"On
behalf of the Town of Milan, and upon resolution of the Town Board
of Milan, I would like to make preliminary comments at this public
hearing as a vehicle to inform the DEC and the citizens of Milan
that the Town Board considers this a most serious matter and intends
to submit written comments in advance of the deadline established
for comment on this matter..." See
the entire statement
The
people's will
Milan residents have banded together to tell Red Wing Sand and Gravel
Co. they do not want the company to develop a mine on Turkey Hill
Road.
On May 10, approximately 100 people crammed town hall to voice their
concerns to the state Department of Environmental Conservation.
While Red Wing Vice President Frank Doherty and his consultant tried
to convince the audience that the proposed mine would be minimally
intrusive, residents remained steadfast.
read
more... Register
Herald (May 18)
Public
gets more time for input on Milan mine Traffic, pollution
among concerns
After several years, two lawsuits and numerous
public comment periods, 30 more days is a short wait in the grand
scheme of things when it comes to Red Wing's gravel mine proposal.
Even so, Frank Doherty, president of Red Wing Sand and Gravel,
said he isn't thrilled with the state Department of Environmental
Conservation's recent decision to extend the public comment period
for Red Wing's 69-acre gravel mine proposal off Turkey Hill Road.
Read more...Poughkeepsie
Journal (May
30)
Milan benefits from planning
Editorial
Poughkeepsie Journal 2/27/07
Milan town leaders have systematically tackled important issues
related to preserving the community’s tranquil, rural character,
in particular approving a new master plan last year to guide growth.
The town’s top priorities this year — preserving open
space and protecting water resources — should only enhance
the community’s ability to effectively handle new development.
Officials hope to quickly get a wetlands preservation plan in place,
to help protect these valuable natural resources. Wetlands naturally
filter out pollution and help resupply water bodies while also providing
the right environment for all sorts of animal and plant life. Milan,
like other local communities, is rightfully seeking to fill a void
in oversight of these areas. The state concerns itself with wetlands
of 12.4 acres or more and leaves smaller ones up to the federal
government, which hasn’t adequately regulated these water
bodies. The proposal in Milan would put 100-foot buffers around
these smaller wetlands, as other towns have done.
Some in town may oppose these efforts. But the law is needed to
better protect water bodies essential to good growth and the health
of Milan’s residents.
The town also will work on revising a plan to allow large landowners
to cluster building lots to help maintain open space. A draft of
the proposal submitted last year would have allowed large landowners
one lot for every 10 acres. It also would have required landowners
to put 60 percent of the land into a conservation easement. But
many felt the law was too restrictive. Officials are planning to
revise the proposal and working to ensure affordable housing is
also available in the community.
The controversial issue of gravel mining in the town also remains.
A state Supreme Court judge recently overturned a town law approved
last year that effectively banned mining in Milan. Red Wing Sand
& Gravel sued the town over the action, taken in response to
residents’ concerns about the company’s plans to mine
69 acres off Turkey Hill Road.
Town
adopts comp plan, wetlands law
"Because
of the mining issue, the county asked for a supermajority for
the comprehensive plan vote, which we got," said Supervisor
John V. Talmage.
Register
Herald ( Aug 24)
Milan supervisor defends fiscal record
Outgoing
town Supervisor Van Talmage says Republican town supervisor candidate
Richard Barrett is using "phantom" charges as part of
an election campaign that is short on specifics to support claims.
...Barrett
said information was still being evaluated. When asked when it
would be available to support the claims, he said, "I'll
let you know. I'll give you a call."
Barrett requested the interview be conducted
off the record and, when asked why that was fair to Milan residents,
said, "We are done."
Democrats choose Williams as candidate for supervisor
The
Milan Democrats are ready to hit the campaign trail with candidate
Ross Williams hoping to pick up the reins of Supervisor John V.
Talmage.
Register Herald ( Aug
17)
For
the latest information about the mining proposal and the DEC reports
go to Milan Concerns
Supervisor
candidates trade barbs
"I
think the people of Milan are going to have a very stark choice
in their vote this fall because one of the things we've uncovered,
because they certainly haven't been straightforward about it, is
that all three of their candidates are involved in the real estate
industry," Ross said. "So we've got a growth and development
ticket who's opposing us, a keep Milan rural ticket."
Daily
Freeman (Aug 14)
Town
Board member Ross Williams sets the record straight on the comprehensive
plan and protecting our town.
"I
have decided to use some of the money the people of Milan pay
me as a Town Board Member to give you my personal perspective
on the status of things in town. This is a particularly critical
period for those of us on the Town Board who have been working
to enact the comprehensive plan and to adopt laws that will protect
our rural residential quality of life..." Read
more
Read the report here
Town
Board Leads to Protect Milan:
After Town comments, DEC looks more closely
at Red Wing application, and State Assembly adopts Town Board view.
Links below for the DEC decision to schedule adjudicatory hearing,
and NYS Assembly bill passed 411-3 on town rights to ban mining.US.
Fish & Wildlife lauds Milan’s proposed Wetlands law.
DEC
decision to schedule adjudicatory hearing
NYS Assembly bill
US.
Fish & Wildlife letter
Take a look at theWetlands law here
Frequently asked questions are here
We
are using this site to keep you informed of news and events that
will help us all understand the problems, and more importantly the
solutions, to Keep Milan Rural.
We appreciate all the hard work our community has contributed so
far and we all know there is still some work to do.
So, let's join efforts and resources to do our best in the coming
months to insure a positive direction for Milan!
|
Letter
to all Milan citizens
from the candidates about Tuesday's
election
Read
their message |
Enough
already!
Those pesky opponents
just can't get it right...take
a look
Let's Talk Wetlands
and oh yes...our
opponents misrepresentation
of those facts too.
Read more
More FACTS!!!
As their spin
comes in we address the issues. Here is our response to their latest
tales. Take a look.
Town holds tax increase to 4.3%
Keeping
your taxes DOWN! Read more
Williams,
Siegel, Steel will back home rule
Anyone wishing to keep multiple, industrial-scale mines out of Milan
needs to vote for Democratic and Keep Milan Rural Party candidates
Ross Williams, Steve Siegel and Larry Steel.
Besides Red Wing's proposed massive Turkey Hill Road and Academy
Hill Road mines, they have identified 23 potential sites totaling
641 acres across the entire town.
Republican candidates Dick Barrett, David Byrne and Roberta Egan
accepted the Conservative Party endorsement that was contingent
on supporting mining - a party that even sent its candidate search
committee member to Milan to speak in favor of mining in August.Why
did Egan continually speak in favor of mining as recently as May,
then against it three months later, closer to the election?
Why did all three Republican candidates wait until one month after
the state recommended an approval of Red Wing's permit (July 18)
to read an anemic letter supposedly against mining (Aug. 14)? They
did not even understand that the opportunity for their 11th-hour
conversion was only possible because dozens of citizens lobbied
the state for six months to have an issues conference.
Defending the town's right to home rule is not for the naive or
the novice. We need the three votes, track record and commitment
of Williams, Siegel and Steel to keep the costs of industrialization
and sprawl out of Milan.
Bill Jeffway, Milan
Letter to the
editor
Poughkeepsie
Journal November 1
Poughkeepsie Journal endorses Ross
Williams for supervisor!
Williams'
vision right for Milan
...Ross
Williams would provide solid leadership as the town maps its future.
Chief among his strengths are his past actions in favor of preserving
open space and protecting wetlands. As Milan drafts zoning changes
to match its comprehensive plan, Williams' experience would provide
continuity from the administration of John Talmage, who is leaving
office.
...Milan has an experienced town leader in Ross Williams. He should
be elected supervisor on Nov. 6.
Poughkeepsie
Journal (October 16)
Follow
the money to special interests
Take a look at
the numbers here
--------------------------------------------
Industrial Mining: What you need to know
Get the latest
from the recent Milan Democratic Committee flyer
here
Supervisor Talmage endorses and encourages
the Keep Milan Rural team
See Van Talmage's
letter here
Rid
Milan of the peril of gravel mine
Milan
citizens have taken deliberate steps to gain control of
their community's future, particularly to rule out the possibility
of extensive gravel mining. They have thrown out elected leaders
who failed to stand up to Red Wing's proposal and adopted a comprehensive
plan and zoning to establish the locations and density of residential
development. When Red Wing went to court and overturned their plan
on a technicality, the community corrected the procedural error
and again adopted the town-wide plan - including the mining ban.
Poughkeepsie
Journal October 19
Relentless.
Red Wing presses case for mining in Milan
"Local
land-use controls should not be allowed to govern because they are
often based on irrational fears and 'nimby-ism,'" Red Wing
officials wrote, a reference to the common refrain "not in
my back yard."
Daily
Freeman Oct 28
Who
do you trust to stand up to special interests?
Actions speak louder
than words.
Ross Williams, Larry Steeland Steve Siegel not only support local
laws to protect Milan against industrial mining and suburban sprawl,
but they are fighting to change State laws that favor those special
interests.
They met recently with U.S. Representative Kirsten Gillibrand
she in turn approached Governor Spitzer on our behalf.
The three opposition candidates each made one anemic speech at the
last possible moment so they can say they oppose new mining. Yet
they are telling people privately the Town can't win this fight.
We disagree. Tell that to the Towns of Pawling and Saugerties. They
have won the fight and so will we.
Two of our opponents have hidden their real estate connections;
Dick Barrett ignores his while Roberta Egan claims she works for
an advertising agency and says she is not in real estate sales.
But their credentials say otherwise. And David Byrne describes himself
as a “real estate investor.
Who are the "special interests"find
out here
Siegel , Williams and Steel at Keep
Milan Rural Fundraiser last Saturday
Big turn out for
fundraiser
more info here
Ross, Larry and Steve meet with Milan Seniors. See
the hand-out here
See
our commitment to
"protect and defend" Milan here
VOTE
NOV
6
|
With
over 100 signatures, members of Milan's Conservative, Republican
and Democratic parties and many with no party affiliation successfully
petitioned the Board of Elections to put Ross Williams, Steve
Siegel and Larry Steel on the November 6th Ballot on the "Keep
Milan Rural" line. Look for this logo on the ballot |
 |
Election
information available at
Dutchess
County Board of Elections
Fiction:
The Town Board has not acted on our bridges in a timely fashion.
FACT:
At the request of the Highway Superintendent (responsible for bridge
issues), the Board authorized an engineer’s report that was
delivered to the Board in May 2007. It recommended replacing 3 bridges
over the next few years at a cost of $2.25 million. Since then the
Town has obtained a second engineering opinion, explored alternatives
that have already identified hundreds of thousands of savings, applied
for grants for some of the cost, and will be issuing bonds in early
2008.
Fiction:
Planned Purpose Developments (PPDs) will have a negative impact on
our Town.
FACT:
Planned purpose developments are one tool identified by the Comprehensive
Plan to permit the flexibility to develop moderately-priced housing
and mixed-use commercial neighborhoods. The zoning proposal has not
been adopted and will not be proposed unless further dialogue with
the community supports its implementation.
Fiction:
The RSO (rural space overlay) is a violation of property rights and
amounts to a "taking." It will prevent property owners with
less than 20 acres from subdividing and they will have to give up
10% of their property to the Town.
FACT:
The RSO is also a concept recommended in the Comprehensive Plan that
is designed to prevent the suburbanization of Milan and protect open
space and our Town's rural character. As it was proposed it affected
only properties over 20 acres, less than 12% of the properties. The
RSO was introduced last year; it was tabled given concerns expressed
about the need to protect housing affordability. A report from the
Town Board’s Housing Committee to be delivered in November will
recommend that these issues of density and housing be reexamined with
the community before proceeding with any further action. As the Board
told the public in 2006, the RSO will not be implemented as originally
proposed.
Fiction:
Because of the Board's financial mismanagement there will
be a tax increase.
FACT:
Mismanagement hasn't produced the lowest property taxes in the area!
Milan has a great tax posture and very clean financial records.
This year we have seen a sharp drop in mortgage tax income (on the
order of $100,000 less paid by the County). To make that up without
a cut in spending would mean a 17% increase in taxes. The final
tax increase will be much lower than that because the Board’s
2008 budget lowers next year's spending for Town Hall, and we are
taking steps to increase non-tax revenues to cover the Highway Department's
higher funding needs.
Fiction:
Our opponents have claimed that we were endorsed by the Conservative
Party because of low taxes and financial responsibility in 2005,
and ask why they declined to endorse candidates from Keep Milan
Rural in 2007 implying it must be the books.
FACT:
It certainly wasn’t taxes and finances that caused the change
in endorsement, since Milan has the lowest property taxes in the
region and has a very clean set of books. Submissions to the State
for review go without suggestions for improvement, unlike audits
in the previous administration. No, it is KMR’s position on
mining that they don’t like.
Our candidates visited the Conservative Party for an interview in
July. We were surprised that our views on local issues were not
really solicited, rather, we were lectured for a full twenty minutes
on the merits of gravel mining for our community. Mr. Killian -
one of only two speakers in favor of mining at an August State hearing
attended by 110 people at Town Hall - told us that he is a good
friend of Frank Doherty and that we should cut a deal with Red Wing
now, so that Milan could be blessed with two new football fields,
because every town needs them. We made it clear that this was not
our position and it was mutually understood that the Conservative
Endorsement was not for us. There was no substantive discussion
of any other topic.
It has become abundantly clear that the Conservative Party is now
a backer of Red Wing; Mr. Killian said as much at the public hearing.
Having done so, and having endorsed the Republican candidates, he
has drawn a direct link between those candidates and Red Wing. Simply
put, Mr Barrett, Ms. Egan and Mr. Byrne should have declined the
endorsement if they truly opposed mining in Milan, and should do
so now.
|
