Flat Creek Road Is Open, South Gilboa Road Under Repair

The area repaired by the town of Gilboa highway crew that had been closed for three years on Flat Creek Road, owned by Schoharie County. The road is now passable, in what is described as a “soft reopening”.

By Liz Page

GILBOA – Gilboans are celebrating the fact that the town highway crew in collaboration with Schoharie County has repaired the portion of Flat Creek Road that was damaged by a landslide in April 2022. They also left a public hearing open for both written and verbal comments until the September 8 meeting on the New York City Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) purchase of approximately 517 +/- acres of BARI Valley Farm LLC, property along Road Seven and state Route 30.

With the re-opening of Flat Creek Road, the Gilboa Town Board members are happy the road is now passible, although it is a gravel road in that area at this point. It alleviates the traffic that has been using Wyckoff Road which is due for repairs due to the extra traffic.

Flat Creek Road is a county owned roadway and traffic, a lot of it, including heavy trucks, has been detoured onto town-owned Wyckoff Road for the past three years. It has increased traffic through a school zone and deteriorated the town roadway.

The town and county struck a deal to make the repairs using town manpower and equipment. The Shoharie County Board of Supervisors approved the agreement to allow the town and the county to work together to reopen Flat Creek Road. The infrastructure committee was supportive of funding for the project. After a meeting of the minds on July 10, the work was begun by the Gilboa Highway Department to stabilize the area of the landslide and repair the county road. They finished the project on July 25.

A loop showing photos of the repairs was being played during Monday's meeting of the town board. Two more culverts still need to be replaced, so the road is now passable.

The next project of concern is South Gilboa Road (County Rt. 14) which was closed after a flash flood in June washed out a large section between Whispering Pines Drive and state Route 30. This closure is also taking traffic along town roadways.

Supervisor Alicia Terry reported last month that it was a two-phase project to repair South Gilboa Road with a long lead time for pre-cast concrete culverts, pushing completion of the project into late October. On Monday she reported that there has been a change in the type of culverts to be used, which places reopening sometime in late September or early October. The change in culvert style has allowed the county to step up the completion date.

Now that Flat Creek Road is passable, work will begin to repair Wyckoff Road. The County has agreed to pay up to $205,000.00 towards the hot mix asphalt pavement of Wyckoff Road. It is being done in cooperation with a capital project at Gilboa-Conesville Central School. Supervisor Terry said they were waiting for Flat Creek Road to be reopened before making repairs to Wyckoff and having it torn up by the many construction vehicles necessary to haul fill for Flat Creek Road.

The meeting opened with comments from the floor. Resident Pete Magnani was present to again discuss the possibility of the town providing a garbage collection. He said the town of Blenheim provides a garbage truck and operator for three hours each Saturday at a cost of $600. However, discussion again reverted to previous research of the issue which indicated private hauler fees would be less costly to individual residents than a townwide collection point. Supervisor Terry said there is no way the town could offer an unsupervised dumpster or container for such purpose. Although Magnani said they could get signatures to petition the town, he relented that he trusts the earlier research. Town Clerk Linda Wyckoff has a list of private haulers she can provide to residents to choose a hauler if they prefer not to travel to Cobleskill to dump their garbage.

Supervisor Terry reported on the July 30 public hearing regarding the construction of a new building at the girls Zone of Camp Oorah in Gilboa. She said there was good attendance at the hearing, held by the Schoharie County Capital Resource Corporation at the Gilboa Town Hall. The hearing involved consideration to issue revenue bonds to help finance a $19.3 million project at Oorah. The project is construction of a three-story, 92,000 square foot building, the tax exempt bonds not to exceed $12 million.

Supervisor Terry said those attending the public hearing spoke against the issuance of the bonds and she said the four supervisors present were not in favor. She said the fact is that the facility is tax exempt is an issue for the community and wanted everyone to know "It is on our radar".

A report on the Summer Youth Program will be forthcoming at next month's meeting.

The public hearing on the DEP land purchase was opened to the public with Jeff Graff, of DEP outlining the proposed areas. There is a 120-day response period, which will allow the town to leave the public hearing open into their next meeting.

Supervisor Alicia Terry said there are concerns about allowing power lines and other utilities to have access over the property. That area, she said, is notorious for significant power failures in recent years. She said it is important utility crews would have access to make improvements or repairs. She said it needs to be clear that it will not hinder that line or the utility's rights and easements. Graff said no title review has been conducted.

Councilman Lester Parker asked about the agriculture use and the length of time of licenses and if they would be renewable. Graff said they are five-year licenses which are renewable.

Larry Mattice asked about access to a spring on the mountain above the property, which serves as his water supply. Graff said it would not change his deed.

Town resident Bill Sharick said he favored the purchase and drew on his experience as a retired wildlife biologist with the state Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC). He said the public is always looking for land they can utilize for hiking, hunting, fishing and other recreation where they don't have to worry about trespassing. He said it provides a boon for the town, which should provide brochures and parking areas to promote these public recreation areas. He said public-owned lands are always very popular and are in big demand. He said it could also benefit through timber management and harvest. "I'm in favor of this and would work toward this if you wanted me to do that. You could create maps and brochures for the public access areas and recreation.”

Comments may be forwarded to the Gilboa Town Clerk or oral comments made at the Sept. 8 meeting as the hearing remains open.