KINDERHOOK — Supporters of the year-old Kinderhook Dog Park filled several rows of seats at Monday’s town board meeting. They were there in an effort to convince the town board to consider reimbursing some expenses to the privately-funded organization that runs the park, which is located in Volunteer’s Park on State Farm Road in Valatie.
“The dog park is quite wonderful, but it takes time and money to make it so,” said Paula Van Meter, president of the not-for-profit Friends of Kinderhook Dog Park.
Ms. Van Meter said her organization has raised and spent about $15,000 to build and maintain the dog run, which opened in the fall of 2010. She estimated the dog park’s ongoing yearly expenses range from $2,000 to $3,000, which includes costs for insurance required by the town, as well as mowing and snow removal costs.
Town Clerk Kim Pinkowski said the town has sold 109 licenses to dog owners who use the park, raising about $2,500.
Ms. Van Meter’s group asked the town to return all or a portion of that $2,500, as well as future revenue from dog park tags. The dog park tags are $25 each or $15 for seniors.
“Friends of Kinderhook Dog Park has done a fabulous job of maintaining and promoting the facility,” said councilman Peter Bujanow. “The dog park is a great thing for the community and a great asset to the town. I would strongly suggest that we reimburse the entire fee or a majority of it.”
Town Supervisor Pat Grattan asked Mr. Bujanow to work with the town attorney to draft a resolution for the next Town Board meeting, saying the board can vote on the proposal at its October meeting.
In other business, the board:
*Approved the purchase of two Highway Department trucks from Zwack Equipment for $55,990
*Noted the Board of Elections has moved the District 6 polling site from Kinderhook Town Hall to Ichabod Crane Central School
*Heard a report from Mr. Bujanow on the progress toward updating the town’s website
*Heard a report from Councilwoman Patsy Leader on the Neighborhood Watch committee. On September 9, Niverville residents met with a representative from the county Sheriff’s Office to learn how to form a neighborhood watch group
*Rescheduled the October Town Board meeting to Wednesday, October 19 at 7 p.m.; the previously scheduled date was the Columbus Day holiday
*Scheduled two budget workshop meetings for Monday, October 17 and Wednesday, October 26, both at 7 p.m.
*Voted to donate $100 to the Town Clerks Association “Clerks Helping Clerks” Fund. The money will go towards clean-up and rebuilding in Greene and Schoharie counties, which were devastated by Hurricane Irene.