Westchester County Executive George Latimer signed a bill Thursday that puts the county in the driver's seat to fast-track plans on the Memorial Field renovations in Mount Vernon.

The county now has the power to complete the long overdue renovations on the dilapidated field. For nearly a decade, the battle to restore the facility to its former glory has been dogged by changing administrations, political infighting, talks of corruption, illegal dumping and mulitmillion-dollar lawsuits.

Legislator Lyndon Williams says this is the first real opportunity to make good on many broken promises.

"I believe with the county taking the lead really assures Mount Vernon residents that they're going to see Memorial Field be something other than a pile of rubble that they've been seeing the last 10 years," says Williams.

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A team of engineers and contractors will now put the plans on paper early next year. The county also wants input from residents.

City Councilman Andre Wallace, who lobbied to take this project out of the mayor's hands, insists his constituents will have a seat at the table from start to finish. He says this way officials can see what taxpayers really want to see at Memorial Field.

Latimer hopes to break ground on the project next year so that the new Memorial Field can be unveiled in time for the 2020 football season.