At Cobleskill Reservoir, watch where you...step

5/25/2016

By Patsy Nicosia

Fishermen-and others-beware:
If you're using the parking lot at the Cobleskill Village Water Plant as a public restroom, you may find yourself on camera.
Water Superintendent Joe Redmond asked Mayor Linda Holmes and trustees to consider putting a porta-potty at the reservoir parking lot, developed with the help of DEC as a "favor" to fishermen.
Mr. Redmond said a neighbor has complained that he can look out his window and watch people urinating in the parking lot.
"I told him to call the police, but he said he doesn't want to be 'that kind' of neighbor," Mr. Redmond said.
Before the parking lot was put in?
"We could look out our window and see them," Mr. Redmond said.
Mayor Holmes said she's afraid a porta-pottie at the site, which isn't staffed 24/7, would end up vandalized.
Trustees also questioned the cost, suggesting instead, signs.
But Mr. Redmond said there are already signs everywhere: Warning people "don't park here, don't park there, don't block us in."
"We're a Water Treatment Plant that we allow people to use," he said.
Mr. Redmond pointed out that a SUNY Cobleskill drone regularly flies and photographs the area as part of its wildlife and fisheries program.
"We could use that to ID people," he said. Also, there are security cameras at the plant.
Trustees took no action on the port-pottie request.