Conesville Considers Dissolving Light District

CONESVILLE — The Town of Conesville heard multiple perspectives about the future of its light district during Tuesday’s regular monthly meeting.

Town Supervisor BIll Federice explained that the current light district is in three zones — Manorkill, West Conesville, and Conesville. It includes lighting for 91 residents through 27 lights, with the average cost being $28 per resident annually within the district.

The board opened the floor to the public for comment.

Federice said that the town could ultimately keep the district as-is, abolish it, or absorb it into the town and sharing the tax levy among all residents.

One resident said that “Everyone pays for it or no one.”

Resident Joanne Noon said that the district should be “definitely absorbed or abolished.”

Resident Fred Ruckel wrote to the town, stating that the costs should be absorbed among all taxpayers and was important for safety. He also sought a credit for residents who paid into the light district for years.

Federice accepted the comments but said that there was no way such a tax credit, which he called a “holiday” was legal under state law.

“Just can’t do it,” he said.

There were several questions, including whether the town would later add more lights if the district remains or is absorbed into the town. Code Enforcement Officer Rob Giordano asked about potential liability regarding access to light, which the supervisor said he’d consult with the town attorney over it. However, he said, the town had “no obligation to light.”

Town Clerk Carrie Sutton said that not all towns roads have power poles to potential expand new lighting. The supervisor said that each new pole would cost about $4,000. Such a cost would be “prohibitive,” he said, unless specific residents would like to pay for such a cost out of pocket.

Noone also added that a new comprehensive plan could address such a topic, including potential subdivisions.

Town Highway Superintendent Ward Apgar asked who maintains the lights, which the supervisor responded was the responsibility of the power company.

Town Councilman Bob Proudman said that if such maintenance was anything like the maintenance of local power lines, that the power company would only come in “if a tree fell on them.”

Federice said that the town would have to schedule a public hearing regarding any potential change. Any change would have to be done by an Aug. 1 date within a year to take effect Jan. 1 of the following year.

There were 25 permits last year, according to Giordano, 11 short-term rentals renewed and inspected, six orders to remedy, and two stop work orders. He finished his code officer certificate and completed classes. He said that there were also a number of outstanding permits, including some more than five years old. The codes officer surmised that this could be because some residents could be holding off to avoid higher property tax valuation.

Giordano also reported that he was switching over to a town computer, phone, and email address.

Sutton said that there was one dog license over the last month and that water and sewer billing went out.

Town Historian Kim Young stated in a written report that there would be two upcoming events, including local author Terry Bradshaw 6pm on Mar. 8 and a spinning demonstration by Ginny Scheer, among others. More information is elsewhere in this edition. 

Town Assessor Marie Stuber said in a written report that residents were concerned about tax bills. She said that she does not handle tax bills or set the tax rates and would do a “field review of properties” after the exemption renewal and application period is over.

Town Tax Collector Laurel Mattice said that there were 28 zero amount tax bills, 296 unpaid tax bills, 3 partially-paid tax bills, and 1004 fully-paid tax bills in the town.

Apgar reported that the town plowed and sanded roads 14 days this month and that the town ordered more salt and stone. The town has gone through approximately 900 tons so far this winter. All fire extinguishers in the shop and vehicles have been serviced and the town had to remove some fallen trees and branches.

Federice said that the highway crew was doing “one hell of a job” despite being short-handed.

Apgar also said that he was looking to replace the service truck, which he said was “being held together by 2x4s.” He was seeking information on whether CHIPS (Consolidated Highway) funding could cover the cost. The highway superintendent is looking at a 2019 truck with 140,000 miles on it. The town doesn’t put many miles on the service truck, he said.

There was further discussion over a state Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) letter regarding the use of electric vehicles. The state will only allow for internal combustion vehicles if they would be used for road maintenance or snowplowing.

Apgar said that there was “no such thing as an electric plow truck on the market.’

The policy was “not well-thought out,” said Federice.

The county accepted a bid from Tyler Latta for lawnmowing. There were two bids and his was the lowest by a significant margin.

Federice also shared data that the town highway crew was the third-highest paid in the county. Other towns were having issues retaining road crews as well, he said.

There was a further discussion about a county grant during the supervisor’s county report, which will be included in a future article on the subject.