By MATT LINDSEY

COLTON – Owners of nearly 40 Adirondack camps that could be demolished still have many questions relating to negotiations with the landowner, Danzer Forestland, and the Department of Conservation (DEC) following a recent meeting.

A meeting was held Jan. 11 in the St. Lawrence County Legislative Chamber in Canton between Sen. Patty Ritchie, hunting camp owners and representatives from Sen. Betty Little’s office and Sen. Joe Griffo’s office.

At that meeting, camp owners were told they could keep their camps if they paid $15,000 each to Danzer Forestland, a German-based company that owns the land.

Camp owner Walt Paul says Sen. Ritchie, R-Heuvelton, met with DEC officials prior to the meeting in an effort to reach a deal for camp owners to retain each of their camps.

Paul said the meeting was short and there are still many unanswered questions.

There were no representatives from DEC at the meeting, Paul said.

“The way I understand it people wishing to retain their camps would have 10 years to pay -- $1,500 a year for 10 years – with the money going to Danzer,” Paul said.

Paul said his understanding from the meeting is that, as part of the deal, DEC would be looking for Danzer to purchase a piece of property and turn it over to DEC.

“As I understand it, DEC can’t accept money for this,” he said.

The belief is the proposed deal would be for 15 years, but Paul said there were no follow-up questions about that part of the agreement.

“Some people are very happy and will take the opportunity offered and others are not so happy,” he said. “Some will not accept the offer.” It will be a hardship for some of these camps with fewer club members to come up with the money.”

No Compromise Reached

“The story that ran on WWNY-tv this morning (Jan. 12) is incorrect. No compromise has been reached at this time,” he said.

Since 2012, Danzer Forestland Inc., has been in negotiations with DEC in an effort to keep the 37 camps standing and in the hands of the clubs. The camp buildings were scheduled to be removed by February 2015. After negotiations ended in the summer of 2016 without an agreement, Sen. Ritchie asked for DEC and Danzer to re-start discussions this past November.

“DEC has advised the landowner, camp lessees and Sen. Ritchie’s office that we are amenable to discussing a conservation easement amendment that results in a net conservation benefit,” DeLaMater said.

WWNY-tv and Time Warner News reported that the camp owners have 60 days to decide if it’s worth paying $15,000 to DEC to keep property they’ve been fighting over for several years.

“Although no specifics have been discussed with the landowner, we look forward to further discussing a resolution,” DeLaMater said.

Plans to demolish the camps at the Long Pond easement along State Highway 56 were put on hold last month following Sen. Ritchie’s urging of DEC and Danzer Forestland, a German-based company that owns the land, to re-enter negotiations.

"I understand how much the hunting camps on the Long Pond Easement mean to many people from the region I represent and beyond," Ritchie said. "These camps have been in families for decades and I'm pleased that we were able to identify a possible solution that will allow them to remain and will provide people with the opportunity to continue their hunting traditions here in the North Country."

Ritchie represents the 48th Senate District, which includes all of the northern edge of St. Lawrence County from Louisville to Hammond, and Ogdensburg, Canton and Gouverneur.

Questions Remain

Paul says camp owners will meet with their respective groups soon to form a list of questions, and club presidents will meet after that to make a final list of questions which will be passed on to Ritchie.

“I am going to email Sen. Ritchie this afternoon and get a timeline,” Paul said.

Questions remaining include who will actually own the camps if a deal is reached. Paul wasn't clear on how long the agreement would be. He had heard rumblings of 15 years, but nothing was confirmed.

Another unanswered question was what Danzer’s would charge each year for camp owners following the new deal. The current agreement now calls for camp owners to pay Danzer $2,000 each year for rights to the camp building and one acre.

Also, Paul says the amount of land prohibited from public access was not discussed and needs to be answered. Club owners also want to know what the process will be for getting a deal done, should one happen.

“In other instances the Adirondack Park Agency had to review deals,” Paul said.

Paul said another meeting with Ritchie will be held once she receives the questions, but no date has been discussed.

“For me – this may be the best opportunity we are going to get,” Paul said. “But, it still strikes me as wrong,” he said.” People who built and paid for their camps are being asked to pay for them again.”