Budget, buildings and bridges all on the agenda

By SUSAN WADE
Posted 9/15/20

ELDRED, NY — The Highland Town Board in its monthly meeting on September 8 dove into a varied and aggressive agenda.  

A budget workshop was scheduled for Thursday, September 24 at 7 …

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Budget, buildings and bridges all on the agenda

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ELDRED, NY — The Highland Town Board in its monthly meeting on September 8 dove into a varied and aggressive agenda.  

A budget workshop was scheduled for Thursday, September 24 at 7 p.m. As in past years, the board is working to have the 2021 budget finalized by Election Day. It was noted that the highway department contract expires in December.

Supervisor Jeff Haas noted the significant progress being made on the town’s new salt shed and stated that the work continues on schedule with a completion date of mid-October.  

Also announced was a revision to the closing of a portion of County Road 33 otherwise known as the Eldred-Yulan Road. The road will close on Monday, October 5 and remain closed for approximately two weeks. The period of time may be extended as needed due to unforeseen circumstances as work progresses on the replacement of County Bridge 198. The construction detour will utilize State Routes 55 and 97, and Mail, Crawford and Eldred-Yulan roads. The Sullivan County Division of Public Works will be responsible for posting the necessary signage to indicate the detour routes. 

The bridge being replaced is close to the intersection of Routes 55 and the Eldred-Yulan Road. The work is being performed by NGS Construction, a local contractor. Barring unforeseen circumstances, all construction is scheduled to be completed by Monday, November 2.

The board approved the Town Cleanup Day, which had been postponed from May and is now rescheduled for Saturday, October 3 at the highway garage on Route 55. Passes and instructional material as to what items are acceptable are available by contacting the town clerk’s office. 

Councilman Jim Hanson thanked the constables, firefighters and ambulance corps for their service during the period of time in which the population has been greater than usual. He noted that there is a state body-camera mandate that will apply to the constables and that a policy and procedure will need to be created. 

The highway, building and maintenance department personnel were also thanked for their work in replacing the stone steps at Heroes Park. 

Councilman Jim Gutekunst announced that the bonds currently in place to finance the construction of the highway garage and salt shed were renewed for an additional year at two-percent interest.

A Tuesday, September 22 court date with the Sullivan County Supreme Court has been set for the Catskill Mountain Resort to respond to the violation of the temporary restraining order which was issued during the summer regarding its operating an overnight camp in violation of state orders. Additionally, the resort has a municipal court date of Wednesday, September 23 at 4 p.m. to answer to violations of local laws also regarding the operation of the camp. 

The town has retained the services of Albany-based Vincelette Law Firm to represent it in the matter of the Millennium Compressor Station suit filed against the town regarding its tax assessment. The town has been joined in the matter by the county and the Eldred School District.

Highland Town Board, Election Day, 2021 budget, County Road 33, Town Cleanup Day, Millennium Compressor Station

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