Kennedy began the Administration Committee recap by pulling Res. 380 and Res. 381—resolutions approving the adoption of the 2026 budget and its associated appropriations—for individual consideration. Kennedy invited Otsego County Treasurer Allen Ruffles to speak on the auction of 22 Maple Street in Gilbertsville...…
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Steve Wilson
A presentation by County Administrator Steve Wilson on the 2026 budget and recognition of EMS Coordinator Damon West were the highlights of discussion when the Otsego County Board of Representatives met on Wednesday, November 5.…
The Cooperstown Food Pantry has reported its visitors have doubled over the last month. The Oneonta Salvation Army saw increases of use as much as a third. Already burdened by a cost of living crisis, the stoppage of SNAP benefits on November 1 as a result of the government shutdown has driven even further need for affordable groceries.…
While ClearGov’s primary purpose is to assist in the budget process, the Clear Plan module is focused on the categorization and publication of strategic plans for municipalities and their governmental departments. As conversations around constructing a new, comprehensive, and operational strategic plan for Otsego County began in recent years, the county board and County Administrator Steve Wilson decided Clear Plan was the most effective and efficient service to go with.…
Numerous speakers utilized the privilege of the floor to address the board on issues concerning them. Notably, Teresa Winchester, Lynn Ohl, and Gilbertsville Mayor Aidan Woishnis each spoke to their grievances regarding the recent closure of the Gilbertsville Meadow Brook Bridge on County Route 4. Winchester read from a letter describing how the bridge was closed due to it being declared unsafe for use, but said that the county had known of its failing condition for years.…
On September 2, the Village of Gilbertsville announced on Facebook that the village’s main bridge, the Meadowbrook Bridge on County Highway 4, would be shut down for safety concerns. That makes for the third closed bridge in the village of just over 300 people, as of the 2020 census.…
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.…
Several panelists said one of the biggest challenges facing the Oneonta community is the lack of affordable housing. According to data from the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development, the 2025 fair market rental rate for a one-bedroom apartment in Otsego County is $957.00 per month. For many working residents, that cost is out of reach, contributing to housing instability.…
“The goal of the public information session is to provide the community with insight into the realities of homelessness in Oneonta, and the various ways that we are addressing this issue,” said Oneonta Mayor Mark Drnek, who is the lead on the event.…
On Thursday, January 16, around 70 Otsego County residents, business owners, and community leaders met in the Morris Conference Center at SUNY Oneonta to listen to state, county, and town representatives give their annual “State of the County” addresses. The meeting opened with New York State Assemblyman Joe Angelino, Assembly District 101, discussing his goal to stabilize population loss in Upstate New York.…
