60 Camp Owners, Concerned DOT

Will Take Land, Listen To Lawyer

By JIM KEVLIN • allotsego.com

COOPERSTOWN – Sixty people are meeting at this hour in The Otesaga’s Templetown Lounge to voice concerns that the state DOT may take their land to attorney Gilbert Hoffman, Syracuse, who specializes in matters concerning deeds and land titles.

Hoffman was invited by Caroline and Jim Sever, who own one of three camp properties that are immediately threatened by DOT plans to stabilize West Lake Road (State Route 80) in the vicinity of Hickory Grove. The other two properties are owned by Dave and Betty Van Deusen and, the most immediately threatened, by Lee Stockwell.

“This is going to be an enormous task,” said Hoffman, surveying the size of the crowd. While only the three camp owners properties are threatened now, others are worried their properties may be next.

The DOT plans to use parcels on the lake side of Route 80 to stabilize the highway, requiring the removal of docks and boat houses.

The camp owners say the DOT is claiming it has always owned the land from the center of the road to the lake, although it can provide no deeds. Meanwhile, the camp owners have been paying property taxes for decades.

“I want you to become engaged and stay engaged,” said Sever.

DOT unveiled a preliminary design for the project last summer in a hearing at CCS’s Sterling Auditorium. Sever said a final design is due in November or December.

Bids will be let in September 2015, with bids let in January 2016 and the work completed in May and June of that year.