Mickle Hollow Project More Expensive Than Anticipated

COBLESKILL - On Monday evening, the Cobleskill Town Board met to discuss the rising costs of the Mickle Hollow Road project, as well as a historic quilt donation and a possible program for hires from BOCES.

Supervisor Werner Hampel began by briefing the Board about the project, saying “We were informed last week that we’ll be $109,000 in the hole, and that’s without even putting a shovel in the ground.”

In order to offset this, the Town met with GPI to see how much they could lower the costs, if by anything at all, and it appears that the most leeway they’ll have is in construction fees and bidding.

“We’ll see what happens, we’ll just have to see who picks it up and how they do it,” Supervisor Hampel said before speaking about the high costs again. “That’s not the direction we want to go.”

In other news, the Board made a proclamation honoring the donation of a historic quilt by Edward Rosen, which is dated from 1907.

His family had picked up the quilt in 1955 from an auction held in Warnerville, where it was believed the quilt was originally a wedding gift, as it carries several family names that contributed to its creation, many of which are recognizable even today.

The proclamation concludes by saying that anyone is welcome to visit and see the quilt for themselves, and it was passed unanimously by the Board.

Finally, the Board is considering the possibility of a work-learning program with BOCES, where the Town will hire students for several hours each day to get them working with the highway department.

Highway Superintendent Timothy Gallagher explained that the students can get hands-on experience with equipment, and in return the department will get more help and possibly even long-term employees down the road.

“It’s a good way of getting new faces into the Town,” he said, noting that his current crew won’t be around forever, and it would be an excellent way to scout for new recruits.

“It’s a good program,” confirmed Supervisor Hampel. “Regardless of whether they stay here or go somewhere else, it gives the students an opportunity to see what’s out there waiting for them.”

Supervisor Hampel concluded by stating that it “will be a $75,000 ask at the county,” but he remains hopeful that the program would pay for itself with how beneficial it is to both sides.