Advertisement
Several panelists said one of the biggest challenges facing the Oneonta community is the lack of affordable housing. According to data from the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development, the 2025 fair market rental rate for a one-bedroom apartment in Otsego County is $957.00 per month. For many working residents, that cost is out of reach, contributing to housing instability.…
Drnek ended the meeting with a presentation of his vision to create a new neighborhood on Market Street. He asked council members and the public “to step outside the comfort zone of shared opinion and open your mind to alternate possibilities.”…
Mayor Mark Drnek delivered his “State of the City” address to nearly 100 people gathered at the Foothills Performing Arts and Civic Center in Oneonta on Tuesday, February 18. “The state of our city is strong,” he said.…
On Tuesday, February 4, the City of Oneonta Common Council met for more than two hours and covered a variety of topics in an agenda supported by 154 pages of detailed documentation. Council members approved warrants totaling $487,574.60.00 for payment by the finance director and authorized more than $280,000.00 in other expenses.…
Well, it’s that time again—the new year is just around the corner (or the ball has already dropped, depending upon when you get your copy of the paper or read this online), and many of us are bandying about new year’s resolutions that, let’s face it, probably won’t make it through January. Rather than those sorts of resolutions, here at Iron String Press we have opted instead to focus on things for which we would like to see resolutions in…
On Tuesday, December 3, the City of Oneonta’s Common Council initially declined to pass the tentative 2025 budget that they had approved on November 19. When put to a second vote, six of the seven council members consented to pass the 2025 budget of $20 million, with the caveat that there would be future budget cuts and solutions to cover the deficit while drawing down less of the reserves.…
The November 19 Oneonta Common Council meeting attracted about 25 concerned citizens, the equivalent of a full house. There were 20 motions on the agenda. The council debated various issues for more than four hours. Just before 10 p.m., the council approved the proposed 2025 budget and voted to exceed the tax cap. By this time, only three members of the audience remained. Two were city employees, Brian Knapp, the fire chief, and Chris Yacobucci, director of Public Works.…
The mayor has stated that a qualified candidate has been identified, yet has delayed sharing this individual’s name with the council and community. Increased transparency in this process—such as disclosing the candidate’s name earlier—would allow both council members and residents to engage meaningfully...…
The city has coordinated with the contractor to ensure there will be no work on Market Street on Election Day, Drnek pointed out. Market Street and Chestnut Street Extension will be open and detours will not be necessary to access the polling place.…
The unveiling ceremony was presented by GOHS Executive Director Marcela Micucci, PhD, and her colleague, Bhanu Gaur, who serves as the Oneonta History Center attendant. On hand in support of the unveiling were Senator Peter Oberacker, the Avanzato family—owners of the former Stella Luna restaurant—and many other enthusiastic citizens who shared memories and stories of the D&H Railroad.…