Archive: News

The Tompkins County Legislature unanimously approved a three-year contract with a Trumansburg, NY firm to expand what Solid Waste Division Manager Barbara Eckstrom calls the ‘next frontier' of recycling in the County.

Under this public-private partnership, Cayuga Compost will provide food scrap recycling services - processing the organic material and marketing the resulting compost.

Most registered voters in Tompkins County will be getting a yellow 'mail check' postcard from the Board of Elections during the week of August 5. This card tells the voter what election district they live in and where their poll site is.

Due to redistricting, voters in the City of Ithaca, Caroline, Dryden and the Town of Ithaca should pay special attention to their polling location, as it may have changed.

If the Cayuga Power Plant closes the impact on the Lansing school system will be devastating.  School officials have said that they have cut so much already that programs and teachers would be on the chopping block if still more revenue is lost.  At a New York State Public Service Commission hearing Monday Tompkins County Legislator Carol Chock and Ulysses Town Supervisor Elizabeth Thomas advocated closing the plant, arguing that the Lansing district should be able to fund its programs like neighboring districts do that do not have such a large taxpayer within their borders.

"I know it's tough," Chock said.  "But our other towns fund roads, teachers and football teams within their budgets without having a plant in their town.  If you tell the Lansing football players that they won't have a team when they're smart enough to know that the teams that they play don't have power plants there." 

Chock and Thomas advocated renewable energy, saying that if the only two choices are to repower the plant or upgrade the power delivery grid as NYSEG has proposed, the latter choice would be best despite the consequences to Lansing.

"If fear of increased taxes is driving the decision to repower with natural gas, let's look at a comparison of neighboring school districts," Thomas said.  "Both the Lansing and Trumansburg school districts are nearly the same size.  Each spends approximately the same per student.  The 2012 tax rates are also comparable.  However Lansing School District has not only a power plant, but also a large salt mine and high value lake shore properties which Trumansburg has none of."

The New York State Public Service Commission (PSC) was in Lansing Monday to hear opinions on whether the Cayuga Power Plant in Lansing should be repowered with gas or shut down.  Lansing Middle School Auditorium was filled beyond capacity as more than 600 people attended, some of them listening in an 'overflow room' in the school.  Speakers argued for plans to repower the plant, or close it and upgrade the power transmission system that the PSC is considering, as well as for stopping the use of fossil fuels altogether.

Upstate New York Power Producers, which operates the Cayuga Power Plant, put forward four plans to upgrade the coal-powered plant to natural gas, including a 14 mile pipeline extension from Freeville and a 2 megawatt, 6 acre solar panel array.  The plan that seems to be most in contention is the lowest price plan that plant officials say will not raise ratepayers electric bills, and will actually lower rates.  NYSEG's plan would close the Lansing plant and use a rate hike to fund an electricity delivery system.  Both plans aim to provide more reliable electric service to the Auburn area. 

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Pat Pryor is running for her second four-year term on the Tompkins County Legislature. Pryor began her political career in the teachers union as an elementary school and special education teacher, serving as president of her local when she taught at BOCES, and later serving on the Ithaca Teacher's Association Negotiating team. Originally from Vestal Center, her first job was at the Lansing Elementary School in 1962, where she stayed for eight years before moving first to the girl's juvenile detention center school, then to BOCES in 1972 and finally to Ithaca.

After retiring from teaching she served on the Ithaca Common Council from 2000 to 2003. She moved to Lansing in 2005, and defeated her current opponent for the Lansing County Legislature seat by a seven votes in 2009. Pryor stopped by the Lansing Star Saturday to talk about her accomplishments, goals, and the upcoming campaign.

"I don't know of any issue that brings town, county, state, economic development, small business, organized labor and educators all together like this issue has galvanized the support of the community, said New York State Senator Mike Nozzolio Monday.  "I'd especially like to thank the community for your involvement, your dedication, for your interest, and for your leadership in this very important issue.  Ensuring the ongoing operation of the Cayuga Operating Plant will protect our property taxpayers, while retaining good jobs right here in our region."

Nozzolio was at the Cayuga Power Plant in Lansing Monday to support a proposal to repower the coal-powered plant with natural gas.  With nearly 30 plant employees watching, Nozzolio was joined by a community leaders from Lansing and Tompkins County supporting the repowering project and keeping the plant open.  Nozzolio urged community leaders and local residents to speak up at a public hearing at 6pm on Monday, July 29th at the Lansing Middle School Auditorium at which the Public Service Commission (PSC) will hear public comments.

The Cayuga Inlet was closed to boat traffic Tuesday for the first application of an herbicide officials hope will eventually eliminate hydrilla in southern Cayuga Lake.  The invasive species was found in the Inlet in 2011, and treatments were administered last summer.  Boat owners were also offered advice on how to avoid spreading hydrilla.

The herbicide Aquathol K (active ingredient dipotassium endothall 40.3%) was applied in the Cayuga Inlet, the Flood Control Channel, the Treman Marina and the lower reaches of Cascadilla Creek and Six Mile Creek. The herbicide is applied below the surface of the water, using a boat where possible and backpack sprayers in less accessible areas.

Looking backward and looking ahead, the Tompkins County Legislature took a few minutes to reflect, as it marked the end of 80 years in its home on the second floor of the Tompkins County Courthouse.  The Legislature deliberated for the final time in its Courthouse space Tuesday, which it is leaving to accommodate needs of the New York State Court System.  On August 6, it will reconvene in its new legislative chambers on the second floor of the historic Governor Daniel D. Tompkins Building—formerly known as the Old Courthouse.

Many legislators reflected on the Chamber’s history, and on the long and careful process that brought the County to preserve the historic Old Courthouse for its new Chambers.  They thanked the Capital Plan Review Committee, staff, and HOLT Architects for their work in making the necessary Legislature relocation reality.

Rep. Tom Reed and the House of Representatives voted last week to pass a five-year Farm Bill, with strong support from local farmers.

“Farmers are counting on the House to get a Farm Bill passed,” Reed stressed. “Today’s bill is the way forward so that we can go to conference with the Senate and get a long-term Farm Bill signed into law.”

Karen W. Baer Appointed Director of Human Rights
The Tompkins County Legislature has confirmed the appointment of Karen W. Baer as Tompkins County Director of Human Rights.  County Administrator Joe Mareane’s appointment was confirmed by unanimous vote of the Legislature (Legislators Jim Dennis and Leslyn McBean-Clairborne were excused).

Ms. Baer is Executive Director of the Geneva Human Rights Commission, Geneva, NY, a position she has held since 1997. She has also served as the part-time Director of Enforcement for the Fair Housing Council of Central New York.  Leading the Geneva Human Rights Commission, Ms. Baer develops, administers, and evaluates effective human rights programs to promote mutual respect and understanding among all community racial, religious, and ethnic groups, and helps enforce state and federal civil rights laws in such areas as employment, housing, and public accommodation.  As Fair Housing Council Director of Enforcement, she investigates, evaluates, and resolves housing discrimination complaints based on federal, state, and local protections.

Personal Income Tax (PIT) and business tax collections were down in June compared to last year, but the state’s General Fund balance ended the month higher than anticipated, in part because of a $250 million regulatory settlement, according to the June cash report released today by New York State Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli.

Gross PIT receipts in June rose from a year ago, but an increase in tax refunds contributed to a $21.8 million decline in net receipts. Business tax collections during June fell $97.2 million from a year earlier, largely because of a drop in bank taxes.

The Lansing Post Office has announced it will be reducing its hours of operation.  The Postal Service gave notice that the Lansing branch will only be open from noon to 4:30pm Monday through Friday, and from 10am to noon on Saturdays.   In addition to reduced counter service, PO Box holders will only be able to access their boxes during these hours.

The reduced hours are reportedly because the branch's revenue has not justified the hours the branch was open.  The reduction in hours will be effective August 3.

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