During the June 6 Mamakating Town Board meeting, discussions on the options for the labor bid on the pole barn project took off. 

The board has been planning to build a pole barn in the town park to house equipment for the Highway Department. The board previously agreed that the town would pay for materials, but the labor portion of the project had to be put out to public bid because the cost of the pole barn would exceed $35,000. 

Councilman Tyler Wood has been working on this project extensively and announced that the labor bid they received was approximately $52,000. He recommended that the board reject this bid as “almost $52,000 is way too much money for a labor only price.” Instead, Wood said that he spoke to his father and brother, who work in construction, Town Supervisor Mike Robbins, and the Parks and Recreation Department about doing some of the labor themselves. Wood announced that he, his father, and brother have decided to donate their time to help the Parks and Recreation workers in constructing some of the pole barn. Wood also said he can provide insurance information for the town as well. 

For materials, Wood stated that Seekamp Lumber provided the best price at $15, 336.51, and he recommended that the board go with them to buy materials. Once the materials are bought, Wood said they are ready to start the pole barn. 

Robbins stated that having the Parks and Recreation workers build the pole barn would be the cheaper option, and they have built buildings in the past. Wood also said that he would be available in case the workers needed help, and by doing it this way, the town would be saving $25,000 in labor costs. Robbins added that the town will probably have to bid out the concrete work when the time comes depending on the cost, but they would handle that when the time comes. 

Councilman John Rufer praised Wood; “That’s very generous of your family, thank you,” he said. Councilman Peter Goodman also thanked Wood for his family’s donation. 

BRF gets a new lease

The town board voted to accept a new lease for the Bloomingburg Reformed Protestant Dutch Church with Councilman Gary Forthoffer abstaining from the vote. In 2021, the Bloomingburg Restoration Foundation (BRF) criticized the former town board’s lease for the church citing that the lease was made without the BRF’s input. The BRF is a non-profit organization that oversees the church. 

Robbins noted that the church repairs were just about complete, and the church was planning its 200th anniversary celebration. 

Adrienne Jensen from the BRF addressed the town board during public comment. She stated, “I really love to see the energy of this board.” She praised the board for “moving past party lines” to work for the benefit of the community. She also noted that she was pleased with how the town board handled the lease.

“It’s been so important for us that the board has taken time to work really diligently with us,” Jensen noted, going on to say that this issue has been ongoing for years.

Meeting Updates

Robbins noted that while there is not currently a state wide burn ban, the environment is dry, and he warned residents against burning. He stated that he is still working on the burn ban law that would allow the town to implement a burn ban in dry conditions in Mamakating. 

Mary Allison Farley came to the podium during public comment to ask the board for an update on the four-corner meeting. Robbins previously said that the town board, village, county, fire department, police and department of transportation are working on coming together to address the serious accidents that have occurred at the intersection of Rt. 209 and Sullivan St. Robbins said the meeting is still in the works, but there hasn’t been a date where all parties have been available. Farley noted that this is a high priority item.