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Proposed Washington County Budget to Increase Taxes 17%

Washington county released the tentative 2026 budget recently. It includes a tax levy increase of almost 17% while cutting approximately 65 county employees.

The Board of Supervisors voted to override the tax cap for 2026. Dresden’s Town Supervisor, Charles Tall, is our voice on the Board of Supervisors. Another budget workshop is scheduled for November 10, 2025 at 10:30 a.m. and the tentative budget goes to the County’s Finance Committee on November 13th at approximately 9:30 a.m.

If the budget moves out of committee, a resolution to adopt the budget would come before the full board at its November 21st meeting, with a majority of the board’s weighted vote needed to pass it. Dresden has a very low weighted vote because our population is very small. However, because Dresden taxes account for a large percentage of the county’s tax income, many Supervisors listen to our Supervisor’s opinion. Because of this, it is imperative that our Town Supervisor shows up at Board of Supervisor meetings and works diligently to make our voices heard.

The county has been hampered in recent years because the state of New York passes unfunded mandates along to its counties and the county taxes reflect that.

I am doing all I can.

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Preliminary Dresden Election Results

Vote Totals Excluding Absentee Ballots

I contacted the Washington County Board of Elections at 1:00 pm on November 5th and these are the unofficial results from yesterday’s townwide election for the those offices that were contested. At this time there are 12 absentee ballots that have not been counted. However, the county waits approximately one week to see how many absentee ballots were postmarked on or before November 4th.

Town Supervisor     Votes
Paul Ferguson* (Write-in)     124
Charles Tall     72
   
Town Board (2 winners)
Christine Diekel*     157
Marc Brown*     156
Suzanne Hudson Shad     65
   

   * Winner

Congratulations to all the winners and thanks to the candidates who gave the voters a choice.

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DEC Forest Rangers in the News

Town of Ticonderoga
Essex County
Wilderness Search: On Nov. 1 at 12:30 p.m., Ray Brook Dispatch received a call from the family of a hunter missing since the previous day. The 34-year-old from Ticonderoga spoke with a hunting partner through the night but failed to make it out of the woods. Forest Rangers Kabrehl and Quinn searched the area and found items belonging to the hunter. At 4:00 p.m., the hunter made it to a home on Canfield Road. The hunter refused medical attention from Rangers but accepted a ride from a friend to the hospital due to cramping from dehydration and exhaustion. Resources were clear at 5:00 p.m.

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New Town Sewer District Shed Installed


The new storage shed for the Town of Dresden’s Sewer District was installed along County Route 6 on Friday, October 17th.

The Town of Dresden recently had a storage shed installed off of County Route 6 for the equipment used in maintaining the two sewer districts in Huletts Landing. The town intends to paint the shed a color which will allow it to blend in with the surrounding foliage.

The state mandated that the town have a storage location that was readily accessible during the year for supplies, spare parts and other equipment needed in the operation of the sewer districts.

As you come into Huletts Landing, the shed is located directly after the turn for Bluff Head road but before the 5th tee of the Huletts golf course.

Many thanks to sewer board member, Patrick Keenan, who worked diligently over the last few months to come up with a workable solution.

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Still No Final Engineers Report for Sewer District # 1

During the summer of 2023, an engineer’s study was conducted on the overall health and status of Sewer District #1 in Huletts Landing. After more than 2 years, the final report has still not been released to the public.

When this is discussed at Sewer board meetings, the answer is the same – the state has questions about items in the report and answers are being provided.

The town did release the “unfinalized” report in November 2024, and that is posted on the Town’s website here.

Here we are in October 2025, and the finalized report still has not been released. Now keep in mind, the report was undertaken during the summer of 2023. So, we are now at the two-year mark.

I agree with the concern that before large capital expense items are undertaken – what this report says about the overall health of the entire system should be known. Since the report was undertaken, we have learned (at the April 2025 sewer board meeting) – that “flushed feminine hygiene products, “flushable” wipes, men’s underwear, and garbage disposal debris” all had made their way into the system in April 2025.

We are all still waiting for the final report. Hopefully, it will be completed soon.

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Washington County Remains Under Drought Watch


Washington county remains on the Department of Environmental Conservation’s drought watch list. Warren county is in the drought warning category.

A “watch” is the first of four levels of state drought advisories (“watch,” “warning,” “emergency” and “disaster”). There are no statewide mandatory water use restrictions in place under a drought watch, but residents are strongly encouraged to voluntarily conserve water. Local public water suppliers may require conservation measures, depending upon local needs and conditions.

A “warning” is the second of four levels of State drought advisories. Under Drought Warning, voluntary water conservation is intensified, and public water supplies and industries are advised to update and implement local drought contingency plans. Local agencies make plans in case of emergency declaration.

As someone who has had a well run dry in a previous year – you don’t want this to happen to you. Also we don’t want a forest fire anywhere near Huletts – so please remember a dry well can’t be used to put out a fire.

To conserve water resources, DEC encourages everyone to voluntarily reduce water use and follow these tips:

Water lawns only when necessary, choose watering methods that avoid waste, and water in the early morning to reduce evaporation and maximize soil hydration;

Reuse water collected in rain barrels, dehumidifiers, or air conditioners to water plants;

Raise lawn mower cutting heights. Longer grass is healthier with stronger roots and needs less water;

Use a broom, not a hose, to clean driveways and sidewalks;

Fix leaking pipes, hoses, and faucets;

Wash only full loads of dishes and laundry;

Take shorter showers or fill the bathtub partly;

Install water saving plumbing fixtures;

Don’t run the tap to make water hot or cold; and

Wash cars less frequently

Many of these help protect drain fields from overuse also, so please try to conserve water.

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Saturday Quote

“The earth will not continue to offer its harvest, except with faithful stewardship. We cannot say we love the land and then take steps to destroy it for use by future generations.”

Pope John Paul II

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2025 ‘A Day to Remember’ Results


Participants from the 2025 ‘A Day To Remember’ Race (Click image to see larger version.)

I am extremely late posting this but congratulations to all the participants in the 2025 ‘A Day to Remember’ and many thanks to those who worked so diligently to make the day a success.

2025 Race Results

Men:

13 & under
1. Brodie Despres
2. Brady Spink
3. Morie Ferriter

14-30
1. James Mintel*
2. John Keenan
3. Steven Townley
*Denotes First Place Overall Winner Men & Women

31-55
1. Dan Meehan
2. John Fox
3. Greg Leonardi

56+ (Champions)
1. Pat Keenan
2. Tim Rodgers
3. Kevin Keough**
** Ran as Knicks Star Jalen Brunson

Women:

13 & under
1. Keeley Ferriter*
2. Kensy McCardy
3. Cora Ferriter
*Denotes First Place Overall Winner Men & Women

14-30
1. Amanda McNelis
2. Taylor Keough
3. Maddie Majeski

31-55
1. Victoria Neff
2. Shawna Brazell
3. Kristen Keenan

55+ (Champions)
1. Christine McNelis
2. Joanne Keenan
3. Jeanne Elisio

Specialty Awards

Youngest Boy – Jake Sonnick (8 years old)

Youngest Girl – Julia Sonnick (6 years old)

Most Experienced – Rick Carter


Golf – Winners (Score of 23)
Colin Hurley, Mark Evans, Greg Evans, Greg Hurley


To those we lost – we will never forget you.
(Click all images to see larger versions.)

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Special Town Board Meeting – Monday September 15th

(Posted on the Town’s website.)
A Special Town Board Meeting will be held on:

Date: Monday, September 15, 2025
Time: 7:00 PM
Location: Dresden Town Hall

Purpose: Budget Workshop

The Town Board also reserves the right to consider any other business that may properly come before it, including but not limited to matters such as amending the sewer law or recognizing a second sewer district committee.

This meeting is open to the public. The Board will review and discuss budget matters in preparation for the 2026 Tentative Budget. While the meeting is open for public observation, this is not a public hearing. A brief public comment opportunity will be provided but will be limited in scope.