Archive: News

Ed LaVigne defeated Chris Williams  369 to 65 in yesterday's primary election for Republican candidate for Lansing Town Supervisor.  There were two write-in votes.  LaVigne will face off against incumbent Supervisor Kathy Miller (D) in the November 3rd election.  Williams called LaVigne to concede when the results were released.

"The primary is designed so that if there is a difference of opinion, and support for those opinions, a primary will be followed with an election," LaVigne said after the unofficial results were tallied last night.  "The process makes the candidate, in my opinion, a better candidate.  I have nothing but the utmost respect for Chris Williams.  There is definitely a place for him in our party.  He brings his energy and enthusiasm.  I look forward to talking to him about future ideas that can benefit Lansing.  Moving forward, my objective is to win the general election and make Lansing a better place to live."

Ed LaVigne is competing in next Thursday's (September 10) primary election to determine whether he will become the Republican candidate for Lansing Town Supervisor.

LaVigne is completing his first term as a Town Board member, and decided to go for the top job this year.  He has lived in Lansing since he was one year old.  A pharmacist at the Lansing Tops Market, he has been married to his wife, Debbie, since 1983.  They have two children and five grandchildren.  LaVigne holds a degree in accounting from TC3, and a pharmacy degree from Albany College of Pharmacy. 

Chris Williams is competing in next Thursday's primary election to determine whether he will become the Republican candidate for Lansing Town Supervisor.

Williams is the brewer behind Stout Hearted Beer, Rogue's Harbor Inn's own brand.  Originally a native of Quincy, Michigan.  He moved to Lansing about five years ago after working as a research scientist for Kodak, focusing on intelligence projects for the U.S. government.  In 1999 he founded Escape Radius, a software and Internet development company,.  In 2011 he turned a passion for home brewing into a second job when he became the head brewer for the Rogue's Harbor Inn's on-site brewery, Stout Hearted Brewing. 

Administrator Releases 2016 Recommended Budget
Tompkins County Administrator Joe Mareane has delivered to the County Legislature a 2016 Recommended County Budget that maintains services, reinvests in infrastructure, addresses organizational pressure points, and remains within the County’s projected property tax cap.
 
In his annual Budget Message to the Legislature, Administrator Mareane notes that the Budget reflects both the effects of the improving economy and a return on investment from what has been done to make the County stronger.  “The Recommended Budget raises the County property tax levy by just 1.3%--well below the final State-imposed tax cap of 1.8%.  Even at that restrained level of growth, the Budget supports current levels of service and provides additional funding for items or activities that improve productivity, customer service, the condition of our infrastructure, or the sustainability of the organization—the things that make us stronger, but not bigger.
 

Tompkins County Administrator Joe Mareane has delivered to the County Legislature a 2016 Recommended County Budget that maintains services, reinvests in infrastructure, addresses organizational pressure points, and remains within the County’s projected property tax cap.
 
In his annual Budget Message to the Legislature, Administrator Mareane notes that the Budget reflects both the effects of the improving economy and a return on investment from what has been done to make the County stronger.  “The Recommended Budget raises the County property tax levy by just 1.3%--well below the final State-imposed tax cap of 1.8%.  Even at that restrained level of growth, the Budget supports current levels of service and provides additional funding for items or activities that improve productivity, customer service, the condition of our infrastructure, or the sustainability of the organization—the things that make us stronger, but not bigger.
 

Tom Reed called on oil and gas companies to reduce the price of gas for consumers in the wake of plunging oil prices. “It’s completely unfair to continue to pay over two dollars per gallon for gas when the price of a barrel of oil has fallen so dramatically in the last few months,” said Reed. “I care about the way prices at the pump are hurting families and businesses and the positive impacts in light of recent changes are long overdue.”
 
Reed announced his intentions to work with the Secretary of Energy to focus on bringing prices down at the pump, citing that lower gas prices are good for the economy all around. “Lower gas prices mean reductions in energy costs, which will lower the cost of consumer goods and ultimately create more jobs as energy costs are one of the main barriers to growth in domestic manufacturing,” said Reed.
 

Tom Reed held a joint press conference with State Senator Tom O'Mara and State Assemblyman Bill Nojay to reaffirm his opposition to the President's Nuclear Agreement with Iran and called on Senator Kirsten Gillibrand to reconsider her support of the deal.

Reed went on to emphasize the need for bipartisan cooperation on matters of national security, citing Senator Schumer's recent public opposition on the deal.  "I am thankful for Senator Schumer's willingness to look at the facts of this agreement and publicly issue his opposition to the agreement."

Lansing Town Board members were surprised a few weeks ago when they learned the New York State Department Of Transportation (DOT) will install a three-color traffic signal on the corner of North Triphammer and State Road 34B.  Town Supervisor Kathy Miller said the only notice the Town had received was a short letter informing her that the light will be installed.  Board members expressed concerns that a three-color light may make traffic worse, and agreed the Town should get more information from the DOT.

"This was news to us," Miller said.  "The letter is very short.  It just says they studied it and they certainly didn't flesh out why they're doing it.  The four way stop will eventually be a three-color traffic signal at 34B and Triphammer Road.  Apparently it was Mr. Sidel.  He petitions for reductions of speed limits all over town.  Apparently he petitioned the State in 2014.  They came out and did a study, and said it was a good idea.  They didn't say when, but they will be doing that.  We did not petition the State for this."

DOT Public Information Officer for Region 3 Gene Cilento says the Traffic Group made the decision based on a traffic safety study that was completed about a month ago.

Lansing Fire Commissioners agreed Tuesday to raise the tax rate as they began considering next year's $2.41 million budget after District Treasurer George Gesslein warned that the skyrocketing cost of new fire trucks will require more in capital reserves.  Commissioners began reviewing the 2016 budget, of which they expect to levy $1.3 million in property taxes.  While the district is in good financial shape, Gesslein warned that planning now will keep the district budget healthy for the future.

"We're getting a little tight on the dollar," Gesslein said.  "One reason is because the assessed value in Lansing hasn't increased as much as we thought it would.  Another reason is I probably recommended too much of a drop last year, that 4% drop.  And the other reason is that the apparatus is running really heavy increases compared to what we projected many years ago.  it's a budget we could probably live with.  But we're going to be boxed into a corner if we don't start kicking the rate up a little bit in the next few years, and think about what exactly what equipment we actually need."

Lansing Democrats voted last night to designate their candidates at the Lansing Democratic Caucus.  The Democrats unanimously nominated three candidates.  Kathy Miller will run for a second term as Town Supervisor.  Former Councilwomen Katrina Binkewicz and Andra Benson will be on the November Ballot for two open town council positions.

Miller was nominated by former Tompkins County Legislator Pat Pryor.  She lauded Miller for steady leadership and for dealing with what she called a very challenging and difficult period of time in which she said Republicans have been unwilling to negotiate on most issues, and disruptive crowds have attended town board meetings.  She said Miller has realistic goals for the Town to establish a fund balance policy, a reserve policy, a plan for renewable energy for town properties, to revitalize the Economic Development Committee, to support agriculture, support development for families, and create a five year financial plan.  Miller said that despite adversity that thwarted her attempts to get initiatives passed, the Town has made some advances.

A lot of digging has been going on at the Lansing school campus this summer.  School Business Administrator Mary June King told school board members Monday that three new septic systems will not be finished for opening day of the new school year, but Lansing school facilities will be fully operational.  The $4.1 million project that includes new septic systems for all three major school buildings is about three weeks behind.  But students, faculty and staff won't notice any difference in September when the plumbing is switched from the old to the new.

"The septic project is still about three weeks behind," King said.  "I want to make sure everybody understands that is just related to turning off the old septic and turning on the new septic.  We knew that would be happening during the fall after the students have arrived on campus.  The old septic is still in place.  It's still working just fine, so we shouldn't have any problems.  The turnover will be done building by building.  It is literally a matter of turning one on and turning the other one off."

With the decision still pending on whether the coal-burning Cayuga Power Plant will be repowered with natural gas, attorneys for Cayuga Operating Company, LLC (COC) and Sierra Club, Ratepayer and Community Intervenors, Environmental Advocates of New York, and Citizens Campaign for the Environment on Repowering Options for Cayuga Generating Facility filed comments with the New York State Public Service Commission (PSC) this week.  Additionally, Entergy Entities, which owns nuclear and traditional power plants around the country, filed their own comments opposing repowering the Lansing plant.

There are few surprises in the comments submitted.  COC says repowering the plant will reduce ratepayers' bills, while opponents claim ratepayers will pay more.  Perhaps the most surprising comments were submitted by Entergy Entities, which owns four nuclear plants and four traditional power plants including one in Owego, NY and one in Buchanan, NY.  Entergy supported NYSEG's plan, but said that whether the PSC agrees or not, its authority is preempted by federal regulations.