I challenged Harold to a public debate specifically to give the public a chance to hear the reasons why Harold and his group for a better Lindley support the Hawbaker gravel pit. Unfortunately, Harold declined my invitation to a public debate.
Had that debate taken place, I’m sure many citizens would have asked Harold why he could support a business that--
1.) Completely violates the Intent of our Master Plan, a plan that was developed and adopted under his administration.
2.) Will not benefit the Town financially whatsoever. It is estimated the Town would receive a minimal amount ($1500) from State Sales Tax disbursement per year, due to the tax exempt status of Hawbaker customers/NYS. And when the 5 structures located on the Hawbaker site on River Road are torn down, the gravel pit will be assessed as “agricultural”. No buildings, no meaningful tax base.
3.) Will de-value all immediate (20) properties surrounding the pit which reduces the Lindley tax base. This reduction is in addition to the removal of 12 structures and approximately 100+ acres that the NYSDOT is taking for the Route 15 Improvement Project. The Town of Lindley will lose over $2 million of property value, reducing our tax base by 3% and our share of State Sales Tax. That $1500/ per year we would expect to receive from Hawbaker will no doubt be reduced as well.
4.) That will put 180 gravel trucks a day on River Road –that’s going to be 30 one-way trips every day, for twelve hours a day, five days a week, that’s one truck every two minutes up and down the entire length of River Road for 15 years! Now, how can anyone say this is a good and safe thing for the residents of Lindley? I would have asked Harold had he agreed to debate to answer that question, but he didn’t and I’m beginning to understand why.
5.) Will create two, count them, two jobs. This attempt at job creation by Hawbaker could not be considered by anyone to be a “boom” for Lindley.
I have heard Harold and his group of concerned citizens for a better Lindley support the Hawbaker gravel pit because it would provide the Town of Lindley Highway Department close access to gravel/sand that would in turn save the taxpayers money. Unless Hawbaker is going to give the Town free gravel/sand NYS is requiring all Towns to get three bids on gravel. Hawbaker may or may not come in as low bidder. So having access to a gravel pit in the middle of Town is not a supportable argument. And if Hawbaker did come in as low bidder, they would make a whole lot more money off the Town of Lindley (tax exempt of course) than the Town stands to gain off them. That’s a fact.
When Hawbakers presented their gravel pit proposal to the Town, I was your Supervisor. A major part of my job and the Town Board is to research developer’s applications to determine whether or not what they propose will serve the “greater good” for the Town or create a land use condition that causes extreme adverse impact, negating the greater good. After pulling all the facts together that were mentioned above, I concluded as your Supervisor, the advent of the Hawbaker gravel pit operating in the Town of Lindley will not serve the Town for the greater good. It is clear from the facts that the only organization that will benefit from a gravel pit operation on River Road is G.O. Hawbaker.
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7 comments:
Hawbakers going in no matter what the town says.
Well, I do remember one of our councilman told the public that at a board meeting last fall... Is that you again, Jake??
anonymous said- "Hawbakers going in no matter what the town says"
You may choose to bury your head in the sand and assume its a done deal, but there are a lot of townspeople who feel strongly about this and are making sure they are heard.
I am assuming you posted anonymously, because you haven't got the courage to put your credibility on the line, and you don't want anyone to know when you have to eat your own words some day soon!!
If one recalls correctly-some of the people on the Presho end of town made the remark on Sally's former blog site that it was the Lindley end of town turn to be concerned about gravel pits as their end had been for years.(In reference to the Robbin's pit which adjoins the "Harris "property.)
Unfortunately, the Hawbaker gravel pit will affect both ends of the town once the new bridge replaces the one lane bridge on the Lindley end. Why else do you think there is a sudden push to get it completed? The trucks will be zooming both ways and tearng up the River Road.
As to Hawbaker's gravel pit benefitting the town. Give me a break!! The only reason he would want our town's gravel is for his own betterment and not the betterment of the town. Sounds like when the Indians were sold a bill of goods by the Whiteman.
Hope the River Road Residents and Presho residents are wide awake and paying attention to what Harold and his cohorts are trying to accomplish in this election. Someday,our decendants will ask -why was one of our natural resources-gravel given away-just as the Indians are now complaining about losing their lands.
Be concerned for future generations Your votes will count tomorrow.
Oh- and if hawbaker does come to town - he should know his actions will speak louder than words.
We have all chosen to live here by choice. For whatever reasons. In turn most of us have roots here and sincerly do care about Lindley as a town and its future. I understand we all have different points of views and we all have freedom of speech. If you truly believe in something enough to fight for it or fight against it, why in the world would you be anonymous? At one point I divorced and moved from this town. I decided to come back and raise my children in the small town where I was raised because the I felt it a more compassionate gentle place. What is going on? A few people in this town seem to be downright hateful and on a mission to destroy those who feel differently than they do. I dont recall this being a problem growing up here before. There were disagreements, but everyone worked together and did the right thing. No hard feelings, no backstabbing, just concerned people working together to benefit our town and its future. I think by now everyone knows who the "bad apples" are here, so whats the problem? If they continue to prove themselves not trustworthy, sneaky, and not to the advantage of the town, why are they still here? I think if a couple members were gone, you would see a much bigger response from other townspeople who DO sincerly care about the town, stand up be more involved and try to help. Until then, nobody really wants to get in the hornets nest. I reside here, Im raising my children here and my family is here. Ive watched my father put 30 years of his life into this town and knowing the taxpayers put him there and not a board, of a select few, makes me proud! Its about time everyone started working together and those who have a problem with that...need to seriously reconsider their positions because one has to seriously consider their agenda.
Sincerly,
Tammy Peaslee
Well said, Tammy.
There will always be those who know how to do your job better than you-and will always find fault. Some even chose to spend 6 months in Florida.
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