TRR photo by David Hulse (Click for larger image)

By DAVID HULSE

MONTICELLO - Prospective Hurleyville homeowner Kevin McDaniels, pictured above left, listens to the proceedings of the Sullivan County real property committee last week as the committee decided to sell him a house which he and the county have long contested.

McDaniels initially purchased the house at public auction, but the Legislature then decided to stop the sale and retain the land for access to the neighboring county museum. The county needed a guaranteed access to the museum and contended that the house lot was too small for the vehicle access and the house. Up until last month, the house was scheduled for demolition.

Legislators last month openly mocked the idea of revisiting the issue still again, but Jodi Goodman (RC-6) scheduled a public hearing which demonstrated the local support for McDaniels, County Attorney Ira Cohen said.

In response, the county agreed to sell McDaniels the property for $25,000, while retaining a right-of-way for the museum, to be used only if the existing vehicle access from a neighboring church is lost. Cohen said the new right of way agreement would not include buses or larger vehicles unable to make the turning radius around the McDaniels house.

McDaniels said he was pleased with county decision, but was still unready to celebrate. "I've been this far before. I'll celebrate after we've closed."

Cohen said the closing is scheduled for October 20.