County Hears Airport Concerns, Debates DMV

By BILL BELLENOTSEGO COUNTY

The Otsego County Board of Representatives meeting on Wednesday, August 6 started out with a bang. Following a short address by Edward Dawyot and mirroring similar remarks made by a group the night before at the City of Oneonta Common Council meeting, numerous individuals brought to the board’s attention their concerns over proposals for expansion of the Oneonta Municipal Airport.

Randy Miritello spoke first on behalf of the Otsego County Wilderness and Watershed Coalition, which he described as “a group of families banded together to protect our properties from threat of eminent domain and clear cutting.” He stated that these actions are what the airport is pursuing in order to apply for the FAA grant spoken of at the July board meeting. Miritello detailed that the clear-cut would cover roughly 140 acres on privately-owned property, directly affecting 10 families near the airport, none of which, he said, are interested in signing over easement rights for work to be done. He criticized the proposal for catering to the wealthy using tax-funded services, contending that much of the fuel sales at the airport are not from jets, but from people with sports cars seeking clean fuel. He added that many jets do not refuel locally because they have exclusive fuel contracts with the airports they are based out of.

Jim Forbes, a licensed professional engineer and fellow airport neighbor, spoke next. He noted his concerns for the Oneonta water supply and New York State Department of Environmental Conservation-classified streams that feed it, given potential runoff from a clearing of this magnitude. Forbes also said it has come to light that city officials were unaware of the possible necessity for eminent domain prior to their voting in favor of pursuit of the grant.