Does the legislature support a companion animal shelter?

To the editor:

I have a question for Chairman Linger of the Greene County Legislature and a response to his comments in Porcupine Soup regarding my last appearance at the May 6 meeting of the Greene County Legislature.  The purpose of my appearance was to make an offer on behalf of the Greene County Animal Alliance, to purchase five acres of County owned property at the site of the former Cairo Fairgrounds, for $75,000, to build a companion animal shelter.

Chairman Linger stated that just because the scope of the Fairgrounds project has diminished, it doesn’t mean that there is a surplus of property.  The chairman went on to say that there is a second entity interested in the Fairgrounds property and that there is a possibility of an additional building being constructed on site.  Before the change in scope, the GCAA asked about getting five acres on the site, but we were told that the fire department had expressed interest ahead of us.  I’d like to know if the other entity is the fire department.  If it isn’t for the fire department, the public should be informed as to the identity of the other entity.

As for the chairman’s comment about his not being willing to sell property below the taxpayer’s cost, for every acre not used at the Fairgrounds, there is an unrecoverable $28,000 loss to the taxpayers.  In addition to that loss, for the last 25 years Greene County taxpayer money has gone over to Columbia County every time the police or animal control must bring a stray dog to the Columbia-Greene Humane Society.  Opening an animal shelter in Greene County would put an end to that loss.

There is also the $400K taxpayer gift in the form of sewer and water lines to the individual property owner across from McDonald’s on Route 23. The hope that it will bring new business into an industrial corridor in Cairo has yet to bear fruit.  

Regarding the 17-acre plot near the solar farm that we were offered but denied because of the cost of repairing the bridge―that property remains unsold and will likely remain unsold unless the bridge is repaired.  When I asked how the fire department would access the solar farm in the event of a fire using the existing bridge, it was explained that the solar farm could be reached via private property.  An aerial photo of the area shows the absence of other access.

Our original ask for property was the County Alms House in Angelo Canna Town Park.  When we learned that it was being vacated and the veterans, the mental health facility and the other tenants were being relocated, the GCAA asked if we could take over the building.  Early conversation included the County covering the cost of replacing the roof and abatement costs if necessary.  It was deemed that the cost to repair the building and donate its use was considerably less than the cost of demolition which could easily run into six or seven figures.  This offer was also rescinded after many months.

It is my feeling that the benefits to the taxpayers of opening a companion animal shelter outweigh the difference in per acre cost between what the County paid for the Fairgrounds property and what the GCAA can pay for the property.  In response to the county administrator’s earlier remarks that the shelter would be good for the towns but not the County, I don’t understand the logic of any cost analysis that could come to that conclusion.  

I’m asking the county legislature to offer a resolution to consider the sale of five acres of the old Cairo Fairgrounds to the GCAA for $75,000 and take a vote on whether they support the construction of a companion animal shelter for Greene County.   The cost of construction would be the responsibility of the Greene County Animal Alliance.  Details of the sale to be worked out as part of the resolution.

Please help us by writing to your local legislature representative.  https://greenecountyny.gov/meet-your-legislature/

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Sincerely yours,

Mark Gorelick

Greene County Animal Alliance Board

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The views expressed in letters to the editor are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of Porcupine Soup.

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