Adirondack Association of Towns & Villages Urgers Voters to Approve Two Adirondack Ballot Proposals

MAYFIELD, NY (10/21/2013)(readMedia)-- When voters head to the polls across New York State on Nov. 5, they have an opportunity to support two propositions that will benefit the Adirondack Park.

The Adirondack Association of Towns and Villages (AATV) encourages residents to vote yes on Propositions 4 and 5 - both of which will add more land to the Adirondack Forest Preserve and strengthen the Adirondack economy, at no cost to taxpayers.

These ballot propositions are win-win proposals that have garnered widespread support throughout the Adirondack Park -from local governments to environmental groups to business organizations.

"A yes vote for propositions 4 and 5 will protect more Forest Preserve land for the enjoyment of all, and strengthen the regional economy for those of us who live in and protect the Adirondacks every day," said AATV President Brian Towers.

Proposition 4 authorizes the legislature to resolve issues with property titles in the Town of Long Lake dating back to the 1800s. These disputes have plagued property owners including the local school district, the volunteer fire company, businesses, homeowners and others. If approved, the state will clear the titles, and in exchange, receive funding that will be used to purchase lands sought by the state for inclusion in the Adirondack Forest Preserve for public recreation.

Proposition 5 would expand the Adirondack Forest Preserve by 1,500 acres while protecting 100 full-time Adirondack jobs by providing longtime Adirondack business NYCO minerals with temporary access to an isolated 200-acre tract of state land adjoining NYCO's existing mine. One of the few remaining large employers in the Adirondack park, NYCO will use a portion of the 200 acres to continuing mining wollastonite there and extend the life of its Adirondack operations and jobs by eight to 10 years. In exchange, NYCO would provide the state with funding to expand the Forest Preserve by purchasing 1,500 acres of forested mountains and streams with excellent fishing opportunities. Once its project is completed, NYCO would return the re-claimed 200 acres to the Forest Preserve and the taxpayers would retain the additional 1,500 acres.

Both of these propositions have been approved by two consecutively elected state legislatures, and a "yes" vote by voters this November will ensure a more secure future for both the Adirondack wilderness, and the people who live there.

The Adirondack Association of Towns and Villages represents the 102 towns and villages of the Adirondacks in addressing issues unique to local government and residents within the Adirondack Park.