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tc_court120h2011 Solid Waste Fee Established

The Legislature, by unanimous vote set the 2011 Solid Waste Annual Fee, which holds the fee at its current rate of $56.00 per billing unit.  As in the past, single-family residences, mobile homes, and churches are charged as one billing unit.  The action also establishes charges for other types of property, such as colleges, recreational, and health care facilities, whose charges are governed by formula.  Legislator Mike Lane proposed an amendment that would have decreased the fee to $55.00 per unit, which failed by a 1-14 vote (only Lane voting in favor).  Lane maintained that in this difficult tax year, the Legislature should limit the fee as much as possible to reduce the fee as much as possible. Solid Waste Manager Barbara Eckstrom told legislators setting the fee at $56.00 represents a prudent long-term approach in maintaining the division’s fund balance.

Bonding Authorized for Transonic Systems Project

The Legislature approved the issuance of up to $4.5 million in tax-exempt private activity bonds by the Tompkins County Industrial Development Agency to support expansion of Transonic Systems’ headquarters, located at the Warren Road Business Park in Lansing.  The bonding will support a 30,000 square foot addition to the building, as well as improvements to the current structure and new equipment. Transonic Systems, founded more than 25 years ago by a Cornell researcher, manufactures devices that measure blood flow in human and animal surgery and research.  The private activity bonds do not create a financial obligation for the County or the IDA; but qualify Transonic for a lower interest rate, since buyers of the bonds do not have to pay federal or state income tax on interest earned.

Ulysses Students Recognized for Summer Service Projects

The Legislature recognized six students from the Town of Ulysses as this month’s Tompkins County Distinguished Youth.  Paul Kenjerska, Chris Sibley, Maliki Whitford, Nadia Roberts, Brian English, and Boon Herden are members of the Trumansburg/Ulysses Youth Services Summer Squad 2010.  The students, nominated by program manager Carissa Mann Parlato, are recognized for community service projects including cleaning up the Montessori school, refinishing benches on Trumansburg’s Main Street, planting seeds for an elementary school garden, cleaning up the “children’s village” on Main Street, and stickering cases of alcohol at local stores to build awareness for the summer “Sticker Shock” campaign.  The Distinguished Youth Award is cosponsored by A&B Awards and Engraving, Bangs Ambulance, Purity Ice Cream, and Cayuga Radio Group.

Among other actions, the Legislature

  • Authorized the County to apply for a grant from the New York State Environmental Facilities Corporation under the  Green Innovation Grant Program to support construction of a pilot on-site wetland to treat leachate from the closed Caswell Road landfill.  The grant would cover up to 95% of the projected $104,000 cost.
  • Awarded the firm Loomacres of Warrenville, NY the contract to conduct a mandated wildlife hazard assessment  at Ithaca Tompkins Regional Airport, following a deer-aircraft accident on the runway July 25.  Nearly all of the more than $89,000 cost will be supported through federal and state sources, the remainder through airline fees.


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