ELDRED, NY — Town business was brisk and efficient at the Town of Highland town board meeting on February 8.

Most prominent was the announcement of a non-fatal drug overdose at the Eldred Central School high school and a couple of others around the community. As part of his supervisor’s report, Jeff Haas reported that he had been in contact with the Sullivan County Public Health and the Sullivan County Opioid Task Force and connected with its coordinator, Wendy Brown. A community Narcan training session has been scheduled for 9 a.m. on Saturday, February 26. The location in Eldred has yet to be announced. Free Narcan kits will be given to participants who pass the class. Preregistration is required. Details about the workshop will follow.

In a subsequent interview with ambulance service president and councilmember Chris Tambini, by the time that the EMTs arrived at the school, naloxone had been administered and the student was conscious. Tambini said that there is a ripple effect throughout the county when “bad batches” of drugs are distributed.

The ambulance, the town barn and more

Councilmember Kaitlin Haas asked the audience to support the ambulance members by checking in with them in a supportive manner. “We are in the midst of the worst mental health crisis in my lifetime,” she said. “Let’s look out for each other.”

As to the formation of the Highland Ambulance Service, Tambini said that the process of certifying the ambulance service was moving along and Highland’s certificate of need was “hours away.” Jeff Haas said that a closing to transfer goods and services from the American Legion Post to the new Highland ambulance has been scheduled.

In other business, deputy supervisor Jim Gutekunst reported that he had completed negotiations with Jeff Bank for a rate of 1.99 percent on the long-term bonds for the highway barn and salt shed. The closing is scheduled for February 15; $1 million will be bonded and paid off on a 20-year schedule. The annual funds to be paid are already in the budget.

In other business, the county is seeking bids for construction work on the Sullivan Renaissance project in the Barryville cul-de-sac. Portions of the project have been separated in a move to encourage bidding. Specs are available from the town clerk. Additionally, the board named Lacey Gutekunst Madden as the Upper Delaware Scenic Byway representative. See related story and editorial, linked below.

No bygones on the byway

Perceptions matter