HORTONVILLE, NY — The committee of the Agriculture and Farmland Protection Plan went to the Sullivan County Legislature meeting on Thursday to ask for help in funding a new position. One of the committee members, Tom Kappner, was at the Town of Delaware board meeting on July 8 to request the board to send a letter of support to the legislature in favor of funding the position.

The paid position would be coordinator of the Agriculture Business Retention and Expansion Program, operating out of Cornell Cooperative Extension Sullivan County. The coordinator is referred to as a navigator who will be the intermediary between individual farmers and the public and private agencies that they deal with. It would be his or her responsibility to identify the farmers’ problems and needs and figure out how to assist them and to take advantage of whatever financial and market connections would be helpful.

Kappner said, “All too frequently farmers are too busy with the day-to-day operations of the farm to have the time to do the research and make the connections to help their business grow and become stronger. They are simply often not aware of the many opportunities that are available to them. That is why this position is so important.”

Kappner told the board that there are two problems, and hence the need for as many letters of support as possible. He explained, “Firstly, many legislators simply do not see agriculture as an important priority for our economic and social development. And secondly, the legislature as a whole is in no mood to fund anything, having reached the 2% cap and being besieged by scores of requests for extra funding. It’s a tricky situation that we have to address. We have to find the most compelling ways to make our case.”

He added, “I urge you to send a strong letter of support on behalf of our farmers and our town as a whole, which benefits so much from their presence. I urge you as individuals to get others to send letters of support.” Letters can be sent to Scott Samuelson, Sullivan County Legislature, 100 North St., Monticello, NY 12701.

After some discussion, it was clear that the board was in support of the plan. Councilman John Gain made a motion to pass the resolution, and Councilwoman Cindy Herbert seconded. The resolution to send a letter of support for the paid position of coordinator of the Agriculture Business Retention and Expansion Program was passed.

Other business

Building inspector James McElroy announced that the new Dollar General store will open on July 20. He said there were some setbacks and the date had been pushed back a little bit.

Assessor Renée Ozomek announced that the Villa Roma Resort needs to be reassessed. She said it is a difficult task because there are many areas involved—time shares, condos, restaurants, etc.—and that they will need to hire an outside assessor, as it is beyond her scope. She said she has been looking into finding someone who can do it.