Village locks gate at reservoir

8/29/2018

By Patsy Nicosia

Because people can’t behave, the Dow Street gate at the Cobleskill Reservoir Holding Pond has been locked.
Trash, parking, and even minor vandalism have been increasing at the site, which is also home to the Village of Cobleskill’s Water Plant; the reservoirs are popular with fishermen and others.
But Water Superintendent Joe Redmond told Mayor Linda Holmes and trustees Tuesday that he’s chained the gate shut after someone drove a car down onto the construction site.
In the event of an emergency at the Water Plant, the chain can just be cut.
No one’s supposed to be at the construction site, Mr. Redmond said.
Additionally, he’s worried by reports of a Bobcat excavator and trailer stolen from Bills’ Excavating in Middleburgh August 18 or 19.
Owner Bill Smith is offering a $2,000 reward for information leading to the location or return of the items.
Anyone who can help can contact the State Police or Mr. Smith at (518) 827-8154 or (518) 231-2803.
“We just need to be more careful everywhere,” Mr. Redmond said.
The Village Board also discussed the possibility of gating reservoir access from Greenbush Road; the spillway there isn’t strong enough for vehicles should anyone ever try it, Mr. Redmond said.
A gate there would be pretty simple, he said, and could still allow access by hikers and groomers for the snowmobile trails.