole inspections
• Development of site-specific standard operating procedures
• Preparation and submission of Annual Water Quality Reports

In addition, the Development Authority owns specialized equipment that is required for infrequent water quality service or projects but is often too costly for each individual community to own. This equipment is available to provide contract services:

• Large backup/bypass pumps
• Sewer inspection camera
• Sewer jetter
• Pipe-thawing equipment
• Leak detection equipment for water lines

For information on Water Quality Services contact Brian Nutting, Water Quality Division Director:  bnutting@danc.org