July 24, 2008 09:25 am
—
By JIM AUSTIN
Cooperstown Crier
The board of trustees decided
Monday night it would not sell
300,000 gallons of water to be used
in exploratory gas well drilling.
The water board last week recommended
the trustee go ahead
with the sale of water after the village
was approached by a company
subcontracted by Covalent Energy
to provide the water for wells it
plans to drill in the towns of Cherry
Valley and Maryland.
Covalent now plans to get its
water from the city of Cortland.
``Its really about our role as
stewards of the lake, said Trustee
Neil Weiller. ``My big problem is if
we start selling water how you say
no.
Deputy Mayor Jeff Katz said
that the issue is not just the sale of
the water.
``How it is used is a legitimate
reason to deny, he said.
``Whether we do it or not, theyre
going to do it, Trustee Grace Kull
commented. ``As a steward of the
lake, Id rather not see the water
used that way.
``Personally, said Trustee Lynne
Mebust, ``I dont see an upside for
the village.
But Trustee Eric Hage was in
favor of making the sale.
``I believe we should make the
sale. I dont believe in symbolic
votes, he said, adding that it would
require thousands of miles of trucking
to get the water from another
source. ``I dont think it enables
them or sets a precedent.
Hage and Mayor Carol Waller
were the only two to vote in favor of
selling the water.
Prior to taking the vote, the
board listened to comments from
the public, which were largely
against the sale of water.
Martha Clarvoe, President of
the Otsego County Conservation
Association, said her organization
believes there is sufficient reason
for concern about the long-term
consequences of gas drilling and
urged the board to take a precautionary
role and not approve the
sale.
Bowerstown resident Paula Di
Perna said there are too many uncertainties
with gas drilling and
the risks are not worth the costs.
Groundwater, she said, cant be
cleaned up once it is contaminated.
``If gas was ever found under Otsego
Lake, I would put myself in
front of the drill, Di Perna
told the trustees.
Fly Creek resident Adrian
Kuzminski, representing
Sustainable Otsego, said the
situation doesnt seem to offer
many benefits and called
the village the only line of
defense.
``Say no to what seems to
be a very marginal offer, he
said.
Former Mayor Wendell
Tripp told the board the village
is not in the water business
and that the water department
is a public utility.
``This is not a retail business,
he said. ``I emphasize
that you are not retailers,
you are public officials.
Village resident and Water
Quality Coordinating
Committee member Carl
Good said he was concerned
about the impact of additional
truck traffic on village
streets, which are already
not in great shape.
Long-time Water Board
member Dr. Theordore Peters
said that gas drilling is
not the issue. ``This is not going
to stop gas drilling. I
would let them get their initial
water here. I feel we can
address the traffic, he said.
Following their decision,
the trustees also voted
against a proposed water
sale policy from the Water
Board.
Weiller, a member of the
water board, said he now recognizes
there is more that
needs to be considered in formulating
a policy governing
the sale of water.
``Its more than just rates,
he said.
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