Flat Creek Road Closure Remains A Safety Issue in Gilboa

GILBOA  – The problem of establishing a repair schedule for county-owned Flat Creek Road and safety concerns for the increased traffic on town-owned Wyckoff Road remains an issue for Gilboa officials, as they continue to work with engineers and the county to get it back on line. Gilboa Town Board members approved a three-member committee to hear a complaint  from  a neighbor to a large farming operation under the town's Right to Farm Law and they approved putting the Fork in the Road  schoolhouse in South Gilboa out to bids for sale.

Supervisor Alicia Terry said  an email from Schoharie County Department of Public Works Interim Commissioner Darrin Palmatier indicates GSL has a long term fix  from 990V to the area known as the Paddy Hole, along Flat Creek Road. It will require another specialty construction to install horizontal drains to remove water from settling in the sand that is present between the layers of clay. When the sand holds water, it causes it to freeze and thaw, moving the layers of clay which cause the unstable conditions. However, the repairs will take longer to install the drains.

In the meantime, the town will put together a huge 80-foot long and 10-foot in diameter culvert and place it. That may allow some temporary traffic.

"The situation is becoming significant," said Terry. "There are safety concerns with the construction going on at Gilboa-Conesville Central School and activities taking place at the school," she said "People have called 911 to report they can't get through." 

Large construction vehicles involved with the school project are parking along Wyckoff Road in addition to vehicles parking for school activities. It is restricting the traffic flow in that area, which is mingling with pedestrian traffic to and from the school building.

The county was asked to provide detours along county roadways, which it has done, but people continue to use the shorter route of travel, which is town-owned Wyckoff Road. Supervisor Terry said the county's detour route is difficult for large trucks which must travel down a steep hill on Bull Hill, then stop to get onto 990V.

Supervisor Terry said there is a need to get this work done and she has been attempting to "nail down" a date for all the officials involved to walk the project and determine the scope of the work.

In the meantime, there is a request to reduce the speed limit near the school to 20 miles per hour, which they have been told is not normally done on a town roadway. The school board has sent a letter requesting to further reduce the speed limit in the area of the school and town board members approved Terry to draft a letter from the town as well.  "The school talk about the potential interaction with pedestrians and the jurisdiction issue. We will have to beg for a speed limit," said Terry.

A three-member committee has been selected by the town board in order to try to resolve a dispute between Karl Mason and Albano Farms.  Mason made the request in writing and the resolution committee includes Tony VanGlad, a member of the farming community, Supervisor Alicia Terry from the town government and Millie Faulkner and one person mutually agreed upon by both parties.

Any controversy regarding any inconveniences or discomfort occasioned by agricultural operations which cannot be settled by direct negotiation between the parties involved, either party may submit the controversy to a dispute resolution committee in an attempt to resolve the matter prior to the filing of any court action and prior to a request for a determination by the Commission or Agriculture and Markets.   

The Fork in the Road Schoolhouse, located near the intersection of state Route 23, South Gilboa Road and Lumber Road will be sold to the highest bidder. The property is not much larger than the footprint of the schoolhouse itself and cannot accommodate a sewer or water system. Board members approved the sale to the highest bidder.

In other business, board members approved the purchase of two DAR pavers that will hold all nine names of the town's Revolutionary War veterans. They had attempted to narrow the list of names, but in the end determined to honor them all for the upcoming 250th anniversary celebration by purchasing two bricks, which will hold all of the names. The pavers will be located near the DAR building, in Schoharie.

The next town board meeting will be held June 10.