Archive: News

Lansing School Superintendent Chris Pettograsso presented statistics on how school district voters might vote on a $10.8 million municipal sewer proposal next year.  The numbers came from an exit poll during the May 21 school budget vote.  53% of voters who filled out the exit poll said they would support a yes' vote on sewer. 

"People that tended to fill out the exit survey were people who voted positively for the budget," Pettograsso said.  "Typically if you are voting yes for the budget you are voting yes for the sewer."

Lansing Supervisor Kathy Miller told the Sewer Committee Wednesday that a vote can take place in August or September instead of next April or May or later.  The Town will need to obtain legislative approval of an early vote at the state level.  An earlier vote would relieve institutions, businesses and homeowners on the cusp of replacing their current septic and package systems within the proposed initial service area.

"We can hold a vote in August or September," Miller said.  "If a majority vote 'yes' the town goes forward with the procedure, after which the sewer district would be subject to a permissive referendum next Spring when the procedure is completed."

Continuing its examination of how the Community Justice Center’s Day Reporting Program might be relocated so that the County could vacate the Old County Library building, the Legislature’s Capital Plan Review Committee today reviewed architects’ detailed concept plans and cost estimates for a proposed slight expansion of the County Human Services Building.

LaBella Associates estimated cost of the 1,600 square foot one-story bump-out on the southeast corner of the building to accommodate Day Reporting at about $1.5 million, including the considerable reconfiguration and renovation of interior space needed.  County Administrator Joe Mareane noted that, as part of the County’s extensive examination of space needs as part of the Center of Government business case analysis, a cost of $1.5 million had been estimated to relocate Day Reporting.

New York State Senator Mike Nozzolio announced Tuesday that the State Senate has taken a tremendous step forward in adopting a tougher stance against violent crime by enacting “Brittany’s Law”.  This legislation, S.1850A, sponsored by Senator Nozzolio, will create a publically accessible registry of convicted violent felons.

“Brittany’s Law represents a major step forward for our State in the fight against violent crime.  By putting new measures in place to track violent offenders and keeping our communities informed of their whereabouts, Brittany’s Law will save lives.  As Chairman of the Senate Codes Committee,  I will continue my aggressive efforts to enact tougher sentencing laws for violent criminals, reinforce laws to protect women and children from domestic violence, and strengthen the rights of crime victims to prevent future tragedy from occurring,” said Nozzolio.

The New York State Department of Transportation is advising motorists of possible traffic delays on Route 13 in the town of Dryden, Tompkins County.

The bridge replacement project at Fall Creek is nearing the completion point and Route 13 is being shifted slightly south to match the new bridge alignment.  Beginning on June 12, the tie-in pavement reconstruction between the existing and the new alignment is being done.  Motorists may experience delays on Route 13 in this area, as flaggers will be directing alternating traffic in one lane at and around the bridge site.  The alternating one way traffic operation will be in place weekdays, between 7 a.m. and 6 p.m. for approximately two weeks.

v9i22

After a media report earlier this week that water in Lansingville contains trihalomethanes (THM) levels that exceed federal standards, officials at the Bolton Point Water Commission and the town of Lansing were quick to point out there is no danger to the public and that the matter is being addressed.  The Ithaca Journal report said THM levels had reached 86 parts per billion at the Cayuga Power Plant, 6 parts per billion above the allowable annual maximum  average.

THM is a byproduct of the chlorination process.  Lansing Supervisor Kathy Miller says THM increases in water mains that are not in constant use.  Because there are relatively few customers in the northwest part of the town THM levels there are likely to rise.  She said the water commission plans to reduce THM levels by flushing that part of the system.  Miller added that installation of an aerator will provide a permanent solution.

Rep. Tom Reed and a bipartisan group of House and Senate Members have introduced legislation to cut billions of dollars worth of waste, fraud and abuse from Medicare and Medicaid. The Preventing and Reducing Improper Medicare and Medicaid Expenditures (PRIME) Act preserves the long-term viability of these critical health care programs and works to strengthen the federal government’s hand in protecting taxpayer dollars from being spent fraudulently.

“Combating waste, fraud, and abuse in Medicare and Medicaid will save these programs billions of dollars – money better spent on recipients who rely on access to these health care services,” Rep. Reed said. “We have a responsibility to be fair to our taxpayers and root out waste so their hard-earned dollars are being spent as effectively and efficiently as possible.”

The future of the Cayuga Power Plant dovetails with that of Lansing taxpayers.  That future is being determined by the New York State Public Service Commission (PSC) as it is currently evaluating four proposals for updating the local plant and a NYSEG recommendation that the plant be shut down.  Plant Manager Jerry Goodenough discussed the plant's proposals to convert the coal-powered plant to natural gas Thursday at a meeting of the Tompkins County Environmental Management Council.

"We are starting to import more and more electricity into New York," Goodenough said.  "600 megawatts are being imported into the state from Pennsylvania.  We feel that generation within New York is a better alternative to that."

Public Hearing Scheduled on TC3 Budget
The Legislature, without dissent, scheduled the public hearing on the 2013-2014 Tompkins Cortland Community College requested operating budget.  (Legislator Kathy Luz Herrera was excused.)  The hearing will be held July 2, 2013 at 5:30 p.m. at the County Legislature Chambers of the Tompkins County Courthouse, 320 N. Tioga Street, Ithaca.  The $38.3 million requested budget is 2.19% greater than the current year’s budget.  The proposed budget must be approved by both Tompkins and Cortland Counties, as sponsors of the College.

U.S. Congressman Tom Reed and the House Ways and Means Committee held a hearing Tuesday with organizations targeted by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) based on their personal beliefs. The witness list included both Tea Party and non-Tea Party groups, 501(c)(4) social welfare organizations and 501(c)(3) charitable organizations.

“Hearing today from a variety of groups targeted, it’s frightening how far the government went to discriminate and even more frightening to think how far it might have gone, had this prejudice not been brought to light,” Reed said. “A government so powerful that it actively works to silence certain personal, political or religious beliefs walks a dangerous line. Too many in Washington have forgotten who they work for. Washington works for the taxpayer, not the other way around.”

I loved your article about the new bobcat for LCS. It was well-written and the photos were a perfect match to the story line. I especially enjoyed reading about Mr. Nedrow's and Mr. Tierney's histories at Ludlowville and Lansing Central Schools. I will definitely be saving this article. Thanks for the great story!

The state Department of Labor’s (DOL) failure to maintain records on building boilers and asbestos remediation projects needing inspection may jeopardize public health and safety, according to an audit released today by New York State Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli. The audit also found that DOL failed to collect $3.8 million from building owners who had boilers inspected, asbestos abatement contractors and employers who failed to comply with workplace safety rules.

“The Department of Labor is not collecting all the fees and payments it should because it lacks complete information on items and activities that must be inspected to ensure public safety, such as boilers in apartment buildings. By not having a complete record of boilers throughout the state, the public is at risk of faulty boilers that may go uninspected and the state is losing out on inspection-related revenues,” DiNapoli said. “In cases where DOL has the needed information, it often fails to collect associated fees.  DOL clearly needs to do a better job to ultimately ensure the safety of New Yorkers and make sure taxpayers are getting a fair shake.”