We Need Broadband, Better Housing,
Community College, Planners Report
Board of Representatives this morning. (Jim Kevlin/AllOTSEGO.com)
COOPERSTOWN – We need broadband. Housing is unavailable, unaffordable and of poor quality. And there is “resounding” support among us for a community college.
Those were three themes that emerged across the board during two days of strategic planning sessions conducted by the Laberge Group in early November on behalf of the county Board of Representatives.
The initial findings, including four simultaneous public meetings Tuesday, Nov. 10, at SUNY Oneonta and Edmeston, Richfield Springs and Unatego central schools, were reported to the county board this morning by Laberge Group Vice President Ben Syden and Planning Services Manager Nicole Allen.
“We did not become where we are overnight,” said Syden, after reporting declining opportunity in Otsego County and outmigration. He added, “We have to overcome the decline.”
Beyond today’s Powerpoint, the Laberge team plans to have a draft report to the county board by the end of the year. It’s likely the county Intergovernmental Affairs Committee will lead the implementation, but it will recruit many entities in its implementation, Syden said.
Among other things, the strategic plan should guide county efforts to obtain CFA grants, and the new board should use the findings to guide that process, beginning as soon as January and February for the round that will be announced next December.
He quoted Vince Lombardi: If you’re not 15 minutes early, you’re late.