Staff Writer

COOPERSTOWN — High fuel prices may force Otsego County to find additional funds for road maintenance and construction work or eliminate some projects this summer, representatives said at Wednesday night's meeting.

Rep. Charles Bateman, chairman of the board's Highway and Forestry Committee, said this year's rise in fuel costs will force the county board to have a "serious debate" about how to make up the expected shortfall. The Cooperstown Republican did not elaborate but said the board would have to address the issue at its first meeting next month.

Before the Board of Representatives' meeting, Rep. Richard Thompson, D-Milford, said the county may be forced to eliminate about 40 percent of its proposed road projects because high fuel prices have increased the cost of supplies such as asphalt and tar.

Also at Wednesday night's meeting, the board had a brief discussion about how to use the county's tobacco settlement funds.

Rep. Eugene Wells, chairman of the board's Health, Educational Services and Agriculture Committee, said he supported using some of the money for tobacco education programs.

Board Chairman Carl Higgins, R-Edmeston, said the county board needs to determine how much money the county is going to receive and develop a policy for distributing it.

"I think we should thoroughly study this," Higgins said, adding that he was disturbed so many groups feel "entitled" to a share.

Bateman said the board should have a discussion about the tobacco funds before reaching a decision. "I think we ought to have a real debate on this to make sure we're doing the right thing in the future," he said.

At the beginning of Wednesday's meeting, the board heard a presentation from Otsego County Dairy Princess Stacey Klingman, a student at Gilbertsville-Mount Upton Central School, and Donna Brooks, executive director of Cornell Cooperative Extension. Brooks reviewed several of the extension's new programs.

In other business, the board:

• Authorized the Social Services commissioner to enter into a $21,000 contract with the Otsego Area Occupational Center for job-counseling services.

• Authorized the assistant emergency services coordinator and 911 coordinator to drive county-owned motor vehicles under the county's vehicle policy.

• Authorized the director of public health to offer registered nurse Cynthia Dornburg full-time employment at an annual salary of $27,476.

ä Appointed Rob Robinson, president and chief executive officer of the Otsego County Chamber of Commerce, to the recently created Workforce Investment Board of Chenango, Delaware and Otsego counties.

• Appointed Edward Wesnofske of Oneonta to serve on the board of the Montgomery-Otsego-Schoharie Solid Waste Management Authority. Wesnofske will replace Joseph Kenyon.

ä Approved resolutions recognizing high school state track and field champions Joseph Senchyshyn of Cooperstown, Kristen Karhio of Cherry Valley-Springfield and Amanda Laytham of Unatego.