County Election Process Deemed First Rate

By Chris English

SCHOHARIE COUNTY — There was praise aplenty for the way Schoharie County operates its elections at the Friday, June 20 County Board of Supervisors Meeting.

During the Privilege of the Floor part of the meeting, State Senator Peter Oberacker and State Representative Christopher Tague lauded county election employees, officials and poll workers for their hard work and efficiency.

"Schoharie County is the best and that's not a lie," Tague said.

"This is a real model we haven't seen in any other county," added Jeff Furman of the voting advocacy group Rejoice The Vote. He was joined by fellow RTV member Sara Hess at the meeting, and they presented the two state lawmakers with a trophy honoring the county's election accomplishments.

In other actions from the June 20 meeting, the Infrastructure Committee was directed to review whether some county-owned land at the corner of South Grand Street and Mineral Springs Road in Cobleskill can possibly be conveyed to the Cobleskill Agricultural Society and converted into more parking for the Cobleskill Fairgrounds.

The matter was brought up late in the meeting by County Supervisor John Leavitt of Carlisle, who said that the Fairgrounds is thriving in so many ways and could certainly use more parking. The Infrastructure Committee will look into it and make a recommendation to the full BOS.

The BOS approved a resolution for a project on County Route 9/Caverns Road over Cobleskill Creek in the Town of Cobleskill. It authorizes the county to pay 100 percent of the cost of construction, construction support and construction inspection with the understanding that qualified costs may be eligible for federal aid, state aid or reimbursement from Bridge NY funds.

The cost of the project has been estimated at $4.86 million. Per the resolution, the county BOS agrees that the county shall be responsible for all costs of the project that exceed the amount of federal aid, state aid or Bridge NY funding. The project is currently slated to be paid for 95 percent with federal funds and the rest with non-federal funds.

The BOS approved a resolution opposing proposed state legislation that would prohibit any new or expanding Concentrated Animal Feeding Operation (CAFO) permits.

Also approved was a resolution supporting the enactment of proposed state legislation that would establish a five-year state moratorium on the use of biosolids. The BOS had previously approved a six-month Schoharie County moratorium on the use of biosolids, which is the organic matter left after sewage is treated.

Appointed to the Schoharie County Board of Ethics was Dan Lamont of Cobleskill (term expiring Dec. 31, 2026); Robert Smith of Carlisle (Dec. 31, 2026) and James Spencer of Middleburgh (Dec. 31, 2026).

Also approved was a resolution appointing five members to the Adirondack Appalachian Regional Emergency Medical Services Council. They are Judyth Tiffany (term expiring Dec. 31, 2025); Howard Huth (Dec. 31, 2026); Daniel Bixby (Dec. 31, 2025); Owen Hahn (Dec. 31, 2026) and Peter Nichols (alternate, Dec. 31, 2026).