Highbridge public hearing Tuesday

3/16/2023

Schoharie’s Planning Board will hold the first of its hearings on the proposed Highbridge project Tuesday at 7pm.
The $54 million 540,000 square-foot warehouse could create as many as 540 jobs; the project, at Route 30A and I-88, would also include a convenience store, fast food restaurant, and 12 gas pumps.
The 48-acre site is zoned commercial, meaning Highbridge Development’s plans are allowed—but it’s still up to the Planning Board whether or not to approve the project.
Planning Board members began reviewing the proposal in October and in a separate piece, the Zoning Board of Appeals is considering a request for a height variance.
That public hearing remains o ...

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County focuses on homelessness

3/23/2023

How big is Schoharie County’s homelessness problem and how much are we spending to deal with it?
That’s the question that kicked off Monday’s first meeting of supervisors’ Homeless Strategy Committee.
But the real question came at the end:
“How do we create a better future? How do we take care of our community?”
That’s what Seward Supervisor Earlin Rosa asked representatives from Social Services, Community Services, the Office for the Aging, Cobleskill Regional Hospital and others to focus on as they begin to explore whether the old jail can be turned into emergency housing with wrap-round services.
Friday, supervisors agreed to hire GPI Engineers for a fea ...

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Q&A on Schoharie Highbridge

3/23/2023

Without a $6 million FAST NY grant, there will be no Highbridge project in Schoharie.
With it?
Nearly $10 million in additional tax and other revenues over the next 15 years.
“We cannot continue increasing property taxes We can only increase the size of our economy,” Schoharie County Administrator Korsah Akumfi told members of the Schoharie Planning Board Tuesday at their first public hearing on the proposed project.
“This is an important project. Please look into it.”
Neighbors to the I-88/Route 7 site, however, weren’t convinced, citing concern over noise, traffic, water, and pollution.
“We need to think longterm when we look at this project,” said ...

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C-R delays decisions on SRO

3/23/2023

Cobleskill-Richmonndville won’t be adding a school resource officer anytime soon, or maybe ever.
Superintendent Matt Sickles told school board members Monday night that C-R should set up committees to continue studying whether an SRO should be at the high school.
The move towards committees comes two months after Schoharie County Undersheriff Bruce Baker presented information on SROs to the board.
SROs are intended to improve safety and build relationships between students and law enforcement. Schoharie Central successfully added an SRO from the Sheriff’s Office this school year.
Board members had a back-and-forth discussion in February, with some arguing that an ...

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Full slate for November's elections

3/23/2023

The following offices are up for election in 2023 and will be on the November ballot.
County Offices
County treasurer (four-year term); county clerk, (four-year term); and county coroner, two, (four-year term)
Blenheim
Town supervisor (two-year term); town clerk (two-year term); town council, two, (four-year term).
Broome
Town supervisor (two-year term); Town Clerk/Tax Collector (two-year term) town council, two, (four-year term); town council (vacancy); Assessor, two, (four-year term); highway superintendent (two-year term).
Carlisle
Town supervisor (two-year term); Town Clerk/Tax Collector (two-year term); town council, two, (four-year term); ...

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