We knew it was too good to be true.
The idea that Otsego County could extricate itself from MOSA before 2014 was like a wonderful dream. No more guaranteed annual tonnage? No more high tipping fees?
It sounded great _ but, like so many great ideas, it didn't get off the drawing board.
We can't fault the Otsego County Board of Representatives for not trying. It explored the idea fully, but couldn't find a way out of the agreement with the Montgomery-Otsego-Schoharie Solid Waste Authority, which is due to expire in April 2014.
That's the bad news.
The good news is that the county is still serious about getting out, even if it means waiting a few more years. At its most recent meeting, the county board re-upped its contract with Hans Arnold, who has been hired to help the county sort out what its post-MOSA future will look like.
Arnold has already been working with the county board for two years, and he's got a lot more work ahead of him. It might seem hard to believe that it could take this long to craft an exit strategy for the county.
But it's important to remember that Otsego County has been tied up with MOSA for more than 30 years. A lot has changed during that time, including the county's population, the haulers that serve it, and, most significantly, the expectations and requirements for handling recyclable materials.
By leaving MOSA, Otsego County has a tremendous opportunity to improve the way waste and recyclables are handled in the area. One need only look down the road to Delaware County to see a model of how 21st-century waste management can be handled.
In a few years' time, we could go from being penalized for not producing enough garbage to using a facility that combines composting and methane recapture, just as they do in Delhi.
Of course, there are massive obstacles in the way of creating such a facility. The Otsego County board remains unwilling to commit to siting a "recycling and environmental services complex" in the county, despite recommendations from the county Solid Waste & Environmental Concerns Committee to do so.
We stand firmly behind the county's forward motion to leave MOSA, and we appreciate that this will be a slow and painstaking process. But we hope our elected officials can see all the good that would come out of creating a facility like Delaware County's landfill.
"Not in my backyard" is a cry that often accompanies such plans. But we hope such opposition can be overcome. We urge the county board to continue its work to free us from MOSA. 2014 will be here before we know it.
Editorials
Stay the course to leave MOSA
- Editorials
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Cheers
To new school lunch standards, the All County Band Festival, and welcoming home Army Spec. Michael Dow.
Continued ... -
Have a heartfelt Valentine's Day
"I love you." "Be mine." "You're cute when you're spending money."
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Embargo no longer serves a purpose
Fifty years ago this week, President John F. Kennedy signed executive order 3447, banning trade with Cuba "in light of the subversive offensive of Sino-Soviet Communism." As this anniversary passes, it's worth asking whether this policy has had its desired effects and how much longer it should remain in place.
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Women must win fight for opportunity
The Pentagon announced Thursday that it will recommend that Congress officially allow women to serve in more jobs closer to the front lines.
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Center helps victims of child abuse and neglect
We learned some good news about some terrible news in a story by reporter Joe Mahoney in Tuesday's Daily Star.
Continued ... - Wednesday, February 8, 2012
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Chamber made excellent choices on service awards
A special committee selected by the Otsego County Chamber has made two excellent decisions regarding the organization's annual awards for service to our communities.
Continued ... - Tuesday, February 7, 2012
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Cheers
To Michael Shea, Terry Bliss, and the passage of the bill to allow Otsego's exit from MOSA.
Continued ... - Monday, February 6, 2012
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A sad tale may come to an end with arrests
People are almost always sad, and sometimes outraged, whenever something awful happens to a fellow human being.
Continued ... - Saturday, February 4, 2012
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Pill abuse should be a priority for police, pols
Sens. Charles Schumer of New York and Mark Pryor of Arkansas proposed a bill this week to help police combat a disturbing trend of increasing prescription drug abuse.
Continued ... - Friday, February 3, 2012
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More needs to be done to aid vets with PTSD
The recent story of Stamford grandmother Melody DiGregorio grieving the loss of her grandson, Air Force veteran Edward "Drew" Snyder, brings home the debilitating and often-unreported effects of post-traumatic stress disorder on our service men and women.
Continued ... - Thursday, February 2, 2012
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Area 'shocked' at underage drinking? That's shocking
It has been referenced so often that it has become a cliché.
Continued ... - Wednesday, February 1, 2012
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School's new lease on life a welcome development
It is a big place designed to echo with the sounds of young people in a healthy learning environment.
Continued ... - Tuesday, January 31, 2012
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Cheers
To the Central American Youth Ambassadors Program, to Ray Preston and to the NCOC building trades class and the Prattsville Fire Department.
Continued ... - Monday, January 30, 2012
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Mitt's not at fault for loopholes in tax code
As the longtime frontrunner for the Republican presidential nomination, Mitt Romney has faced withering attacks from rivals seeking to upset him.
Continued ... - Saturday, January 28, 2012
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Rest in peace, Naples and Stalter
Our area recently lost two important and influential members of our community: Oneonta surgeon Dr. Kenneth D. Stalter and newly elected Sixth Ward Council Member Mike Naples.
Continued ... - Friday, January 27, 2012
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Case closed on 2 years of turmoil
"Case closed."
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Oneonta Mayor Dick Miller was referring to possible criminal charges against fired police officer Michael Breen on Wednesday, but Miller just as easily could have been talking about the more than two years of turmoil the city has endured with its police department. - Thursday, January 26, 2012
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Obama played his cards right Tuesday
Despite a daunting economy and a challenging re-election campaign, on Tuesday night President Barack Obama displayed what Mark Twain called "the calm confidence of a Christian holding four aces" in his State of the Union address.
Continued ... - Wednesday, January 25, 2012
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Searching for votes instead of honor
Say what you will about John McCain, the Republican nominee for president in 2008 who inflicted an ignorant Sarah Palin upon an unsuspecting nation.
Continued ... - Tuesday, January 24, 2012
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Cheers
To MLK Jr. Day events, Diana Nicols, and Jordan Beers and Mariah Ruff.
Continued ... - Monday, January 23, 2012
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Dignity not enough to show in speech
After weeks of watching the often unseemly, if not downright humorous, antics of the Republican candidates for his job, President Barack Obama should have little trouble providing at least one thing Tuesday night in his State of the Union address. Dignity.
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Cheers
