Middleburgh’s Gary Hayes wants to know why supervisors didn’t offer up a deal for the old Skinner’s building on Route 30 to everyone.
He and his brother would have been interested, he said—though that’s not the point; neither they or anyone else ever had the opportunity.
In July, supervisors agreed to a deal with DEC and Carver Laraway over the long-abandoned Skinner’s on Route 30.
County Treasurer Mary Ann Wollaber-Bryan said then that after years of conversations with DEC and it’s Oil & Spill team, they’ve agreed to have Mr. Laraway demolish the building with DEC handling the last piece of clean-up at no additional cost.
Plus, DEC will forgive a $50,000 clean-up lien on the property, which was contaminated by flooding from Hurricane Irene.
Once the work is completed, Ms. Wollaber-Bryan said the county will transfer ownership to Mr. Laraway.
The county foreclosed on the Village of Middleburgh site for non-payment of back taxes, but has been unable to sell it because of the contamination; with village water and sewer, it’s prime for development.
Mr. Hayes likened the Skinner’s site to the old Bush Lumber in the village, which was included in the County’s May back-tax sale with a lien on it, and to the old jail, where he said the county rejected a single bid of $100.
“I don’t understand why everyone wasn’t given the opportunity for this,” he told Supervisor Wes Laraway and councilmen.
Mr. Laraway’s answer was that the county can sell any back-tax property any way it wants and he suggested Mr. Hayes take the issue up with the Board of Supervisors.
“I’m going to my supervisor,” Mr. Hayes said.
Councilman John Youmans agreed Mr. Hayes had a point: Why not open it up to everyone? He asked.
“I have personally nothing to do with that [the county’s deal],” Mr. Laraway replied. “I look forward to seeing it gone. I don’t care who owns it.”
Mr Hayes is a candidate for Middleburgh mayor; Mr. Youmans is running unopposed for town supervisor, Mr. Laraway is not seeking relection.