GALLATIN–The Town Board’s May monthly meeting included a presentation by GTel, a local provider of phone, cable and internet service, on the broadband expansion project and its progress in the Gallatin area.
The company is one of several that participated in the broadband capital grant program and were awarded an estimated total of $8.7 million in state aid to extend high-speed internet service to rural parts of the county. GTel expects that all eligible housing units should have access to its fiber network by December 2021.
One of the obstacles to the progress has been lack of linemen. Most of the people with these skills are already working on this project.
At a March meeting, the Town Board introduced its plan to keep bees on the 26-acre Conservation Area a mile from Gallatinville Road from Route 7 to a quarter-mile stretch of the Roeliff Jan Kill. These acres once were a landfill and it has taken 15 years to bring the parcel to its present condition. Now, it is a resource for fly fishing, bird watching, and other activities.
A presentation by bee expert Dennis Remsburger provided details about what the town can expect in this endeavor. Along with a newly installed wood duck box and honeybee boxes program is now up and running. The site is open to Gallatin residents and the general public.
Also at the May 9 meeting the board heard:
• The senior lunch is held Tuesdays and Fridays from 10:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m.in the Senior Community Center at the Elizaville Firehouse
• Update on grant timing/planner proposal and the Comprehensive Plan Committee’s actions
• The town has completed its Clean Energy Certification
• The electric car charging station will now be on Route 82
• The community-sharing closet of medical equipment is in need of medical supplies
• Jack Gomm discuss the Camp Road Bridge repair
• A plan to check the status of queen bees in hives
• Dr. Martin Handler, Superintendent of the Pine Plains Central School District presented the school budget for the 2019-2020 school year
Town Conservation Area update—the bees came in on May 5, 2019.
The next Town Board meeting is scheduled for June 13, 2019.
