The Plattekill Town Board opened last week’s meeting with a discussion on a proposed Battery Storage moratorium. Town Councilman James Fazio said he has reviewed similar moratoriums in other towns, adding that he feels these facilities are not needed or wanted in Plattekill.

 

Supervisor Dean DePew said the law has already been drafted and has been presented to the Town Board to review. It will then be sent to the town’s attorney for vetting, “and the anticipation is that possibly at the next meeting [April 16] it will be formally presented to the board and a date will be set for a public hearing. He expects that it will become law by the latter half of May.

 

DePew gave an update on revising the town’s Zoning Code. He said the town filed for a grant to pay for the update that would be done by the engineering firm of Barton & Loguidice.

 

“We were not successful with that grant but we do have another opportunity and two meetings ago we passed a resolution to go forth with another grant and we are anticipating that we could hear something towards the end of the summer, in August or September, when the money wold be released. We should be starting on that by December and it would last for about six months or so, but that is in the pipes, ready to go,” he said.

 

DePew said earlier this year the board passed a resolution to also hire Barton & Loguidice to do an engineering study for the Maple Avenue sidewalk. Recently, the board filed for a grant with the Ulster County Transportation Council and is hoping to hear about this within two months. He said sometime around October he should hear if they have been approved for this grant.

 

DePew said they have to conduct a series of environmental studies before the Old Mill Bridge work can move forward, but the firm is able to do design the bridge while the studies are being done.

Highway Superintendent Bobby Wager said this, “is a 30 month project. In June 2024 the papers were signed and may be done by December 2026. DePew expects there will be equipment working out there by the middle or end of this summer.

 

DePew touched upon the Building Feasibility Study that was awarded to Tinkelman Architecture of Poughkeepsie. They are in the process of evaluating the life-span of the Town Hall and Highway Department buildings.

 

“At this time they have come back with some conceptual plans and we have been utilizing our employees as our makeshift committee, since they are in the buildings every day and see the deficiencies and know the needs. In the near future I will be putting together, with the Town Board, a committee to get involved with this as we move along,” DePew said.

 

The Town Board approved a SRO Officer agreement with the Wallkill Central School District. Councilman Fazio said he checked other school SRO Officer contracts and found they are all about equal at $55/hr.

 

“This agreement covers having an officer at the Plattekill Elementary School,” DePew said.

 

DePew said he will be considering some amendments to the town’s towing law and will have it on the agenda for approval at the next meeting.

 

The board awarded the mowing contract to Ruger Property Maintenance; $50 for the Town Hall, $60 for the Police Station, $275 for the town park and the cemeteries at $100 for a total of $485 per week. It was noted that if the middle part of the town park is not moved by the soccer club, the cost would be an additional $85. There were no bids for the hay at the park.

 

Town Clerk Sarah Nelson said Ulster County will be sending a DMV bus to the Town Hall every third Thursday of the month from 10 to 1pm and from 2pm 3pm, starting April 17.

 

Rocking Horse Ranch Day is set for Sunday, April 27 from 10am to 5pm and lunch will be served. The cost is $50 per Plattekill resident and $85 per resident that includes horseback riding. Tickets are on sale at the Plattekill Town Hall from 4pm to 6:30pm. Monday to Friday.

 

DePew said in the next two weeks there will be 10 benches installed at the town park and a volleyball net area will be set up in a designated area.  

 

DePew read an appreciative but unsigned letter that detailed an incident at the Town Park that happened at 6pm on March 28. A dirt bike with one rider and a moped with two riders were riding through the park, coming close to kids who were playing soccer and disturbing others who were enjoying a peaceful day at the park. The Plattekill Police came quickly to the park and eventually arrested the three individuals.

 

The writer praised the Plattekill Police for their quick response and professional handling of the incident. “As Town Supervisor I’m sure you prefer getting compliments instead of complaints and I hope the officers involved get some form of recognition from you and the Town Board. Their actions left a positive mark for the people in the park and their actions left a positive mark on the juveniles fixated on the police cars coming in to save the day. Thank you for your time, signed a Happy Soccer parent.”