Archive: News

Culminating two-and-a-half months of budget deliberations and more than two hours deliberation tonight on proposed budget amendments, the Tompkins County Legislature, without dissent, adopted the County’s 2013 budget and its capital program for the next five years.  Approval came by a 14-0 vote, with Legislator Kathy Luz Herrera excused.  And after approving a series of amendments that would have boosted the levy increase slightly, Legislators approved taking $65,000 from the County’s fund balance to meet the New York State property tax cap—adjusted for the County at 3.69%

The adopted budget is increases the County tax levy by 3.69% and the countywide average tax rate by 12 cents (1.87%) to $6.79 per thousand, an increase of $19.95 for the average $160,000 home.  County property taxes on that average home stand at $1,087.15.

County Electricity Consumption Will be Offset by Renewable Energy Certificates
The Legislature authorized the County to contract with Integrys Energy Services, through the Municipal Electric and Gas Alliance, for the purchase of electricity through the end of 2013, with the option to renew for an additional year.  Under the agreement, 100% of the County’s electricity use will be offset by Renewable Energy Credits (RECs)—RECs are a tradable commodity created when harnessing energy from renewable energy sources.  Approval came by a vote of 12-1, with Legislator Dooley Kiefer voting no and Legislators Carol Chock and Kathy Luz Herrera excused.

A 490 acre plot of land may become a significant state wildlife and recreation area in the north-westernmost corner of Lansing.  Fingerlakes Land Trust Executive Director Andy Zepp asked the Lansing Town Board Wednesday to approve a resolution supporting state acquisition of the property for public use.

"This is a one of a kind property," Zepp said.  "It's 3,400 feet of shoreline.  Nut Ridge Road does not come to the shoreline but it comes pretty close.  There is tremendous potential for providing access.  If the old rail grade, which is no longer active north of Milliken Station, provides a path along the trail that's actually used by neighbors today.  We think it could be an incredible resource for the community."

The Lansing Sewer Committee met Wednesday to consider  details of sewer distric boundaries and a three-tiered payment plan that may also fold the town's two existing sewer districts into a new town-wide district.  The committee had prepared a plan for a much smaller district, but costs to individual properties were deemed to be too high.  A town-wide sewer district could bring costs down to about 1/3 for those within the highest tier.

The new plan includes South Lansing and to the south from Buck Road to Cherry Road, spanning most of the width of the town.  One of the problems facing the committee now is the exact boundaries of the district, and how to handle the amount paid by non-profit and agricultural properties.  The committee is trying to understand complicated state laws while coming up with a fair policy.

	Updated 11/15/2012

Two Lansing men were arrested Tuesday morning for defacing town and school property with graffiti, causing more than $8000 worth of damage to town parks and school property.  After an exhaustive month-long investigation Mason Golden (19) and Cosmo Weldon (17) were charged with two counts each of Criminal Mischief in the Second Degree (D felony) and two counts of Making Graffiti (a class A misdemeanor).  Lansing Park Superintendent Steve Colt credits the Tompkins County Sheriff's Department and Deputy Sheriff Peter Walker for doggedly pursuing the investigation.

"I think people will be glad to hear that the police never stopped," Colt says.  "Pete Walker and some of the other guys -- they never stopped.  Just because it wasn't in the headlines as much as when it happened, it didn't mean things weren't happening.  They were all along.  That's why it's nice that it came to this conclusion."

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The Village of Lansing has started procedures to place a new traffic light on Triphammer Road at the intersection of Craft Road.  Mayor Donald Hartill told Trustees that he has asked Superintendent of Public Works John Courtney to begin putting together data and an application to the NYS Department Of Transportation (DOT), which must approve the placement of traffic lights.

"There are two reasons for wanting to do that," Hartill said.  "One is that our business population is increasing.  So there is going to be increasing traffic there.  The other thing that it does is slow traffic down.  People come breezing in at significantly over 30 miles per hour.  So it has a number of different functions."

Last month a Town Board vote on establishing a sewer district seemed imminent.  But high costs to properties within the district caused the board and the Lansing Sewer Committee to look at a town-wide option that would have included the whole town with the exception of the Village of Lansing, which has its own sewer district.  That would cut the cost of sewer by two thirds for those inside the initial service area, and would mean a nominal cost to others in the Town.

Wednesday engineer David Herrick suggested the Sewer Committee consider a third version, based on an old plan: a partial town-wide district the boundaries of which define a large area of the town that could realistically be sewered at some time in the future.

Ithaca City Officials confirmed yesterday that the Clinton Street Bridge and Prospect Street will be re-opened to vehicular traffic today, Friday, November 16, 2012 at 3:30pm, following brief celebratory remarks that will begin at 3:00 p.m.  The bridge closing has long made access to the Ithaca Police Department and destinations like Ithaca College difficult for Ithaca commuters.

“Upon the re-opening of the Clinton Street Bridge and Prospect Street, I officially declare “Carmageddon” over!” states Ithaca Mayor Svante L. Myrick.  “It’s been an exciting year of new construction, and more projects are underway.  I understand the inconvenience and toll these projects can have on the traveling public and I just want to express my thanks for everyone’s patience.”

As the Tompkins County Legislature Tuesday took comment on the recommended amended County Budget for 2013, legislators were asked to take reexamine requests for over-target funding for Youth Services programs, allocations characterized as a small investment now to produce long-term benefits for youth at risk.

Seven people attended tonight’s hearing (including some department and agency representatives), and all four people who spoke asked the Legislature to reconsider the funding requests for youth.  Linda Schoffel, Rural Youth Services Coordinator, asked the Legislature to take another look at a $9,700 request that would maintain the Municipal Youth Services System at this year’s level despite State reductions.  She said the system is “alive, but wounded” after significant State and County cuts over the past three years.

In Lansing's only local race Katrina Binkewicz (D) received 61% of the vote making her Town Councilwoman with 2676 votes.  Andra Benson (R), who had dropped out of the race too late to be taken off the ballot received 1661 votes.  A new law to update Lansing's charitable gambling law was passed 2,765 to 810.  The day after the election Binkewicz was appointed to finish Benson's term at Wednesday's regular Town Board meeting. 

Election day saw few contested races for Lansing voters.  Barack Obama (D) defeated Mitt Romney (R) 303 Electoral College delegates to 206.  270 were needed to win.  In the popular vote Obama won 60,743,181 votes (50%) to Romney's 57,853,713 (48%).  But the numbers in Tompkins County were heavily skewed toward Obama with 67.9% (24,447) of voters choosing the president and only 28.4% (10,202) for Romney.

Legislature Authorizes Energy-Saving Public Safety Building Improvements Through Low-Interest Stimulus Financing
The Legislature took the necessary steps to make needed energy-saving improvements to the County’s Public Safety Building, funded through low-interest energy conservation bonds allocated as part of the Federal stimulus program.

Legislators by a vote of 12-1 (Legislator Leslyn McBean-Clairborne voted no, and Legislators Carol Chock and Kathy Luz Herrera were excused) authorized the County to enter into an energy performance contract with Johnson Controls, Inc. of Syracuse to perform the deferred maintenance and energy efficiency improvements, at an estimated cost of more than $1.3 million, to be funded largely through Qualified Energy Conservation Bonds.

New solar panels currently being installed on seven County buildings will significantly lower County energy costs, while increasing the use of renewable energy in Tompkins County.

The firm Solar Liberty is installing the panels as part of a 15-year lease agreement with the County.  The panels will more than pay for themselves—for the annual lease payment of just over $14,000, the County will save nearly as much in energy costs, beyond the expense of the lease.