Archive: News

17 mine employes were rescued from an elevator stuck 900 feet under ground last week after about ten hours in freezing temperatures.  The Lansing Fire Department acted in accord with Cargill and other local fire departments to come up with a plan and implement it as quickly and safely as possible.  Now that the mine workers are safe, company officials say they will take all the time they need to find out what caused the problem and to implement a remedy before reopening the mine.  The mild winter certainly took pressure off the company in terms of providing road salt to their customers, but Cargill representatives say they would conduct a thorough investigation in any case.

"The first reports were, '17 People trapped in Mine'," says Cargill Spokesman Mark Klein.  "That conjures up an image that is not very good.  '17 People Stuck On An Elevator' still isn't a good thing.  I think back at the times I've been on an elevator and stuck for a couple of minutes.  It is more about I've got to get to where I need to go.  10 hours is unacceptable.  But then I think everybody had loaded up their vans and were on their way.  Everybody had mobilized and then we got everybody out."

So what really happened?  How will it impact the mine and employees?  And how soon will the mine reopen?

Lane Elected to Third Year as Legislature Chair
At its 2016 organizational meeting, the Tompkins County Legislature reelected Legislator Michael Lane (D) to a third year as Chair of the Legislature.  Legislator Daniel Klein (D) was elected Vice Chair.  The positions of Chair and Vice Chair are filled each year by majority vote of members of the Legislature.  Both Chair Lane and Vice Chair Klein were the only nominations advanced, and were each elected by unanimous votes.  (Legislator Martha Robertson was excused.

Mr. Lane, first elected to the Legislature in 1993, is serving his fifth term on the Legislature, representing District 14 (Eastern part of the Town of Dryden, including the Villages of Dryden and Freeville).  He served three consecutive terms, then after a one-term hiatus, was returned to the Legislature for two more.

Tom Reed issued his support for the latest push in Congress to repeal of the Affordable Care Act, otherwise known as Obamacare.

"Our friends and neighbors from around the region have made it clear that we must repeal and replace Obamacare," said Reed. "These big government mandates are making it harder for people to find work, let alone afford the healthcare they need. It's time to end this failed policy."

On behalf of the Tompkins County Legislature, County Administrator Joe Mareane announced Monday that New York State has accepted a revised countywide Government Efficiency Report, enabling homeowners within the County to receive a State "tax freeze" rebate check equal to the increase in their 2016 County tax bill.  The owner of a $170,000 median-valued home in Tompkins County should see a rebate of approximately $12.39.

In addition, homeowners in municipalities in Tompkins County that stayed within their 2016 property tax cap will receive a State rebate for the increase in their village, town, or City property taxes.

Aurora, New York — Contingent faculty at Wells College filed their petition with the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) today to join Faculty Forward, a project of the Service Employees International Union (SEIU), Local 200United. Over the semester, they've built a majority of support for their union and file for a union election amidst an outpouring of support from their tenured and tenure-track colleagues.

Matthew Hogan, a Visiting Lecturer in Mathematics at Wells College and a member of the union organizing committee, said, "We are excited to start a new relationship with the administration today after we have filed for our union election. So far, the administration has been respectful of our democratic right to hold a union election, and has upheld its commitment to fair labor practices by remaining neutral. Now that we have filed for our election, we expect that the administration will continue to allow this process to unfold without interference."

Ed LaVigneIn his first act as Town Supervisor Ed LaVigne said Monday he will give 20% of his town salary back to Lansing.  LaVigne said he intends to continue to take a close look at every budget line item to keep spending at a prudent level.  He said that the Town will plan for future expenses, especially for Highway Department equipment, but added that he hopes to find $200,000 in savings for the year.  LaVigne also said in addition to giving back 20% of his salary, he does not intend to appoint a Deputy Supervisor, which together save the Town close to $9,000.

"The best way to do it as a leader is to take the first step, LaVigne said Monday.  "That first step is that I will give back 20% of my salary.  There's $6,000 right there.  The $3,447 dollars that we save by eliminating the Deputy Supervisor salary brings us up to $9,447.  Our goal is to reach $200,000 per year in savings, or some other way.  We'll look in the books and see where that money is, and see where other money is, and work smarter, not harder.  Every expense is on the table.  I will go through every expanse, and with the Board's approval we'll see where we can find money."

17 Cargill workers were rescued from an elevator stuck at about 900 feet below the surface Thursday at the Lansing rock salt mine.  The elevator had become stuck around 10pm Wednesday night.  An emergency call was received by the Tompkins County 9-1-1 Center at 11:40pm, and Lansing emergency responders were dispatched to the scene.  By 8:30am Thursday all 17 had been brought to the surface in a basket suspended from a special crane that held about four men at a time.

Miners and technicians were going down the shaft for a routine late third underground production crew shift when the elevator became stuck.  What is usually a five and a half minute trip turned into a ten and a half hour ordeal.  The Tompkins County 9-1-1 Center received a call at 11:40pm Wednesday reporting the workers were trapped in an elevator on their way to starting a late shift in the 2,300 foot-deep mine.  Lansing emergency responders were first on the scene.  They were soon joined by the Ithaca Fire Department and a myriad of other agencies and fire departments from as far away as Onondaga County.

"I am extremely relieved and happy to say that they're out," said Cargill Mine Manager Shawn Wilczynski.  'All 17 miners that were stuck in the shaft have been safely removed.  The number of people (who responded) were countless and endless.  There were numerous agencies, and the outpouring and willingness to help was extremely appreciated by us."

On Friday December 11th, The SPCA of Tompkins County filed charges against Kevin Pierce and Courtney Cotter in the Town of Newfield stemming from a hoarding investigation and subsequent seizure of 28 animals on November 11th.  As a result of a lengthy and ongoing investigation, the couple was charged with 31 counts of violating NYS Ag and Markets Laws section 353: Overdriving, torturing and injuring animals; failure to provide proper sustenance and 31 counts of violating section 356: Failure to provide proper food and drink to impounded animal.

The couple will be arraigned at the Town of Newfield court on Tuesday December 15th at 4:00pm.

Legislature Extends Arrangement for Shared Leadership of Health and Mental Health Departments
The Tompkins County Legislature has voted to authorize continued shared leadership of the Health and Mental Health Departments, by County Public Health Director Frank Kruppa, extending the interim arrangement that has been in place for the past eight months.  Considering four alternate proposed resolutions on the issue, Legislators, after nearly an hour of discussion, approved a modified version of a member-filed compromise resolution advanced by Legislator Carol Chock, which authorizes the plan to extend the Public Health Director's interim dual management through the end of 2018, plus such additional time in 2019 as is necessary to evaluate the performance of the combined department head model, determine whether it shall continue, consider other organizational alternatives, and accommodate any necessary organizational transition.

It also calls for other necessary changes to facilitate the plan, including the hiring of a Deputy Commissioner of Mental Health and Administrative Assistant.  Following a number of procedural votes and amendments, the final approval came by an 11-3 margin, with Legislators Leslyn McBean-Clairborne, Dooley Kiefer, and Dan Klein voting no.  Early-on in the discussion, Mr. Klein said he believed the Legislature should be acting on the administrative structure that should be in place, apart from the individual providing that service.
 

Tom Reed backed a number economic development projects awarded funding last week through the Upstate Revitalization Initiative and Regional Economic Development Councils (REDCs).

"I care about ensuring local community economic development projects have access to the resources they need. This is a great opportunity for investments into local economic development projects that will create jobs, attract tourists and help make our region a better place to live, work and raise a family," said Reed. "I'm glad to see this success for our region and am hopeful that we can get these projects off the ground quickly."

The Town of Lansing is searching for volunteers for two different groups and is asking residents to consider getting involved.  We are looking for your input into how the Town of Lansing will continue to grow and prosper.

• Comprehensive Plan Members – the committee began several years ago and plan is nearing completion.  We need some insights particularly with the sub committees of: Housing, Economic Development, Cultural Resources and Tourism.  The Committee has done a tremendous amount of work over the years and we anticipate concluding this project in 2016 with some new members to assist. The Town Board is seeking applicants to serve on the Comprehensive Plan Committee and sub-committees.
• Agriculture Committee Members- the town received a grant and established a committee to investigate various Agricultural Issues.  Aided with assistance of the Cornell Cooperative Extension, over the last 8 years, the committee completed the Ag Plan that was adopted by the Town Board on September 16, 2015.  The Town Board is seeking applicants to serve on this first official committee to continue the efforts begun under the Ag Plan.

If you have an interest in getting involved with these committees, you may speak with Michael Long in the Planning Department – This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.   Additional information can be found on the town’s web site.  Those willing to actively serve, please send a letter / email of interest to the Planning Department so that we can continue these efforts in January 2016.

The state Department of Corrections and Community Supervision (DOCCS) is not adequately monitoring the state's most dangerous sex offenders, often failing to make the minimum number of required monthly contacts and not performing mandated curfew checks, according to an audit issued today by New York State Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli. The audit examined compliance with the state's Sex Offender Management and Treatment Act (Act) at regional DOCCS offices in the Bronx, Brooklyn, Elmira, New Rochelle, Northeast (Albany), Peekskill, Rochester and Syracuse.

Under state regulations, DOCCS is responsible for closely monitoring sex offenders' compliance with court-ordered conditions of their release. The Act applies to offenders who have been legally determined to suffer from a mental abnormality that predisposes them to committing a sex offense and that results in their difficulty in controlling this behavior. Many of these individuals are subject to a Strict and Intensive Supervision and Treatment (SIST) program by department personnel. SIST respondents are expected to demonstrate acceptance of responsibility for their behavior and to develop appropriate strategies to prevent reoffending.