TO: Batchellerville Bridge Action Committee Members
FROM: Pete VanAvery
DATE: July 30, 2002

There's so much to report that I'll have to spread the news over several newsletters. First, the highlights:

  • The Saratoga County Board of Supervisors and the Town of Edinburg have endorsed the state Department of Transportation's compromise decision on a bridge with a 42-foot vertical clearance at center span. The design now goes to the Federal Highway Administration for its approval. While DOT has a design budget for this project, no construction funds are currently available. DOT is still saying that if the money shows up, it could launch construction in 2004. Does anybody out there have an extra 36 million bucks lying around? Unfortunately, the bridge may be deteriorating faster than expected. A chunk of concrete several feet long recently broke off. It was not part of the structure, and it did not fall into the drink. But it did bring out DOT's inspection team. I have not heard the results. Nevertheless, be careful under there!

  • The sailboaters continue to seek an 800-pound-gorilla (e.g., Governor Pataki or Senate Majority leader Joe Bruno) who can turn things their way. Reminder: Get your own letters off to the Governor (see the June 25 newsletter)! This is very important.

  • In the last few days, the sailboaters have launched a new initiative: They are calling for an economic impact study on the height of the bridge. They have been joined by the Great Sacandaga Lake Association (a factor you might want to consider when it sends you a membership solicitation) and the Fulton County Chamber of Commerce. Among the speakers at last August's public hearing in Northville was the spokesman for the sailboaters and the vice president of the GSLA. According to DOT's transcript of the proceedings, neither took that opportunity to call for an economic impact study. Now, both are complaining that people did not call for an economic impact study. Obviously, these guys slept through Logic 101. They also slept through DOT's three-year public involvement process. More about this next time.

  • On July 7, the Sunday Gazette ran an interesting story: "Ownership a Key to a New Batchellerville Bridge." Would you believe that nobody knows who owns the 72-year-old structure? If you missed it, I can snail-mail you a photocopy.

  • The call for an economic impact study was covered by the Daily Gazette (July 22) and the Amsterdam Recorder (July 27). Neither paper contacted the BBAC for comment. The Gazette ran my letter on the subject on July 27 (see below). My letter to the Recorder is awaiting publication. The Albany Times Union and the Gloversville Leader-Herald plan to run stories this week. Both interviewed me.

  • In its Summer 2002 newsletter, the Great Sacandaga Lake Association reports adding two seats to its board, bringing the total to 13. Two women, a realtor and a banker, have been appointed to those seats. Instead of being 100 percent male, the board is now only 85 percent male. The old boys must be shaking in their boots! The women I know are not impressed; they want 50-50. With two more business people (whatever their sex) on the board, the bad news is that property owners like you and me now have even less representation.

    Letters to the Editor
    DAILY GAZETTE
    opinion@dailygazette.com

    Dear Editor:

    The claim by a small group of sailboaters that Great Sacandaga Lake is underutilized is a last-minute act of desperation. The Batchellerville Bridge replacement project has been under way for nearly four years. In public meetings, sailboaters have been repeatedly swamped by opponents of the high bridge they want. Now, five months after the state announced its decision to build a bridge with a 42-foot vertical clearance, sailboaters have suddenly decided that an economic impact study is needed. Enough is enough! Of the thousands of boats on the lake, all except 37 will be able to pass under the planned replacement bridge. Let's get the new bridge built before the old one collapses and kills someone.

    The assertion that the lake could have as many sailboats as Lake George is absurd. A 1984 economic impact study conducted for the Hudson River-Black River Regulating District says: "Lake George is clearly not a valid reference point for examining the future potential of the Great Sacandaga Lake." Lake George is a scenic gem, while Great Sacandaga Lake is a flood-control reservoir with varying water levels. Soon, ugly mud flats will begin to emerge. And in a dry year, when water levels really plummet, sailboats have to be yanked out before season end.

    The Gazette's story incorrectly called the sailboaters a "residents' group." Several of them (including the individual quoted) do not own lake-area property, but merely rent dock space. They want to desecrate the view enjoyed by thousands of property owners, the people who form the backbone of the local economy.

    Peter VanAvery