Gilboa Approves Driveway Construction to Museum

GILBOA – Members of the Gilboa Town Board approved construction of a driveway to the Gilboa Museum and Juried History Center during their regular meeting on Monday, a move that should get the Gilboa Historical Society closer to its goal of owning the museum and grounds. The final item will be the drilling of a well, which the town will do without interfering with upcoming activities at the museum.

Gerry Stoner, president of the Gilboa Historical Society, asked town board members to wait on approval. However, board members pointed out that the location of the driveway has been determined the best location. It will serve GHS meetings and operations and when there are larger events scheduled, the GHS may fill out a facilities use form which opens up use of the Gilboa Town Highway facilities for parking and vendors. Their preferred location, according to Stoner, would be on the north side of the property. 

Stoner objected to the location, saying it will be mixing pedestrians with traffic around the pavilion. It will put a strain on the pavilion as an outdoor venue and areas around it should be converted to lawns and a perimeter walk. He deems Jersey barriers, one of the suggestions in earlier discussions, as unsightly. "This is not the way we want the venue to look. We do not want Jersey barriers." However, Highway Superintendent John Wyckoff has offered to place large stones, rather than Jersey barriers, as a more natural barrier.  He said that there are drainage issues with that location.

Stoner also lamented that the process has taken much longer than anticipated, due to delayed elections in the beginning, then more than two years of Covid restrictions. He said it has been a "rough five years" with a lot of back and forth between two boards. Now, he said, things are in good shape, with the exception of the driveway location. He said the town has done a good job at funding it without cost to the taxpayers.

However, Stoner said he felt the driveway is a done deal, with no opportunity for his board to discuss it, and the GHS should not purchase the property. He pointed out the GHS is a good draw for tourism, collaborating with the nearby Cidery.  He said it was his opinion the GHS does not matter to the town board.

With that, Supervisor Alicia Terry said she considered that an unfair characterization. "We understand the urgency of the transfer of the property. We are near the end. This was a way we felt we could expedite it. This was a town board decision." She ran down a list of items the town board has dealt with to allow the GHS to continue to hold its events and purchase the property for its addition. She didn't feel that was treating them as a second-class citizen.

Councilman Max Stryker said it is not just the members of the town board, but the entire town and its taxpayers. "We are looking out for the taxpayers. We're not paying the bills, they are," he said. It is the board's due diligence to consider the costs.

Councilwoman Dottie Pickett said the risk with the location of the driveway as proposed by the town, is no greater than it  has been since the pavilion has been located on the grounds.

Councilman Lester Parker said it was not just four board members and the town supervisor. "We have to do it right for the people. This road has a monetary cost. To construct the other option would be an astronomical cost. Some members of the GHS board were in agreement when we discussed it." He added that if they did the more expensive option, the town would not be able to fund the well.

Board members indicated they are in no way against the GHS and they all believe it is a valued organization for the town. 

Supervisor Terry said, "It benefits the town as well as the historical society."

Highway Superintendent John Wyckoff said there is a lot of runoff that comes through the culvert at the northern location. The driveway is no different than it is currently and areas can be blocked off for an event.

The county Department of Public Works will also be doing work on Stryker Road and Supervisor Terry said the road will be given a wider shoulder that will also accommodate parking for major events.

The GHS was due to meet and there is the option of turning down the driveway, however, it would hold up the transfer of the property.

The motion approved by the town board in February was to fund the driveway for access to the museum and cited  improved safety and travel/use, significantly reduce elevation changes, improved access to the building, reduced future maintenance costs, in addition to construction cost considerations as opposed to other locations on on the property proposed for the driveway.

In other business, the town will go out to bid for lawn mowing. A hole discovered in the salt/sand shed roof will receive a temporary repair until a more permanent solution can be decided. Board members accepted the lone bid of $500 for a five-year lease of ag land to Terry Wyckoff.

In his report, Superintendent Wyckoff said they hope to begin sweeping town roads on April 11. Crews have been hauling stone for summer repairs with Blackberry Street and Starheim Road on the list for repairs. He has also met with the state Department of Environmental Conservation regarding the renewed mining permit. Work is also underway at the town hall and will begin soon on the highway garage. 

In her report, Supervisor Terry said adjoining property owners along Flat Creek Road that will be impacted by the road work have been contacted. They are working with the county attorney to close on them and they are working with an archaeological report. The county will attempt to do most of the work in-house and will keep an eye on the project as it progresses to ensure it remains stable. However, there is no timeline in place at this time.