Archive: News

Lansing School Business Administrator Kate Heath presented the final numbers to the Board Of Education Tuesday that are needed to send school tax bills to taxpayers.  Heath said that the District will pay slightly less than projected before the May budget vote, and told board members the tax rate will be 0.11% higher than last year.  She said that the rate was mitigated by a higher than projected tax assessment roll value, but more dollars will have to be appropriated from the fund balance than expected to keep the levy below the state's tax cap calculation.

"We were anticipating a tax rate of $20.79," she said. "It is a little bit lower -- it is a 0.11% increase over last year's rate, and we are under the cap by $1,200."

On August 14, 2018, a bat found on the sidewalk in front of 530 Madison Street, near the intersection of 5th Street across from Conway Park in the City of Ithaca, was determined to be rabid by the New York State Rabies Laboratory.

If your child was unattended near this bat or there was any contact with this bat by a person or pet, please contact the Tompkins County Health Department at 274-6688 immediately to discuss possible exposure to rabies. Untreated rabies in humans is fatal.

The Lansing Town Board passed two resolutions Wednesday in support of lowering speed limits on portions of Buck and Salmon Creek Roads.  Town Supervisor Ed LaVigne said two petitions by concerned residents prompted the resolutions.  But it is the New York State Department of Transportation (DOT) that has final say on changes to speed limits. 

"The dynamics of our town are that we have 19th century roads and we have 21st century vehicles," LaVigne said. "Without shoulders it makes it difficult to walk on them, plus the residents of Buck Road want this speed limit reduced."

Governor Andrew M. Cuomo declared a State of Emergency Tuesday for Broome, Chemung, Chenango, Cortland, Delaware, Monroe, Onondaga, Ontario, Schulyer, Seneca, Steuben, Tioga, Wayne, Yates, and contiguous counties through August 21. The Governor made the announcement after surveying flooded areas and damaged property in Seneca and Broome counties. The storms, which are continuing to make their way slowly from west to east across the state, may cause additional flash flooding and New Yorkers are urged to prepare for potential extreme and unpredictable weather.

At Cuomo's direction, the State Emergency Operations Center has been elevated to a Level 3 and additional agencies have been deployed to assist with logistics, transportation and technical rescue, and to coordinate any response efforts in impacted counties. Regional emergency response teams are activated and are in close contact with community leaders and emergency responders. State agencies are mobilizing resources and personnel for flash flooding issues from heavy downpours in areas across the state that that have experienced an abundance of recent rainstorms.

Governor Andrew M. Cuomo signed legislation (A.07218/S.5585-A) yesterday, banning children under the age of 18 from using indoor tanning facilities.

"We have long known the dangers of indoor tanning and the devastating health risks that go along with prolonged exposure to ultraviolet rays," Governor Cuomo said. "By further limiting our children from exposing themselves to this health risk, we can stop the spread of preventable disease and help save lives."

The Legislature's Health and Human Services Committee received an update regarding the comprehensive ongoing assessment of the County's Office of Human Rights, presented by County Administrator Jason Molino, County Attorney Jonathan Wood, and Dr. Kenneth Clarke, Interim Director of Human Rights.

It was stressed that the Office stands ready to assist people in accessing the State's complaint process, providing space and equipment at the Office for filing a complaint. Interim Director Clarke will providE general guidance on filing the complaint; translation service will be available, as needed, with equipment for speech and hearing impaired individuals to be set up soon. The Office, however, will not represent complainants (since the State has insisted the County refrain from continuing that practice) or make probable cause recommendations (since the County's Memorandum of Understanding with New York State expired a decade ago and the State is not interested in a new MOU). Such MOUs are in place with only the large counties of Nassau and Suffolk.

New York State Department of Transportation Acting Commissioner Paul A. Karas announced Wednesday that work will begin this month on two projects that will convert traditional intersections into modern roundabouts. Roundabouts are safer, more sustainable and more efficient than traditional intersections and are becoming more common across the State. Single-lane roundabouts will be built at the intersection of Route 13 with Trumbulls Corners Road, in Newfield, Tompkins County, and at the intersection of Routes 31 and 298 in Bridgeport, Onondaga County, just west of Point Place Casino.

"Building new roundabouts at these locations will greatly reduce the risk of deadly crashes, improve traffic flow and boost local air quality," Acting Commissioner Karas said. "As with all our transportation improvement projects, roundabouts support Governor Cuomo's effort to boost local economies by providing quick, convenient access to area businesses."

Governor Andrew M. Cuomo appointed a workgroup last week to draft legislation for a regulated adult-use marijuana program for the legislature to consider in the upcoming session based on the findings of a multi-agency study he commissioned in January. The study, led by the Department of Health, concluded that the positive impacts of a regulated marijuana market in New York State outweigh the potential negative impacts, and that areas that may be a cause for concern can be mitigated with regulation and proper use of public education that is tailored to address key populations.

"I have reviewed the multi-agency report commissioned last January and have discussed its findings with Health Commissioner Dr. Howard Zucker," said Cuomo. "The next steps must be taken thoughtfully and deliberately. As we work to implement the report's recommendations through legislation, we must thoroughly consider all aspects of a regulated marijuana program, including its impact on public health, criminal justice and State revenue, and mitigate any potential risks associated with it. I thank the members of the workgroup for their time and expertise as we work to craft a model program."

New York is filing a motion to dismiss the National Rifle Association's lawsuit against New York. The lawsuit was filed on May 11 after Cuomo directed the Department of Financial Services to urge companies to weigh reputational risk of business ties to the NRA and similar organizations.

"New York we will not be intimidated by the NRA's frivolous lawsuit to advance its dangerous gun-peddling agenda," Cuomo said. "Donald Trump and Washington, DC may be bought and paid for by the NRA, but in New York we are listening to the voices of people across the nation calling for action to keep our communities safe. While the NRA tries to play the victim, New York stands with the real victims—the thousands of people whose lives are cut short by gun violence every year."

Senator Pam Helming announced Tuesday that more than $1 million has been awarded to New York State farmers through the Veterans and New Farmers Grant Funds. This includes more than $50,000 in combined investments in two Wayne County farms. Pacello Orchards received $34,474, and B.C. Ameele Fruit Farms LLC received $17,404.

"Our local farmers are the economic drivers of our communities. They provide job opportunities for hundreds of people and provide our families with fresh, nutritious foods and dairy products. It is important that as a state, we continue to support our agricultural community. The New Farmers Grant program is just one way we can encourage and support the next generation of farm owners. I was especially happy to support this particular program because it assists our veterans who are transitioning from military duty to civilian life. I congratulate two local farms, Pacello Orchards and B.C. Ameele Fruit Farms, on earning grants that will provide funding to help their operations grow," Helming said.

Funding Approved to Help Address Problem of Cayuga Lake Algal Blooms
The Legislature, without dissent, authorized funding and a contract with the Community Science Institute (CSI) to perform laboratory testing to help address harmful algal bloom in Cayuga Lake. (Chair Martha Robertson was excused.) The Legislature appropriated $4,150 from the Contingent Fund to supplement a $5,000 emergency grant from the Park Foundation. The funding from the County requested by CSI will cover the cost of test kits and supplies for the next two months.

The resolution notes that 24 suspicious algal blooms were identified in Cayuga Lake and 2017, and 18 reported since July of this year. The Community Science Institute, Cayuga Watershed Network, and the Floating Classroom have set up a network of volunteers to patrol the Cayuga Lake shoreline through September and collect samples of any suspicious algal blooms observed and to bring them to the CSI lab for processing. It is noted that analysis of the cyanobacteria samples can cost $150 to $200 per sample to support test kits and supplies.

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