Jefferson Passes Moratorium on Commercial, Industrial Property Development

JEFFERSON – The town of Jefferson will lease its gravel bank to Seward Sand and Gravel, approved a six-month moratorium on development for commercial and industrial properties and will set a public information meeting on the water district, once there have been quotes on getting the work done to replace aging infrastructure and repair water mains.

Supervisors Peggy Hait said she has contacted three contractors for prices on making repairs to the water district infrastructure. She has been consulting with Delaware Bulldozing to see what repairs they can do and with Cedarwood Engineering regarding operation of the plant. They are to get back to her with recommended improvements and repairs. They are currently taking stock of equipment that needs to be replaced. 

She has also consulted with the town attorney and he has recommended a statutory installment Bond Anticipation Note, due to lack of revenue for the water district, to help pay for the improvements. A water main break in May has left a shortfall in funding for the district.

A previously scheduled public meeting on the water district was postponed due to the inability to find a time when board members could be present. The town board will meet for a workshop on the water district on Sept. 2 at 5:30 p.m. and will likely reschedule the public meeting at that time. Aaron House, water district operator will be leaving at the end of the year, said Hait.

Rob Beisler, of Seward Sand and Gravel, was present to say his company is interested in taking over the town's gravel bank. "If we lease it, the town would make money on something they are not using," he said. Highway Superintendent Ray Hendrickson confirmed the town is not using the gravel bank.

Beisler said leases are typically for 10 years and they pay 10 percent of the price of the material taken from the bank. It could be as much as $10,000. They would take over the mining permit with the Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC). They will have to bond with DEC to ensure the mine is reclaimed.

Hendrickson said it has become too dangerous for towns to operate their own gravel banks. Board members approved a motion to allow Beisler to proceed to draft a lease. The lease will be presented for approval at the Sept. 10 meeting of the town board. 

Councilman Don VanValkenburgh reported the Heritage Day Committee has decided to do Heritage Day for another year. It will be held next July 10. The next meeting is Aug. 26.

Highway crews have been working on Rum Hill and Dyer Road, fixing potholes. They have also done work on Nichols sand Stannard Road, and the Summit half of Clapper Hollow. The town of Jefferson is expected to do sealing on Aug. 25 but it will be dependent on the weather. They have been helping other towns with their paving and sealing projects.

Councilman Ken Cole reported the Delaware & Ulster Railroad in Arkville has been running each Saturday and they anticipate full trains for the rest of the summer as they plan to increase riderships from Arkville to Halcottsville.

The town hall roof is on the list of repairs but is being held up by the inability to match the current shingles.

The public hearing on the CDBG repair grant was closed.

Board members approved increasing the mileage reimbursement rate to 76 cents to match state and IRS guidelines.

The commercial and industrial property development moratorium was sought by the town planning board as they work to update the town's Rural Development Law. All but Councilman Don VanValkenburgh approved the moratorium which could be extended if needed. It stops development as the planning board works its way through the nine-page law. VanValkenburgh said he doesn't believe its fair to hold up someone's plans for six months. 

The town board approved a motion to lease the Maple Museum to the Jefferson Historical Society for one dollar. The lease will be revisited and a new one created in January. 

Before the meeting adjourned, VanValkenburgh said people are walking to the Dollar General Store along state Route 10 without sidewalks. He said kids from the summer camp program were walking along the edge of the busy highway to go to the store. He believes sidewalks should be installed as a safety concern.

The next regular meeting of the town board will be held Sept. 10.