The New York State Parks Recreation Historic Preservation gave a buying price of approximately $8,550, which would keep the land off the tax rolls.
“Why are we giving land back to New York state?” Chairman John Becker (Sullivan-R) said. “We shouldn’t be giving them anything. They’re not giving us anything but a hard time.”
Darrin Ball (Lincoln-R), chairman of criminal justice, public safety and telecommunications committee, said that he has been trying to acquire a piece of property in Brookfield from the state for a tower site to be used in the upgrade of the public safety communication system. However, he said he has been turned down.
“I find it ironic that we’re conveying property back to the state when they’ve been giving us a hard to acquire this piece of property,” Ball said.
Richard Bargabos (Smithfield-R) suggested approving the resolution, stating that if the county didn’t sell the land, the state would just take it through regulation.
“I’d like to see that,” Becker replied.
Bargabos and Elizabeth Moran (Cazenovia-D), who proposed the resolution, were the only votes in favor.
In other business, the supervisors approved the purchase of property at a total of $196,200 for tower sites to be used in the upgrade of the county public safety communication system. The land includes sites in the towns of Lebanon, Fenner, Madison, Nelson and Eaton at 1-acre a piece for new builds. An existing tower purchase with 2.24 acres in the town of Georgetown was also approved.
The board also authorized an agreement extension for dog shelter services with Wanderer’s Rest Humane Association in the amount of $93,126.
Lewis Carinci (Oneida-D) said he has been working the shelter for six months and he, along with John Salka (Brookfield-R) stated that there is a lot of room for optimism.
In addition, the board:
Authorized the chairman to enter into an agreement with the Madison County Snowmobile Association, Inc. for the use of the Swallows Bridge Road bridge as a crossing of Oneida Creek between Madison and Oneida Counties.
Authorized the recertification of agricultural district #10 in the towns of Hamilton, Lebanon, Eaton and Georgetown.
Adopted the inclusion of two properties in the town of Cazenovia into agricultural district #2, one property in the town of Madison into district #13 and one property in the town of Brookfield into district #1.
Reappointed Bud Ballinger of Hamilton, Ronald Cary of Smithfield and James Yonai of the Madison County Mental Health Department to the county youth board.
