Anita C. Clayton, Berne

With the rural district poised to lose $1.2 million in two years if the governor’s budget proposal is accepted, Superintendent Timothy Mundell said that such a loss would require either a 12-percent property tax increase over those two years, or slashed personnel and programming levels. 

An idea floated by Rensselaerville Supervisor John Dolce to reduce the number of polling places in the town fell apart after concerns were raised about voting accessibility and the fact that the deadline to get the number changed before this year’s election has already passed.

Agricultural producers who have not yet enrolled in the Agriculture Risk Coverage or Price Loss Coverage programs for the 2024 crop year have until March 15 to revise elections and sign contracts.

A propane heater started a structure fire in Westerlo that damaged an apartment and garage, but left the main attached residence unscathed, according to Westerlo’s deputy fire chief. 

Anita Clayton, Berne

Bill Logan, Rensselaerville

The Berne Town Board voted 5-to-0 last week on a resolution that would allow it to sell Switzkill Farm to Albany County. The sale is subject to a permissive referendum.

Despite concerns about a worsening leak, Huyck Preserve Director Anne Rhodes maintains that the Lake Myosotis dam is expected to work normally under typical weather conditions, referring to a 2022 inspection report from the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation that found it to be well-maintained.

The dam was found to be leaking in 2018 due to a broken pipe, but there were problems finding a vendor so the issue was tabled by the Rensselaerville Town Board at the time. Now, the leak appears to be getting worse, says Ed Csukas, who chairs Rensselaerville’s water and sewer advisory committee. “It’s getting close to being urgent,” he said, “but hopefully not an emergency.”