Heated Feud Almost Melts Ice Rink

SCHOHARIE - The future of the community ice rink in Fox Creek Park laid in the balance last Tuesday as an argument between Town Councilperson Floyd Guernsey III and Village Mayor Colleen Henry reached its boiling point.

The argument began in early January, when Mr. Guernsey was offering to build and maintain the Fox Creek ice rink. While watering the ice late at night, he used an RV to keep warm, which was plugged into the outlets of the park and used the Village’s electricity to power a fan.

After receiving several calls from concerned residents and different Village agencies that said the RV was breaking the no parking overnight rule, Mayor Henry sent an email that thanked him for his service to the community, but asked to “be mindful” of his RV parking.

Outraged by what he viewed as a “disturbing” correspondence, Mr. Guernsey fell into a chain of angrily threatening to both close the ice rink and go public with the email on social media. 

When he further devolved into vulgarities, Mayor Henry blocked him, prompting him to come to the Village Board meeting on Tuesday, where both parties enlightened the rest of the trustees on what happened.

“I feel very hurt and not appreciated,” Mr. Guernsey began, noting how the email approach was cold and distant compared to talking in person. “I build this rink because of the kids and the community, and I’m willing to give this all up because of you, and that makes me want to puke.”

Mayor Henry specified that she didn’t want to drive out his service, saying “I’m not asking you to stop maintaining it. We do appreciate what you do, but please be mindful of the rules.”

However, when the mayor incredulously asked if Mr. Guernsey believed himself to be above the rules, he demanded that he should be, and said that the Village should change their parking times in Fox Creek or allow him free access whenever he needed it.

Most of the room took his side as well. Diana Bell Jackson of the Schoharie Promotional Association was in attendance, who said “We don’t condone Floyd’s tone, but we sponsor the ice rink, and we would like to see this resolved to keep that service however we can.”

Trustee Jeff Palmer agreed, noting “We all say things in the heat of the moment that we don’t mean. Considering the service he does, I think there’s bigger problems out there than giving him permission.”

With the rest of the Board in agreement, Mr. Guernsey was given free access to the park, and Mayor Henry asked that any public inquiries about the RV should be redirected so that he can answer them. Both parties briefly gave their apologies before moving on to other business.