Conesville Making Plans For Nation's 250th Birthday

By Chris English

CONESVILLE — LIke towns across Schoharie County and the country, Conesville is busy making plans for celebrating the nation's 250th Birthday in 2026.

At the Aug. 12 board meeting, Town Historian Kim Young outlined plans not yet set in stone for celebrating the 250th Birthday of the signing of the Declaration of Independence. She said the big celebration tentatively set for Sept. 12, 2026 would be in conjunction with the Fire Department's annual Touch a Truck event and run from about 4 p.m. to 9 p.m. that day.

There would be a tent of history that would possibly include blacksmithing and spinning demonstrations and live entertainment, Young said. A parade with school groups, businesses, fire departments, rescue squads and others would start at 6 p.m., with square dancing and a finale of fireworks also part of the evening agenda, she added.

Young said the Historical Society and Fire Department are among those coordinating plans and others are invited to contribute. Among the ideas for fundraising events leading up to the celebration is an American History Trivia Night.

"It's a lot of work and I'm sure you can use as much help as you can get," Town Supervisor Bill Federice told Young.

Highway Superintendent Ward Apgar reported that the roof on the town salt shed is in bad shape and that he's received quotes for a repair of $3,200 and $7,000.

He added that the entire roof really needs to be replaced at an estimated cost of $48,000 and probably the best course of action _ since the roof can make it through another year _ is to wait and do the replacement next year, Apgar said.

In other actions from the Aug. 12 meeting, the board voted to make the fourth annual payment of $35,943 on a bond that was taken out to pay for a new loader. The final payment is due in July of 2026, Federice said.

The town has applied for a $30,000 JCAP (Justice Court Assistance Program) grant that, if received, would be used toward improvements to Town Court, located in the same building where municipal operations are.

The board voted to hold a budget workshop meeting on Oct. 7 and a public hearing on the budget on Nov. 5. Both meetings will start at 7 p.m. Near the end of the meeting, the board voted to appoint Town Assessor Marie Stuber to a six-year term starting Oct. 1.

During Privilege of the Floor, a resident spoke about the need to close Bear Kill Road and nearby roads from 10 a.m. to noon on Nov. 29 for a 5K event. He said the Fire Department has advised it would be safer to close the roads for the event, and the board seemed agreeable.

Another resident said she recently saw a town employee using a weed whacker the resident considered much too small.

"The town needs to invest in an industrial sized weed whacker with two handles and a strap," the resident said.

"We will shop around," Federice responded.