By Chris English
CONESVILLE — The Town of Conesville had a successful closing recently on the $334,025 bond that is paying for the town's new 2025 Western Star plow truck and its equipment, Town Supervisor Bill Federice announced at the Tuesday, Jan. 13 board meeting.
"We did get it and everything is in place and we're good to go," he said of the closing. The bond will be repaid over six years, with a payment of interest only due in the first year and then payments of interest and principal in years two through six.
In other news from the Jan. 13 meeting, a 2025 year-end report from town Code Enforcement Officer Robert Giordano prompted some comments from Federice on the promising state of real estate in Conesville.
According to Giordano's summary of 2025 Code Enforcement activity, there were 35 building permits issued last year, 19 property reports prepared, eight Certificates of Completion, eight Certificates of Occupancy, four Emergency Responses, one threat of physical violence and one Compliance Order.
"Conesville and Gilboa are really hot right now in the real estate market," said Federice on hearing the numbers on building permits and certificates of completion and occupancy. "And according to a report I saw recently, Schoharie County house prices are up 22 percent over the last two years. Housing is short and when supply is short, prices go up."
Federice said after the meeting that an issue regarding a potentially dangerous school bus stop at 973 State Route 990V will now be handled by the Gilboa-Conesville Central School District. A house at the location previously had no school-age children and thus no bus stop, but it now has school-age children and a stop.
A resolution drafted by the town but not voted on states that the bus stop has no visibility until about 100 feet from the stop. "The current speed limit of 55 MPH and the short sight distance of the school bus stop is hazardous to students, bus drivers and motorists," it read. The resolution asks the New York Department of Transportation to install appropriate signage warning motorists of the upcoming stop.
During the Jan. 13 town meeting, Councilman Carl Fancher said he has written to NYDOT and got a response that the agency will do a study of the bus stop and inform him of the results.
Town Historian Kim Young reported that plans for Conesville's celebration of the nation's 250th Birthday on Sept. 19 of this year continue to go well. She said that a Jan. 12 meeting of the 250th Committee drew nine attendees, which she said was a good turnout.
Among the many activities being planned are blacksmith and other demonstrations, a vintage baseball game, a parade and others. Young added that she and others are hoping to put out a publication fairly soon that touches on town history related to the 250th celebration. She added in her report that she recently purchased a sign for the East Conesville Cemetery and submitted a voucher to Town Clerk Carrie Sutton for reimbursement.
Highway Superintendent Ward Apgar reported that he and his crew plowed snow 14 times during December and treated roads with sand and other material 18 times. They also spent a few days cleaning up brush and trees downed and blown around during storms. Apgar, board members and the audience also welcomed new Highway Department employee Bryan Catrini.
During his county report, Federice _ who is also Chairman of the Schoharie County Board of Supervisors _ commented on the continuing high cost of electricity and all the various fees included in electric bills. He added that he feels the problem is being partly fueled by the state's mandates on electric vehicles and other requirements.
Federice also remarked on the tremendous growth of Artificial Intelligence and its electricity requirements.
"I've read that all the huge data centers and everything else that goes with AI will double the amount of electricity used in the U.S.," he said.
The Conesville Board also approved the 2025 Town Court Justice audit at the Jan. 13 meeting.
The board held a reorganizational meeting on Friday, Jan. 2, during which Federice, the Councilmen, Sutton and others took their oaths of office for 2026. In all, there were 28 resolutions approved by the board, setting this year's sewer and water fees, salaries for various positions and many other matters.
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