By PETE KLEIN

Express News Staff

INDIAN LAKE - It’s a go for the Adirondack Lakes Center for the Arts’ pre-school program, Arts from the Start.

The future of the program was uncertain, because the Indian Lake Town Board cut funding to transport pre-school children between Indian Lake and the Arts Center in Blue Mountain Lake from the town’s 2012 budget as part of its effort to keep the 2012 budget under the 2 percent cap on the tax levy.

The Arts Center had asked for $7,000: $5,000 for a bus driver and $2,000 for gasoline.

In December the board promised to help find a compromise solution.

ALCA Managing Director Erin Barton thanked the board Jan. 9 for “figuring out a solution for the transportation.” The town van and a volunteer driver will be used instead of an Indian Lake Central School bus and driver.

Hamilton County Sheriff’s Office will provide car seats for the van between now and when the pre-school starts up at the end of the month, and Deputy William Wilt will personally fit the children to the car seats and train the volunteer driver on how to put the car seats in and out.

Barton was assured these measures would cover transportation for the balance of this school year and the fall semester.

SNOWMOBILING

Indian Lake Snowwarriors President Andy Meyers provided the board with a draft contract between the snowmobile club and the town for the club to groom the Blue Mountain Lake and Newcomb trails.

The contract will allow the club to purchase fuel for grooming from the town and receive reimbursement from the state Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation’s Snowmobile Trail Fund for the grooming it does.

“This won’t cost the town any money,” said Meyers.

The board is willing to enter into the contract but first wants it reviewed by the attorney for the town.

OTHER BUSINESS

• Supervisor Brian Wells advised the board that the state Real Property Tax Service has “recognized” Assessor Meade Hutchins for outstanding work. The board agreed the town has a very good assessor.

• The board voted down a request from the Adirondack Park Local Government Review Board for $300 to help it to monitor activities of the Adirondack Park Agency. The item was cut from this year’s budget.

• The board approved changing Allen DeLong from a part-time to a full-time employee, retroactive to Jan 1.

• Councilwoman Sally Stanton invited everyone to the next meeting of the Indian Lake Planning Committee, scheduled for Wednesday, Jan. 18, starting at 7 p.m. in Town Hall.

The next meeting of the Town Board will be Monday, Feb. 13, starting at 7 p.m. in Town Hall.