DELHI - The Delaware County Planning Committee moved Tuesday, May 19, from agricultural policy to television nostalgia to engineering workforce shortages during a wide-ranging meeting led by Planning Department Director Shelly Johnson-Bennett.
Committee members first reviewed proposed updates to Agricultural District 14, setting a public hearing for June 24, pending scheduling confirmation. The resolution requires approval by the board of supervisors.
Johnson-Bennett said the county’s agricultural districts remain largely stable because Delaware County continues to maintain a high percentage of actively farmed land.
“We really only remove parcels that are requested to be taken out,” she said, noting that most additions now come from farmers acquiring neighboring land.
Johnson-Bennett explained that years ago, landowners could only add property during periodic eight-year reviews, creating long delays. Annual enrollment periods have since reduced the number of requests.
The committee then turned to a far less traditional planning matter: a proposed resolution supporting national recognition of the The Lawrence Welk Show.
Johnson-Bennett said she received a request from Florida resident Scott Wheeler, who is seeking resolutions nationwide recognizing the program’s contribution to American culture ahead of the nation’s 250th anniversary celebrations.
“He’s already got like 80-some resolutions from across the country,” she said.
The proposal prompted laughter and memories around the committee table as members recalled growing up with the long-running musical variety show.
Despite the lighthearted discussion, committee members approved advancing the resolution to the full board of supervisors to be voted on.
The committee’s final action focused on workforce development and a proposed partnership involving the SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry and the Delaware County Soil and Water Conservation District.
Johnson-Bennett said the county plans to apply for a fully funded grant through the Catskill Watershed Corporation to establish a three-year environmental engineering internship program.
The initiative would bring college students to Delaware County to work alongside Soil and Water staff while exposing them to local career opportunities.
“The idea here would be to bring students here to show them that there are solidly good-paying professional jobs, such as engineering, right here in their own backyard,” Johnson-Bennett said.
Under the proposal, the county would apply for the grant through a shared services agreement. Grant funds would cover curriculum development and intern salaries, while county staff would provide oversight through in-kind services.
Committee members said the program could help address long-term staffing shortages in environmental and infrastructure engineering fields.
Johnson-Bennett noted that environmental engineering has become increasingly specialized, particularly in watershed management, culvert design and flood mitigation.
“They don’t realize environmental engineering is also a component of engineering that is significant and very competitive,” she said.
The work is especially important in watershed communities like Delaware County, where stream stabilization, flood resilience and infrastructure sizing have become increasingly critical.
“A good-paying profession, too,” Committee member Bruce Dolph added. “We’re talking about keeping youth here.”
