​CLAVERACK WEATHER UPDATE -- BLIZZARD WARNING ISSUED FOR COLUMBIA COUNTY
 
The National Weather Service in Albany has issued a BLIZZARD WARNING for Columbia County, effective through Tuesday night.
 
Snow is expected to begin early Tuesday morning, tapering off to snow showers during the day on Wednesday. We are expecting 18” to 24” of snow here in Claverack.
 
Very gusty winds will result in white-out conditions.
 
The worst conditions are expected noon to 7:00 pm on Tuesday.  During this time, travel is discouraged.  It is recommended that you make arrangements to be home, or at the very least off the roads, during this time.
 
Our Town Highway Department is as prepared as possible and will be out doing their best to keep roads open.
 
Winds may cause scattered power outages.  Any outage that occurs may be for an extended period, as crews may not be able to access affected areas. Please plan ahead and be prepared.
 
Should a power outage occur, contact your power company direct (National Grid: 800-867-5222, NYSEG: 800-572-1131). Do not dial 911 to report power outages, unless you have an emergency.
 
We will monitor conditions tomorrow and issue additional updates as needed.

Claverack Town Supervisor Kippy Weigelt has announced plans for a new and improved website for residents of the Town of Claverack.
 
The website will include new features such as an expandable calendar of town meetings and community events, an area for prominent display of information related to emergencies and public safety bulletins, and a directory of town businesses. 
 
Users will be able to easily view and access important documents and information on the site, such as meeting minutes, local codes and laws, assessment rolls, and public notices from any computer or mobile device, including smartphones and tablets.
 
The site will also include access to the Columbia County Special Needs Registry; a program designed to aide emergency responders in identifying, locating, and assisting senior citizens and residents with special needs who may have a life or safety concern in the event of a mass power outage, natural disaster, or other large-scale emergency.
 
“The new website will improve access to town information and services for all residents, including our senior citizens,” said Supervisor Kippy Weigelt. “We put the project out to bid and were able to lower the cost significantly from original estimates,” Weigelt added.
 
The project will be overseen by Town Clerk Mary Jeanne Hoose, with Deputy Town Supervisor Stephen Hook assisting with collection of information from town departments for the new website. Town Councilman Brian Keeler will facilitate development of the Emergency Services section of the website, including acting as liaison to the Columbia County Special Needs Registry.
 
The new website is expected to be available online by May.

The Claverack Town Board Meeting scheduled for tonight has been canceled due to the snowstorm. The meeting will be rescheduled at a later date.

The snow is beginning to move out of the area, but roads remain snow covered and slick.  It will dip down to the single digits tonight and with wind chills below zero. Gusty winds will cause blowing and drifting snow.  Please stay safe and consider checking on elderly neighbors, friends, and family.

Additional updates will be posted to my Facebook page as needed.

The Claverack Town Board recently recognized William "Bill" Blaauw with a community service award. Bill has been a big part of the Claverack and Philmont communities for 60 years. He joined the Philmont Fire Company in 1963, rising to the rank of Chief, and serving in the department still today. In addition to multiple terms on the Philmont Village Board of Trustees and the Claverack Town Board, Bill served many years as the Claverack Town Highway Superintendent. After retiring from the highway department, he was re-elected to the Town Board and appointed Deputy Town Supervisor. 

​As a town official, Bill set a high bar. His common sense approach to decision making and his concern for all issues and residents earned him much respect. We thank him for his many years of service and friendship. 

​The Town of Claverack Water Department will be flushing hydrants in the Hamlet Water District beginning Wednesday, January 11th and continuing through Friday, January 13th.  Residents that are hooked up to the water system may notice slight discoloration during this period.  This is due to work being performed by the Town of Greenport, who supplies water to the Claverack Hamlet.

If you experience discoloration of your water, it is recommended that you clear the pipes in your home by running all water faucets for a few minutes.

We regret any inconvenience and thank you for your patience.

(NOTE: This is the Claverack Hamlet Water District, NOT the Village of Philmont)

ANOTHER TAX-CAP COMPLIANT BUDGET
I’m happy to report the passage of another on-time budget that is in full compliance with the State Tax Cap. This means property tax rebates for Claverack homeowners once again! Since taking office in 2014, we’ve worked hard each and every year to ensure budgets are kept tight and that all reasonable measures are employed to keep costs down.
 
This year, we worked together with Town Highway Superintendent Lou Lamont to create a capital equipment plan.  The first phase of this plan has been implemented in the 2017 budget.  The plan permits the highway department to purchase and bond for needed equipment through a combination of cost savings and expiring debt.  This capital plan will allow for the cost of these assets to be paid for over their respective lives and take advantage of low interest rates.
 
We also negotiated a cell tower rental agreement on the water tower off Old Lane, which has enabled the Town to generate some revenues to help off-set steep increases by the Town of Greenport for the water district.
 
TOWN BUILDING INSPECTOR / CODE ENFORCEMENT CONSOLIDATION
We have consolidated the duties and responsibilities of the Town Building Inspector and Town Code Enforcement Officer (CEO) into one position. The new Building Inspector/CEO will work 20 hours a week. This consolidation will improve efficiency and result in a cost savings to the Town.
 
NEW AED’S AT THE TOWN HALL AND TOWN PARK
We have purchased and installed Automated External Defibrillators (AED) at the Town Hall/Court building and the Town Park. As we all know, seconds count when a person suffers sudden cardiac arrest. These devices will provide the life-saving tools needed to treat cardiac arrest before responders arrive. Many thanks to the Claverack Senior Citizens for their donation to this cause.
 
BROADBAND
We continue to be engaged in the County Board of Supervisor’s effort to expand broadband to all corners of the county. Many areas of the county, including parts of Claverack, remain unserved. Dependable Internet is no longer a luxury; it’s a necessity for many homes and small businesses.  Progress is being made! For the latest updates, click here.
 
BUS SHUTTLE UPDATE
The new Town of Claverack Bus Shuttle Service has been a big success. Several residents pick up the shuttle – from Philmont to the Claverack hamlet – each Monday for shopping and other business in Hudson and Greenport. Mike Johnston, who’s company operates the shuttle as part of the Columbia County Public Transportation System, says that the program is working well and that residents have come to depend on the service for grocery shopping, banking, and other essential needs.
 
GARDEN CLUB
We’d like to reestablish and invigorate the Claverack Garden Club.  In the past, Garden Club volunteers helped to plant flowers and spruce up public spaces in the hamlet and Village of Philmont. Their work went a long way toward making and keeping our town beautiful, and we’re hopeful that some volunteers will step up to help with this cause.  If you are interested, please email me at supervisor@townofclaverack.com.
 
MERRY CHRISTMAS
As the holidays approach, I’d like to take a moment to thank you all for making our town the envy of many. We are so fortunate to live in this special community where we all care for and take of each other. I thank you for being part of it and for instilling your trust in me to serve as your Town Supervisor. On behalf of my fellow town officials, I wish you all a very Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.

​The Town of Claverack will receive $195,000 in grant funding in the sixth round of the state’s Regional Economic Development Council awards. The announcement came today by Governor Andrew Cuomo at a news conference held in Albany.
 
The funding will go toward two town projects; restoration of the historic Shaw Bridge and a study of historic sites and access points within the Claverack Creek watershed.
 
A total of $170,000 was awarded to restore the internationally renowned Shaw Bridge, which crosses the Claverack Creek on Van Wyck Lane. The bridge will be restored to its original 1870 appearance, but as a pedestrian and bicycle bridge.
 
The second award, totaling $25,000, will allow the Town of Claverack to study the existing visual and public access to important historic sites within the Claverack Creek watershed, and identify waterfront access sites that will expand public recreation opportunities, including boating and fishing.
 
“I’m very happy to learn that we’ll be receiving this funding,” said Claverack Town Supervisor Kippy Weigelt. “Restoring the Shaw Bridge for pedestrian use and expanding access to areas for walking, biking, fishing, and boating are all worthy causes that will benefit everyone,” Weigelt added.
 
Supervisor Weigelt acknowledged the hard work of the Claverack Historic Preservation Advisory Committee, including Committee Chair Ian Nitschke, and congratulated them on the awards.
 
The Village of Philmont also received $191,250 to install a new disinfection system at the Village’s Wastewater Treatment Facility.
 
A complete listing of all 2016 Regional Economic Development Council awards can be found at www.regionalcouncils.ny.gov.