Lentz Will Ask Colleagues

To OK Tourism-Impact Aid

COOPERSTOWN – County Rep. Ed Lentz, D-New Lisbon, said a few moments ago that he intends to make a motion at Wednesday’s county board meeting to distribute $150,000 in tourism-impact aid to municipalities that bear the brunt of Otsego County’s largest industry.

“We have significant support,” said Lentz, an attorney and farmer. “Do we have a majority? I’ll tell you on Wednesday.”

The communities that generate the largest amount of the $1.4 million in bed-tax revenues are: the town and city of Oneonta (30 percent), the Town of Hartwick (25 percent) and the Village of Cooperstown (23 percent).

Lentz, who represents Hartwick, said he expects support from five Democrats: himself, plus Beth Rosenthal, Roseboom, and Gary Koutnik, Linda Rowinski and Kay Stuligross, all of Oneonta.

But, he continued, Republicans representing the impacted municipalities should support him as well. He mentioned county Rep. Rick Hulse, who represents Cooperstown; Janet Hurley Quackenbush, Town of Oneonta, and Craig Gelbsman, City of Oneonta, and perhaps Keith McCarty from Richfield-Springfield as well.