Otsego seeks ways to protect roads in advance of drilling

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September 4, 2010

By Tom Grace Cooperstown News Bureau The Daily Star Sat Sep 04, 2010, 03:30 AM EDT

Otsego County is looking to protect its interest in roads before gas drilling begins in earnest.

At Wednesday's meeting, the Otsego County Board of Representatives voted to contract with Delta Engineers, Architects & Land Surveyors of Endwell to create "a road network assessment study and multi-jurisdictional road preservation program" for $23,000.

The assessments are meant to determine the condition of county roads before they're heavily traveled by an industry that uses large equipment and has been known to tear up -- and repair -- roads elsewhere, such as in Dimock, Pa.

Towns within the county may join in the program for $8,500 each, county Planning Director Terry Bliss said.

For its fees, Delta provides three phases of service: "engineering services," "engineering and legal services" and "permit processing," according to the resolution. It was passed unanimously among representatives present. Rep. Cathy Rothernberger, D-Oneonta, was absent.

In other business, the board:

"¢ Heard from Janet Hurley-Quackenbush and Jason Curley of the Foothills Performing Arts Center in Oneonta about plans to complete the main stage.

"We need $2 million to compete the facility," said Hurley-Quackenbush, who asked the county to contribute $75,000.

Foothills, which operates with a "bare-bones staff" of two full-time and two part-time employees, also is applying to the federal government and private foundations for project funds, she said.

When asked by Rep. Greg Relic, R-Unadilla, if $75,000 from the county this year would eliminate Foothills' need for the $25,000-a-year the county has been providing, she said, "I think it's important for the county to take ownership of this project."

"¢ Heard from Rep. Stephen Fournier, R-Milford, that the county is on target to meet its annual quota with MOSA. "It's looks like there won't be a penalty this year," he said, referring to the county's contract with MOSA to pay a fee for undelivered rubbish.

He also said that by negotiating a new transportation and disposal agreement, MOSA may be able to reduce its tipping fee, now $86 per ton.

"¢ Voted to enter into a contract with David Hayes of Oneonta to "provide specific economic development services for downtown Oneonta as part of a comprehensive economic development proposal." He is to be paid no more than $25,000 annually between Monday and Dec. 31, 2011.

Rep. Katherine Stuligross, D-Oneonta, asked Hayes how many hours a week he would devote to the job. He said, "At least 20 hours a week."

Hayes told representatives a large part of his job would be attracting new businesses to the city's Main Street.

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