Archive: News

A graffiti blitz hit Lansing last week with major damage to buildings, signs, the Lansing playground, local monuments, and Lansing High School property.  Lansing Park Superintendent Steve Colt says that while his staff has been working on removing hateful symbols and slogans this week, professionals will be needed to repair the iconic Lansing lighthouse and bluestone memorial benches and plaques in Myers Park.  The vandals also attacked Ludlowville Park, the former Lansing Central School District Office, and the Lansing High School concessions building at the football field.

"A lot of the things that were hit were community projects,"  says Parks Superintendant Steve Colt.  "The playground was a community effort.  The lighthouse was a community based effort.  These are things that everybody owns, not just the Town of Lansing. Everybody owns it and they're very proud of it, so when something like this happens...  I've taken calls every day this week.  people call me to tell me what's happened -- of course we already know -- when people go down to walk on a nice day they're outraged by what they see.  Some of them are really outraged."

Town Councilwoman Andra Benson resigned from the board Wednesday night.  Benson had been appointed to fill the first of two remaining years of Kathy Miller's councilwoman term when Miller was elected Supervisor.  Two weeks ago Benson announced she would not be running in November's election to fill the second year because her husband Chuck had suffered a serious back accident, and she intended to concentrate on helping him through what is expected to be a lengthy recovery.

"It is with much regret that I must resign my position of Town Board member effective October 18, 2012," Benson said, reading from a letter of resignation.  "Due to my husband's recent accident I must devote all of my time to his care.  I have greatly enjoyed my short stint on the board and feel I have learned a great deal. I know that the present Town board is serving the people of Lansing very well, and I commend your service."

Verizon customers may soon be getting better reception in Lansding.  The company is planning to place a 15 antenna array on a cell tower located on the Searles farm on Conlon Road.  The 195 foot tall tower was erected in 2006, servicing AT&T and Nextel.

"They're not increasing the height of the tower," says Lansing Town Attorney Guy Krogh.  "They're not increasing the size of the tower.  They are co-locating their array on that tower."

Budget Hearing Scheduled for November 13
The Legislature, by unanimous vote, set Tuesday, November 13 as the date for the public hearing on the 2013 Tentative Budget and capital plan for the next five years.  (Legislators Carol Chock, Kathy Luz Herrera, and Dooley Kiefer were excused.) The hearing will begin at 7:00 p.m. at Legislature Chambers, second floor of the County Courthouse, 320 N. Tioga Street, Ithaca.  The Legislature will take comment on the 2013 Tentative Budget and 2013-2017 Capital Plan, as amended from the County Administrator’s recommended budget, scheduled to be adopted by the Legislature October 30.

West Seneca Road Funding Agreement Approved
The Legislature authorized a construction funding agreement with the New York State Department of Transportation (DOT) for reimbursement of construction and inspection costs for the West Seneca Road bridge project in the Town of Ulysses.  The vote was unanimous, with Legislators Carol Chock, Kathy Luz Herrera, and Dooley Kiefer excused.  The County agrees to advance $920,000 from the project capital account, with 80%   expected to be reimbursed by the federal government and another 11% by the State, through DOT.  The Town of Ulysses will contribute 2% (projected at just over $20,000), with the anticipated County share (7%) just under $83,000.

Legislators acting as an Expanded Budget Committee wrapped up the presentation phase of their 2013 County budget review tonight, looking over eight more proposed spending plans from County departments and agencies in County Administrator Joe Mareane’s recommended 2013 budget.

Presenting were the Tompkins County Public Library, Tompkins Consolidated Area Transit (TCAT), the County Attorney, District Attorney, Solid Waste Management Division, Ithaca Tompkins County Transportation Council (ITCTC), Cooperative Extension, and Tompkins Community Action.

Mike NozzolioNew York State Senator Mike Nozzolio announced that Governor Cuomo has signed into law legislation (S.6799) he fought to enact that allows the state Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) to place a distinguishing mark on a driver’s license, or non-driver ID, to indicate its holder is a veteran. Under this law, a veteran of the United States Armed Forces may request to have this veteran status mark from the DMV.

“It has long been my belief that there is no greater debt of honor owed to anyone than that which every American citizen owes to our veterans,” said Nozzolio. “We must support our veterans who have returned home and recognize those who were willing to pay the ultimate price for our freedom. I was proud to vote to enact this legislation, which will ensure that the legacy of our veterans is preserved and reaffirms our commitment to distinguishing those who put their lives on the line for the security of our Nation.”

Lansing's County Legislator Pat Pryor told the Lansing Town Board Wednesday that two County organizations are asking for funding this year.  The Tompkins County Industrial Development Agency (IDA) and the Tompkins County Public Library have asked for funding this year.  Pryor says the IDA is asking for a one-time contribution to cover its operating costs and the library requires more funds to maintain 'Lead Library' status.

"It is primarily because of the complications from the 2009 financial crash and its aftermath," Pryor said.  "Because people are not tending to start new businesses and because existing businesses are holding off on their plans to expand, the IDA has not had the level of companies seeking assistance that it has had.  So the IDA's income, which it makes in fees from these businesses, has dropped dramatically."

Pat PryorThe Legislature threw its unanimous support behind the grant application of Clarity Connect, Inc. under the “Connect NY” Broadband Grant program, to expand broadband Internet service to unserved homes and businesses in Tompkins County.  (Legislators Carol Chock, Kathy Luz Herrera, and Nathan Shinagawa were excused.)

The “Connect NY” initiative offers $25 million for broadband Internet development statewide, to be allocated through the State’s Regional Economic Development Councils.  Clarity seeks approximately $3 million to support a project that would be undertaken, with Clarity as lead applicant, to extend high-speed Internet service to unserved areas in Tompkins and Cayuga Counties.

Legislature Closes Out Redistricting Process
The Legislature brought to a close the more than year-long process of reapportioning County legislative districts based on the 2010 Census, by taking formal action expressing appreciation to and disbanding the County’s Independent Redistricting Commission.  The resolution was approved without dissent, with Legislators Carol Chock, Kathy Luz Herrera, and Nathan Shinagawa excused. 

Through its action, the Legislature expressed “its deepest gratitude to the members of the Independent Redistricting Commission for its diligence, thoroughness, and comprehensive recommendations in providing an independent and non-partisan effort,” and it also thanked Information Technology Services Director Greg Potter and his staff for their professional information and expertise in support of the Commission, which made it possible for the redistricting process to move forward within the timeline requested.

Assemblywoman Barbara Lifton (D/WF-125) yesterday sent a letter to Governor Cuomo, thanking him for his decision to conduct a review of the public health impacts of fracking. Lifton, who was among the first in the Assembly to call for a comprehensive health study, sent the letter to the Governor on Monday.

“I was very surprised when [Commissioner Martens] told me in an Assembly hearing that there was no health study in the prior draft, as increased setbacks would preclude the need for such a study.  I, like many New Yorkers, was shocked that such an important and prominent concern has been completely overlooked,” said Lifton in the letter.

Village of Lansing Trustees rejected bids for a new Village Office Monday.  Officials had hoped construction could begin on a 2,662 square foot office building would have included offices for the Village Clerk, Code Enforcement Office, and DPW, and will include a public meeting room and an office for the Trustees and Mayor.  But actual construction costs would have put the project at least a quarter of a million dollars over budget.

"There is a significant amount of sticker shock," said Mayor Donald Hartill.  "That leads me to recommend that we reject all of the bids, and think about that with our architect with the plan of starting again.  It's depressing how expensive it is."

Katrina Binkewicz will now run unopposedTown Councilwoman Andra Benson announced this week that she will not run again for her Town Board position.  Benson has dropped out of the race for Town Board because her husband Chuck suffered a serious back accident that saw him hospitalized this week.  She says she will focus her attention on helping him through what promises to be a lengthy recovery.  As a result Katrina Binkewicz will run uncontested to fill the final year of Miller's term.

When Kathy Miller was elected Supervisor in 2011 she had only served two years of a four year term.  Ruth Hopkins and Ed LaVigne won seats vacated by Marty Christopher and Connie Wilcox.  Benson was the unsucessful candidate with the highest number of votes in that election, so in January of this year the Board appointed her to fill the first of the remaining two years of Miller's term as Councilwoman.  The position is up for the final year of the term in November's election, and again next year for a new four year term.