Archive: News

When Lansing Fire Commissioners made the large field behind Central Station unavailable due to a construction project, it left department members scrambling to find an alternate site that is both big enough and dry enough to hold a Lansing Fire Department Carnival.  It looked like construction and overly wet weather would mean no carnival this year.  This week Carnival Committee member Dennis Griffin says the carnival is on.

"We are having a carnival," he says.  "It will be held at the RINK May 26, 27, and 28.  Friday and Saturday it is open from 6pm to 10pm, and Saturday from 2pm to 10pm.  We contacted the RINK and they are more than willing to have us there."

Congressman Richard HannaWashington, D.C. – U.S. Rep. Richard Hanna (R, C, I-Barneveld) today worked with the Small Business Committee to prepare legislation that will help promote American jobs and economic growth.

The cost-free legislation, H.R. 1425, the “Creating Jobs Through Small Business innovation Act of 2011,” will reauthorize two programs: the Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and the Small Business Technology Transfer Program (STTR).

The information-gathering process continued Tuesday, as County officials considered program aspects as they weigh part potential costs and benefits associated with continued operation of the County Health Department’s Certified Home Health Agency (CHHA).  Now that the State has eliminated its aid for such agencies, the County must decide whether the local property tax subsidy required to operate the Agency can be reduced or eliminated, or if the Agency should be sold or transferred to another home health provider.  The County Legislature may  consider the future of the CHHA as early as next month.

Unusually high water in Cayuga Lake is worrisome for anyone with lakefront property.  It is especially bad for residents of Ladoga Park, a neighborhood just south of Lansing's Myers Park.  But Ladoga Park Road wasn't the only property covered with water this week.  Water levels rose so high that the decision was made Monday to close all of Myers Park, only days after the marina was closed.

"There is a lot of debris floating around," says Park Superintendent Steve Colt.  "Nobody in their right mind ought to be out there anyhow, because the floating trees are really dangerous, and a lot of debris washes down the tributaries."

New York State Senator Mike Nozzolio commended the United States Postal Service Wednesday for making the postage stamp commemorating the Purple Heart medal a “forever” stamp, ensuring that this reminder of the tremendous sacrifices made by our Nation’s servicemen and women will always continue in circulation. Senator Nozzolio co-sponsored a special Legislative Resolution (J.1550) that was adopted by the State Senate thanking the Postal Service for classifying the Purple Heart stamp as a forever stamp.

“The Purple Heart Stamp is an important reflection of our pride and dedication to the men and women of our Armed Forces who have given the ultimate sacrifice for their country,” said Senator Nozzolio. “I commend the Postal Service in recognizing the great importance of this stamp to our military heroes and their families. I also thank State Senator Bill Larkin, who introduced this Resolution in the Senate, for his unwavering commitment in supporting New York State’s brave servicemen and women.”

LIPS was successful in engaging with a broad-based community coalition that was able to engage with an Ithaca College Administration successfully on the fact that the College had been paying its own workers at least a Living Wage + 50 cents, as well as being recognized as an institution of higher education that was particularly committed to a Living Wage.

At 10:15 am on Thursday April 28, Sodexo Supervisor Jeff Scott met with Sodexo employees and informed them that the Living Wage will be granted to everyone currently below the $11.11 calculation by Alternatives Federal Credit Union for 2010.  This is a clear victory for workers at Ithaca College, for the Labor Initiative in Promoting Solidarity, and for workers’ rights in general. The multinational Sodexo has agreed to bear the costs of this increase for the 2011-2012 school year.

Legislature Moves Ahead With Center of Government Study

The Legislature, by unanimous vote of those present (Legislators Brian Robison, Nathan Shinagawa, and Kathy Luz Herrera were excused) appropriated additional funding and awarded HOLT Architects of Ithaca the professional consulting contract to perform a business case analysis examining the Center of Government concept, at a cost not to exceed $125,000.  The cost-benefit analysis will compare county government’s current space configuration for central core operations, housed in several County-owned and leased facilities with the estimated cost of housing all or part of those operations in a single administrative building.

The Legislature allocated  an additional $75,000 in contingency funds for the study, beyond the $50,000 approved late last year, to support an increased scope of work, which  incorporates additional County departments and examines alternate use of existing space, should departments relocate.  At the time the initial funding was approved, it was noted that additional funding would be requested if the scope of work increased.

Legislator Nathan ShinagawaCounty Legislator Nathan Shinagawa has been invited to attend a White House County Officials meeting on Tuesday, May 3rd, where senior White House and Administration officials will discuss with county leaders from across the country issues of importance to county government.  Likely topics will include infrastructure, sustainable communities, health reform implementation, and Medicaid.

“More than ever, the decisions that are made at the federal level affect our policies, programs and taxes at the local level,” says Legislator Shinagawa.

Trustees voted Monday to refer a Planned Development Area (PDA) project that will bring 65 affordable rental units to the Village of Lansing.  Better Housing of Tompkins County will be the majority owner and manager of the project, dubbed Lansing Reserve.  The project is proposed for a 23 acre lot near Warren Road, between Dart and Northwoods Drives.

"There are a number of challenges associated with the project," said Mayor Donald Hartill.  "Access is probably one of the biggest challenges.  There are concerns abut wetlands associated with the property.  I think those have been addressed.  There are concerns about setbacks.  The other questions, of course have to do with traffic and the impact on schools.  This proposal has generated a lot of interest: the County in terms of its activities to try to provide affordable housing; the neighbors who are concerned about it," Hartill said.  "There has been a fair amount of documentation exchanged."

One of the hazards of rural roads is that the twist and turn, making visibility dicey.  When you add that to a 55 mile per hour speed limit on two lane roads there are bound to be accidents.  Last week East Lake resident Natalie Emlen presented a petition to the Lansing Town Board to approach the New York State Department of Transportation (DOT) to do something to reduce accidents on East Shore Drive in the East Lake/ Waterwagon area.

"There is a long history of neighborhood concern," she said.  "The neighborhood was very concerned about safety, particularly at Waterwagon and East Lake.  As I talked to more people they asked me to extend the petition."

Pat PryorTwo state experts provided a community briefing Monday on programs at the state and federal level related to the development of broadband service, invited by the County’s Broadband Committee to assist as the committee works to help shape future County policy regarding the extension of high-speed internet access to all parts of Tompkins County.

David Salway, director of the Enterprise Program and Performance Management Office and the Broadband Program Management Office for the office of New York State Chief Information Officer and Office for Technology, and William F. Johnson, Deputy Director for the New York State Office of Cyber Security, offered information and answered questions, at a special community meeting sponsored by the Broadband Committee.

County Administrator Joe Mareane Monday presented a plan to the County’s Budget and Capital Committee intended to address cuts in State aid enacted as a part of the 2011-12 State Budget.

The County now estimates the 2011 impact of State cuts at $755,000, down slightly from earlier estimates as the result of new information about the timing of aid reductions and specific program-by-program analyses.