Recently the residents of the Town of Newburgh received a brochure about a public hearing in regards to the different charges for the various water and sewage districts. What has not been stated that on June 24, 2019 the town purchased from Mid-Hudson Marina Corp 20.4 acres off of Oak St. for 1.1million dollars for access to a future water supply for the Consolidated Water District and future park. Eleven acres are classified as underwater vacant land. Railroad tracks run thru the property with no vehicle friendly crossings.

This 1.1 million dollars purchase EXCLUDES ground water rights which we can purchase from Mid-Hudson Marina for up to 25 years for up $600,000 yet the town will be under no obligation to draw water from this well. So why buy it? The full market value of these two properties on July 1,2017 was $970,500 but in Feb. 2018 is was appraised for 2.350 million. Were surrounding properties increased by same percentage?

Mid-Hudson has offered to consider it a donation the difference between the purchase price and the appraise value. Is this for income tax purposes? The monies for the purchase comes from Consolidated Water District and the Parkland Reserve Fund. The dollar amounts of each though varies between the June 10 and June 24, 2019 meetings. The public notice for this purchased stated $803,000. So much for transparency. Water, water everywhere but not a drop to drink.