Far less frequently, residents have spoken in opposition to the project and the potential 10% tax increase it could bring. But through all of the meetings and public forums, business owners have refrained from speaking out against the project.

Just less than a month away from the date of the vote, that changed at a recent meeting.

Col. Robert Moore, co-owner of Range Ranch in Fredonia, addressed the Board of Education at a recent meeting in opposition of the project because of the substantial tax increase it requires. Joined by Mary Deas, a former teacher at Fredonia, and Ryan Deas, another of the Ranch’s co-owners, Moore stepped to the middle of the floor, declined the use of a microphone, and read a prepared letter to put his stance on record.

“The school proposals, although grand, are a great concern to me due to the unprecedented tax increase and the burden it will impose on local taxpayers,” Moore said.

Col. Robert Moore, co-owner of Range Ranch, addressed the Fredonia Board of Education at a recent meeting in opposition of the sizable tax increase attached to a proposed capital project.

Range Ranch is a Fredonia corporation founded by two active duty members of the U.S. Marines and a commercial pilot. Its mission is to serve veterans of the military in a variety of ways, including a therapeutic environment to connect veterans with animals to assist with Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and other trauma-related issues.

Co-founders Markus and Ryan Deas grew up in Fredonia as the sons of a Fredonia teacher, Mary Deas, who now assists as the General Manager of Range Ranch. The family was motivated to invest in their local community with a cause near to their hearts, as Ryan Deas, a graduate of the U.S. Naval Academy, is a Second Lieutenant in the Marine Corps.

Joining their cause was Moore, a Lieutenant Colonel of the U.S. Marines who has served in active duty for nearly 20 years. Moore, a graduate of Brigham Young University, has served multiple tours overseas in Iraq and Afghanistan.

The Range Ranch location is a 150-acre property off Fredonia Stockton Road. Along with other properties the group owns, including an 8-acre farmhouse on the corner of Osborne Road and Concord Drive that dates back to 1835, the group has purchased approximately 250 acres of land in Fredonia.

“My partners and I saw an opportunity to acquire beautiful land in Western New York to build something that will serve the community in more ways than one, including veterans, first responders, and various groups including youth,” Moore said. “As you can imagine, with that also comes a considerable mortgage, property taxes, and of course, school taxes.”

Fredonia Board of Education President Steve Johnston, left, and Superintendent Dr. Brad Zilliox, right, listen as Colonel Robert Moore addressed the District at a recent Board meeting.

Moore claimed he pays over $18,000 each year in taxes, of which a large portion is the school tax. Moore said that while operation and maintenance costs of Range Ranch will always be a hurdle, the cost of a substantial school tax increase “is both alarming and worrisome.”

“We realize that funding the school proposals is challenging due to the decreasing population and businesses that have left the area, resulting in a diminished tax base. But what of the remaining citizens or businesses? Expecting them to shoulder the burden is simply not sustainable over time,” Moore said.

Moore claims an unintended consequence of the District’s substantial capital project is “likely more citizens and businesses vacating in search of places where the cost of living and taxes are not so severe.” He noted that such a substantial tax increase could have impacted his decision to make an investment in Fredonia had he known it was on the horizon.

Despite not being native to Fredonia, Moore has gotten to know the community well over the years he has spent establishing Range Ranch. Through the time he has spent in the Fredonia community, Moore fears that he will be an exception, rather than a trend when it comes to business owners or citizens looking to find a place to settle.

Speaking to his experiences with the military and the tax impact on communities he has visited, Moore stated, “It will hemorrhage here. I have seen it in other places. I have seen it in military towns that are overtaxed and they become decayed beyond belief.”

After the conclusion of his letter, Moore stated to the Board, “Schools are not about the structures, the buildings, the cement, mortar, brick, what have you. Schools are about the teachers that have worked hard to get where they got, that teach the kids, that care about learning. … It is about leadership. Let us all lead the way into the future and be more inviting for people to come to Fredonia. Make it a destination location, don’t make it a location that becomes desolate that people want to move away from because they are being overtaxed and they can’t afford it.”

Superintendent Dr. Brad Zilliox responded to Moore’s comments by stating that representatives of Range Range did meet with the District over the summer to discuss their concerns.

“We did have a chance for dialogue prior to this meeting. I appreciated you making some time to do that and we appreciate your perspective,” Zilliox said.

The official vote for all three propositions of the capital project will take place on Dec. 12 from 2 p.m. until 9 p.m. in the Fredonia High School cafeteria. Absentee ballots must be received by 5 p.m. on the night of the vote. An absentee ballot may be obtained at the District Clerk’s office between 7:30 a.m. and 4 p.m. each weekday, excluding holidays. Military voter ballot applications must be submitted by Monday, Nov. 18.

The next meeting of the Fredonia Board of Education is Tuesday, Nov. 19 at 6 p.m.

More information about Range Ranch is available online at rangeranch.com