NPS buys house in Milanville, 07-13-1989

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Thursday, July 13, 1989, p. 7.
Related story here

NPS buys house in Milanville

By TOM RUE

NARROWSBURG -- The National Park Service (NPS) has purchased a Damascus Township home for use as the north district office for the Upper Delaware Scenic and Recreational River, NPS Mid-Atlantic regional director James Coleman announced at the July 6th meeting of the Upper Delaware Council (UDC).

Coleman said NPS paid $216,000 for the house and its 8.4 acres, located at the center of the hamlet of Milanville.

A homemade banner hangs in a yard up the street from the new office accusing NPS officials of being "land thieves." Some residents have objected to federal imposition of land use guidelines on private property, without monetary compensation.

The new site includes access to the river, which the former north district office in Cochecton did not offer. It sits at the continence of Calkins Creek, across River road from the Milanville General Store.

Coleman said a decision was made to purchase the home of Alan and Ronnie Lieb, who willingly accepted the offer, after NPS lost its lease in Cochecton. At presstime, the Liebs could not be reached for comment.

...He was uncertain whether the NPS plans to make a voluntary payment in lieu of taxes. "I don't know a thing about it." - Thomas Griffith

The Milanville house is the former home of Willard Dillmuth, who operated a portion of it as the hamlet's post office during his term as postmaster, until about 1972.

The Upper Delaware River Management Plan authorizes purchase of a tract "in the Callicoon area," for a north district ranger station, only if suitable rental property could not be located. Coleman did not comment on what efforts were made to locate another rental property.

Damascus Supervisor Thomas Griffith stated he was unable to compute the annual loss of property taxes resulting in the acquisition, adding he was uncertain whether the NPS plans to make a voluntary payment in lieu of taxes. "I don't know a thing about it," said Griffith.

Coleman said the parcel includes a storage building which can be used to house vehicles, boats and trailers.

The house will reportedly serve as a base for a "parkwide" resource management specialist, in addition to five full-time rangers and several seasonals.
Other UDC business

In another matter, Westfall representative Phil Fitzpatrick proposed a re-allocation of $15,000 in the UDC budget for use on a river flow seminar, to be hosted by the council. The matter will be discussed further and voted on at a future meeting of the council.

Part of the money would be used to print and distribute 5000 brochures announcing the conference. Public comment on the format for the proposed seminar may be directed to UDC executive director William Douglass in Narrowsburg.

In other business, the UDC; heard a report on some $207,000 in available grants for river related projects; discussed an opening for a UDC senior resource technician; adopted a personnel evaluation system; was informed Conrail has agreed to limit its spraying to before May 15, and brush control to after Labor Day; heard a report by Coleman on brush work around the Roebling Bridge and stabilization of the Toll House; heard a report on construction plans for the Lordville and Kellam/Stalker bridges; discussed an idea for the UDC bumper sticker, was informed UDC has been granted tax-exempt status by the IRS; and referred to the operations committee a question whether attorney William Rosen may ethically serve as attorney for UDC and Sullivan County at the same time.

Upper Delaware Citizens Advisory Council (CAC) chair Lame Elmore announced that, with the NPS and Upper Delaware Heritage Alliance, the CAC will cosponsor a July 28th informational workshop on eel racks; and on August 25, host a program on the hidden costs of development.

During public comment, Noel van Swol of Long Eddy complained about septage problems in the Town of Delaware, as well as other matters. Wayne Olver of Damascus asked about the status of four "river protesters" convicted of disrupting a meeting two years ago, and was told by Rosen that the attorney for former UDC delegate George Frosch has filed a motion to dismiss a lawsuit against him. In response to a question by Eugene L'Hernault, Coleman denied awareness of any plans by the NPS to acquire River Road in Damascus Township.