Mburgh Town to Annex Five Parcels to Solve Road Issue

MIDDLEBURGH - The Town of Middleburgh is proceeding with annexing five parcels to solve a sticky road issue with the Town of Cobleskill.

Supervisor John Youmans said last week that Middleburgh is proceeding with the annexation. The next step is to have the town attorney draw up petitions for the five affected property owners on Oak Meadows Road.

The annexation could solve issues that have been brewing for months.

Supervisor Youmans told board members in February that he and the town highway superintendent recently met with the Cobleskill supervisor and highway head to discuss the issues over 1,300 feet of road that is in the Town of Cobleskill but has been maintained by the Town of Middleburgh for 10 years.

The answer may be the Town of Middleburgh annexing that portion of Oak Meadows Road, and possibly some parcels, from the Town of Cobleskill. This would allow the Town of Middleburgh to receive CHIPs funding for road repairs. Currently, Middleburgh is maintaining the road but is not eligible to get CHIPS funding (since it is in the Town of Cobleskill) and the town is not receiving any funding from Cobleskill.

"There are five parcels that currently are split (between the two towns) that would probably also be affected as well," Mr. Youmans said in February. "How they would be delegated would be decided during the process."

If the annexation goes forward, Middleburgh would be eligible to receive $1,000 to $1,500 per year in CHIPs funding, highway Superintendent Steve Kowalski said. It is unlikely that the town will get any funding from Cobleskill's on-the-road work done in the past.

Councilwoman Sue Makely, who works in the county real property office, said maps can be made up and suggested contacting the Association of Towns for guidance.

Middleburgh town officials have complained for months about the lack of payments from Cobleskill for road maintenance on Oak Meadows, going back to 2013.

Mr. Kowalski told board members at their meeting in January that Middleburgh should be getting between $1,200 and $1,500 per year to "cover what we put in" to the road.

Middleburgh town officials sought back payments from the Town of Cobleskill for road work done in the Oak Meadows development in 2013.

The towns of Cobleskill and Middleburgh came to an agreement in 2013 to have Middleburgh maintain the road in the Oak Meadows development off of Route 145, in exchange for yearly payments.

That plan lasted for one year as Cobleskill paid Middleburgh $900 in 2014, according to Middleburgh town officials.

After some discussion, Middleburgh officials in December agreed to extend the agreement for another five years and ask for back payments.

The agreement states: "The Town of Cobleskill shall pay the Town of Middleburgh on an annual basis, no later than February 1st of each year, a sum equal to the amount levied from that portion of the annual tax bill for 'Highway outside of Village' on each of tax parcels hereinbefore listed and any lots which may be subdivided from said parcels, based on the prior year's assessment...the parties have agreed that during the term of this agreement, Town of Middleburgh shall be responsible for all year round maintenance, upkeep and repair of said roads, including salting, sanding, and plowing, and in consideration thereof, the Town of Cobleskill shall pay the Town of Middleburgh on an annual basis, all sums levied from that portion of the annual tax bill for 'Highway outside of Village' on each of following tax parcels and any lots which may be subdivided from said parcels."

At that time, there were seven parcels, and only two had homes on the land. Only two parcels in 2013 were assessed at more than $200,000. The rest, unimproved properties, were all assessed at $26,500 or less. Now, with homes on each parcel, the assessments are much more than $200,000, Middleburgh officials said.