Grant Hertzler, center, presents a community service project to the Le Roy Village Board on Wednesday. Also pictured, from left, is Trustee Bob Taylor, Mayor Greg Rogers and trustees Bill Kettle and Jim Bonacquisti. Grant, a member of Boy Scout Troop 6016, hopes to beautify the former Wiss Hotel site as part of his Eagle Scout Service Project.
Grant Hertzler has a plan for the former Wiss Hotel site.
And the Le Roy High School junior pitched his idea to a supportive Village Board this week — from a lofty perch.
The mayor’s seat.
Grant, 16, is a member of Boy Scout Troop 6016 in Pavilion. He is pursuing his Eagle Scout rank, which requires him to lead a community service project.
His goal is to beautify the now-vacant hotel site at Main and Lake streets (routes 5 and 19). He was prepared with a laptop computer on Wednesday, to outline the project for the Village Board.
The board wanted a closer look, so Mayor Greg Rogers obliged by offering his seat at the table.
The Wiss Hotel was razed in 2013. The village has since installed an electric service panel for the Community Christmas Tree that is raised on the lot every holiday season, but the lot is otherwise vacant.
Grant said he would give the site a facelift by building a shed to house the electrical panel, leveling the ground and adding mulch and greenery. He would also upgrade the gravel circle where the Christmas Tree usually stands.
“I would either put brick over that, or a more-appealing stone,” he said.
Grant said he would recruit volunteers and obtain donations of material and money.
“This would be at no cost to the village,” he told the board.
Village Board members were encouraging, and even suggested the Department of Public Works could support the project by donating in-kind services.
“I like your ideas,” Trustee Bill Kettle said.
Grant said he hopes to begin work this spring. The project has to be finished by the time he turns 18, and then presented to an Eagle Board of Review.
Grant is the son of Neil and Deb Hertzler, of Le Roy. He picked the Wiss Hotel site because it needs improving — a goal that’s ambitious but manageable.
He agreed to bring detailed drawings and plans back to the board in six weeks.
Trustees had a final question: How did he feel sitting in for the mayor?
“Powerful,” Grant said.
“Don’t be fooled,” Rogers said.
