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Power play lurks behind Topridge decision By CECILY BAILEY Staff Writer Sara-Placid Bureau BRIGHTON - To the local people, Camp Topridge is con- sidered a historic treasure, possi- ble tax-revenue producer — even a potential educational facility. upon stopping the camp's finan- cial drain on the state's budget. The 207-acre, 68-building com- plex, located in Franklin County, is the former estate of heiress Majorie Merriweather Post. But the luxurious camp is a white elephant: out of date and place in a society that can no longer af- ford such extravagances. It costs the state $300,000 annually to maintain the camp. In May, Cuomo ordered the camp's administrator, the Office of General Services (OGS), to proceed with the sale (or disposal) of the estate. OGS Com- missioner John Egan must make a recommendation to Cuomo about what to do with the camp. The problem is that there are factors that make Egan's deci- sion a difficult balancing act of special interests and a subtle power struggle. While Egan may be pushed toward private sale from one side, he is being encouraged to recommend continued state ownership from another direc- tion. Before looking at the pushing and pulling involved with Topridge, a little background: The ultimate fear for the ma- jority of local people, including adjacent landowner Paul Smith's College, is that Topridge will be dismantled by the state (for lack of a buyer) or by a private in- -dw4tiaHferteck of appreciation— of its importance). The camp is known as \the greatest of the great Adirondack camps,\ and is recognized for its architectural style as well as its reflection of a nearly extinct, decadent lifestyle. Further, -the- camp is intriguing because of its original heiress-owner, who add- ed a dramatic, if not eccentric, flair to the estate. When Cuomo's plans were first announced, the camp was of- fered for sale first to both Franklin County and the town of Brighton. Such a deal for a pro- perty valued at nearly $1 million? Not exactly. The yearly maintenance costs frightened both local governments away. At the same time, Paul Smith's Col- lege President Harry K. Miller contacted the state with the idea to run the facility as a combined conference center and an arm of the school's education programs in hotel management. While the college would attempt to make the conferences produce more revenue, the proposal requires continued state ownership of the property. News Analysis In the interim, Egan has pro- ceeded with public advertising of the property as he promised he would do given the local refusal to purchase. Here's look at some of the push-and pull iaciors involved in deciding about the camp: • Paul Smith's College wants to be involved in the selection of who owns or operates Topridge. Why? Because the school hap- pens to own all of the land sur- rounding the 207-acre estate, as well as the sole land access to the estate and the camp's major water source. The college pays $72,000 a year in local taxes, which is a no small drop in the financial bucket. Although resolving the water issue can be done by drilling a well on the property, access is another matter. According to Miller, the state has legal rights to only a four-foot-wide bridle path. The school has kindly been looking the other way as cars drive over a path that has become a road, albeit it illegal. Anyone looking to buy the estate must deal with the college — and the college doesn't have to deal. \It depends on who wants to buy*it. I don't think we would want some incompatible party to buy property surrounded by col- lege property,\ Miller said • Egan made clear his idea that access issues are like a double-edged sword, and therefore moot. He said the col- lege needs access to the camp to reach college land at the extreme end of the property. \This is not a serious impediment,\ he said. Besides, he laughed, \We're bargaining as good neighbors.\ • Enter the town of Brighton and Franklin County. More than one involved person has confirm- ed that without local approval, the college's training-conference center proposal will get no more than a passing glance from Cuomo. Since local people want to ensure the camp is not dismantled, they want to be careful about who gets seals of approval. So far, the college has succeed- ed in garnering support from the county for its concept and sup- port from Brighton only for \discussions\ of the concept. Brighton is not yet ready to sup- port $ny one proposal. Further motivating the town is the prospect of restoring taxes or tax-type payments from Topridge to the town's coffers. At one time, the property was assessed for $80,000. When the state took the camp over in 1974, the tax payments were phased out over five years. Supervisor Buckley wants income from the —property. \We have Jfeeen toldL that in some instances, the state does do something in lieu of taxes; we would request something,\ Buckley said. Although the college is in a position to push the state with ac- cess issues and the town is in an approval-giving position over the college, everyone knows that in- dividual power struggles dim in contrast with Cuomo's decision- making power. Moreover, Egan is walking a fine line between his boss (Cuomo) and the Topridge- region residents. Because Egan is a past North Country resident, he is often seen as (or expected to be) a friend to the locals. So, Egan promised to keep the town involved in the decision* making process. lathe words of Brighton Supervisor Margaret Buckley. \They (OGS) assured . me the town will be a part of any decision the state makes.' 5 But, the governor holds the paycheck. One thing is for sure, no one wants to find out what will hap- pen if the subtle issues become outright power plays. If Brighton doesn't like the college's concept, the proposal could go down the drain. If the state picks an owner the college doesn't like, access may become an issue. But. if the state decides to play hard-ball, the college may also have access problems. So^ goc^jjriejiglhbor ba r g a i n i n g has become 1 e s se n 1 i a I lo Topridge. • Through it all, Cuomo has never visited the camp Thr mat- ter of historic or aesthetic value does not seem as much a concern for Cuomo as does keeping the budget in line. Without having seen or experienced the place. Topridge remains a mere eight- letter word typed into slate ex- pense columns. Cuomo will sure- ly accept no less than a balancing of that expense. But Miller once raised a pro- vocative question: \My proposal won't take (Topridge off the state completely), but let me ask you how much do the state taxpayers worry about how much it costs to operate the Statue of Liberty 7 Put Topridge on Slaten Island and let's see how fast it becomes an irreplaceable, undeniably essential, state historic treasure. Press-Hepublican Energy project saving district Northern Canton Bureau 2V7-6566 123 lake S* Rouses Po»nt Tuesday, August 14,1984 13 Round and round Jennifer Yonkoski, 3, of Malone, was glad for the support of her grand- mother, Thelma Yonkoski, during a ride on the merry-go-round at the Franklin County Fair in AAalone. (PR staff photo by Mary Vondell) By STEVE MANOR Staff Writer Northern Clinton Bureau CHAMPLAIN - The Nor- theastern Clinton Central School $2.1 million energy project will save the district more than $50,000 in fuel and power costs during the 1984-85 school year. The project, whick -is now about 90 percent complete, will be cutting district fuel costs by $41,600 from $153,400 to $111,800 next year and its power bills by $11,503 from $245,403 to $233,900. These figures, according to school officials, are very conser- vative estimates. The savings are expected to be even greater. The project is expected to be all finished within the next four months, with a tremendous sav- ings expected in district-wide fuel and power costs. The district's $7 million austerity budget calls for a $361,014 payment to be made on the energy project during the school year. A $207,000 payment will be made on the principal with $154,014 for interest charges. The $361,014 payment will be partially offset by $310,500 the district will receive in state aid on the project. That leaves district taxpayers with a $50,514 share of the project cost for the 1984-85 fiscal year. That is offset by the projected $53,103 saving in fuel and electricial costs. The project includes insulation and energy-saving im- provements in all of the district's buildings. The construction work includ- ed: • Adding insulation to the ceil- ing, roof and wall areas, in some cases boosting insulation values by as much as 400 percent. • Decreasing glass area, the size of windows, thus cutting heat loss. • Modifying mechanical systems adding monitoring equipment to increase energy ef- ficiency and cut usage • Updating lighting to reduce kilowatt use and the cauiking and weather stripping of all windows and door units to reduce the in- filtration of outside air Chamber party ROUSES POINT - The •Rousts Point Champiain Chamber of Commerce will hold a membership wine and cheese party at 6:30 tonight at the An- chorage. — The discussion will center on goals of the chamber unit For more information or to join the chamber, call Chairman Patrick O'Connor at 297 5163 or 298-8753. Forecast good for county corn crop \ CHAMPLAIN — Clinton County's corn crop is doing well and is as good a crop as anywhere in New York state, according to Cooperative Extension Agent Bill Pauling. He added, however, that a \good steady rain\ in the next three days could mean an added several hundred thousands of dollars to the county economy. \We could use some rain right now that would help the crop along and move it ahead toward a quicker maturity/' Pauling noted. Clinton County's crop is doing better than corn crops in other Northern Tier happenings NCCS vote today CHAMPLAIN — Northeastern Clinton Central School district residents go the polls today to vote on seven propositions worth $151,358, which includes pupil transportation and in- terscholastic sports. Voting will take place from 2 to 9 p.m. in the junior high school cafeteria. The seven propositions to be voted on are: school library books ($12,058). pupil transporta- tion ($74,057). pupil supplies and materials ($10,500). equipment for operation and maintenance ($9,882) and transportation ($500). equipment for general support ($13,378) and instruction ($4,581). student field trips ($3,362) and interscholastic athletics ($23,040) Benefit dinner ROUSES POINT - The Lake Champiain Chapter of Ducks Unlimited will be holding its third-annual fund-raising dinner beginning at 3 p.m. on Sunday. Aug 25 at Classic Four (former- ly the Teamsters Hall) in Platt- sburgh. The meal will feature barbecued chicken, clams and refreshments. The event will in- clude an auction and door pnzes There will be a iTmrted number of tickets available There will be advance sales only and all memberships are lax deductible For more information and uckets call Roger Prescott at &*4-*02 Gail Edwards at 5tt- 4717. Joe LiValiey «t 2S§-SJO3 or Petes Barbershop in Rouses Point at »T42i: Concert ROUSES POINT - The village of Rouses Point will sponsor ft Strawhatters band concert at 7 p.m. on Wednesday on the Dodge Memorial Library lawn. parts of the state because of the extensively heavy rains being ex- perienced in these areas. 'This has hurt the com crop in these areas. The rain we have been getting has been timely. We have been getting the rain we needed at the right time, the time needed it/'Pauling said. He added that this year's growing season is almost a carbon copy of last year: a wet spring with delayed planting, followed by good, warm growing weather. The end of the growing season will undoubtedly tell the story. —\If we get an early killing frosty in late August or early September, farmers depending on corn for grain will be in trou- ble. There will be plenty of corn silage/' he said. Most corn will not be mature enough, with the proper moisture content, by late August or early September to be harvested as grain. A killing frost at this time will mean that corn intended for grain will have to be chopped into silage. \If we don't get a killing frost until late October, which is ac- tually an extended growing season like last year, everything will be fine. The corn, by and large, will be mature enough for harvest as grain or silage,\ Pauling noted. D & D MEATS I SUPER SALE 8/14-8/20 Free Delivery to Champiain ft Rouses Point every Thursday. Call 493-2300. 4 Corners, Sciota, N.Y. X-Lean Cube Steak . $2 69 Ib Top Round Roast or Steak $2 69 Ib Sirloin Tip Roast or Steak $2 59/ Ib. T-Bone Steak $3' 49, Ib. Porterhouse Steak $3 59 Ib. Sirloin Steak $3.09/lb. X-Lean Ground Chuck (10 lbs. or more)$i 59/lb Glazier Tas-T Hotdogs (5 Ib. bag) $9 79 Boiled Ham $2 09/lb Ice Cold Genny, 12 oz. loose case bottles r u- :\\ #p ~ H . $7.99/Case Rambling Root Beer, 16 oz. bottles. . $1.99/ Case plus t«i I FREEZER SPECIALS USDA Yield 2 Choice Western Beef Cut ft Wrapped to Order • Sides ; Sl-34/lii. • Whole Sirloins Tips ( io.u (b . <.*<,.) SI 99/lb I e^ Boy ardeeTRAINLOAD OF VALUES |20 1 tXWtt S AWKi 30 Get mis TYCO TRAIN SET for as low as Reg Retarf Value $50. 20<OFF on any 2 cans of Chef Boyardee Canned Pasta (15 oz. size or larger only) on 2 20 on 2 I I I I I Enjoy LaChoy and .1 c 125 25 C I Save 25 c on any LaChoy product. I y I
