WGXC-90.7 FM
Ockawamick strikes out, yet again
Mar 08, 2011 7:09 am
[caption id="" align="alignright" width="200" caption="The closed Ockawamick School in Philmont was turned down, by the village, as a potential home for a countywide skilled nursing facility."]
[/caption]Francesca Olsen of the Register-Star reports that the county-owned Ockawamick School on Route 217 in Philmont will no longer be considered as a potential option for the new incarnation of the county-run Pine Haven nursing facility after Philmont Mayor Skip Speed met with county Public Works Commissioner David Robinson last week and told him his community didn't want to cover the costs of water and sewer hook-ups. Two weeks ago, the county Board of Supervisors’ Public Works Committee passed a resolution to pay for a study examining the feasibility of putting the new Pine Haven facility at the facility, which had earlier been seen as a possible home for the county's social services department. At that time it was noted that since Ockawamick is not connected to any public water or sewer system, it would have had to connect to the Philmont sewer plant at an unknown cost. The county okayed a stipulation that the county would only spend the money to do the study if Philmont was on board, since the village owns the sewer plant and would have to approve any additional capacity it would take in. The Village Board is opposed to the idea. Speed added that his community likes the Pine Haven facility just where it is. The mayor later commented on the string of faulty county study decisions of late. “They’re just spending money foolishly,” Speed told Olsen. “They’re trying to do Walmart, they’re trying to do Ockawamick now — come on, guys! You guys are just out of control here. That’s not their money. That’s everybody else in Columbia County’s money.” At present Ockawamick is being used as a county facilities workshop and dry storage for central services and other departments. County officials say they have no other ideas for use of the facility at this point in time.
[/caption]Francesca Olsen of the Register-Star reports that the county-owned Ockawamick School on Route 217 in Philmont will no longer be considered as a potential option for the new incarnation of the county-run Pine Haven nursing facility after Philmont Mayor Skip Speed met with county Public Works Commissioner David Robinson last week and told him his community didn't want to cover the costs of water and sewer hook-ups. Two weeks ago, the county Board of Supervisors’ Public Works Committee passed a resolution to pay for a study examining the feasibility of putting the new Pine Haven facility at the facility, which had earlier been seen as a possible home for the county's social services department. At that time it was noted that since Ockawamick is not connected to any public water or sewer system, it would have had to connect to the Philmont sewer plant at an unknown cost. The county okayed a stipulation that the county would only spend the money to do the study if Philmont was on board, since the village owns the sewer plant and would have to approve any additional capacity it would take in. The Village Board is opposed to the idea. Speed added that his community likes the Pine Haven facility just where it is. The mayor later commented on the string of faulty county study decisions of late. “They’re just spending money foolishly,” Speed told Olsen. “They’re trying to do Walmart, they’re trying to do Ockawamick now — come on, guys! You guys are just out of control here. That’s not their money. That’s everybody else in Columbia County’s money.” At present Ockawamick is being used as a county facilities workshop and dry storage for central services and other departments. County officials say they have no other ideas for use of the facility at this point in time.