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DRAMA AT COUNTY BOARD

Majority Takes Hold, 

Sells Mountaintop Lot

To Otsego Land Trust

Concern: Non-Profit Won't Pay Property Taxes
The 87-acre Rose Hill property adjoins the Otsego Land Trust's 85-acre Fetterlee Forest on the mountaintop at right, overlooking Canadarago Lake and Trust-owned Deowongo Island, at left.

By JIM KEVLIN • Special to www.AllOTSEGO.com

County Rep. Peter Oberacker, R-Schenevus, tells his colleagues it would take 497 years of county taxes on Rose Hill to make up the $151,000 the Otsego Land Trust wants to pay for it right now.   At left is Rep. Michelle Farwell, D-Butternuts/Morris/Pittsfield. (Jim Kevlin/AllOTSEGO.com)

COOPERSTOWN – A coalition of Republican and Democratic reps took control of the floor at this morning's county Board of Representatives' meeting and approved the $151,000 sale of the 87-acre Rose Hill property to the Otsego Land Trust, a non-profit not required to pay property taxes.

The land, atop Panther Mountain on the north end of the Town of Otsego, connects with the Land Trust's 85-acre Fetterlee Forest, doubling the trust's holding, which features a scenic overlook of Canadarago Lake and Deowongo Island, as well as hiking trails.

The sale had been stymied in the county board's committee system since April, failing to pass the Public Works Committee, then failing to pass the Administrative Committee. Normally, that would have ended it.

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