Archive: News

Lansing's Town Board voted 4 to 1 last night to grant next year's dog control contract to Country Acres, a Homer based dog shelter.  In the end it came down to dollars.  "The SPCA has been great," said Deputy Supervisor Connie Wilcox.  "We've stuck with them for years.  Even last year when they doubled their price we said OK.  But when times get tougher we've got to be more fiscally responsible.  I don't think it's fair to raise taxes for everyone in town almost a whole percentage just to stay with the SPCA."

That about summed it up.  While many town board members said they support the SPCA the price difference between the two shelters was too much.  The Tompkins County SPCA offered a $29,790 contract that was similar to a Country Acres bid in that emergency veterinary care would not be included, and the Town would pay for that above and beyond the contract amount on an as-needed basis.  Country Acres bid $18,600.  This year Groton switched to Country Acres.  The Town of Caroline is also considering switching for next year.

Since Norfolk Southern Railroad closed a private railroad crossing last April, residents of Ladoga Park have been scrambling to do whatever it takes to get the crossing reopened.  Many of them went to Wednesday's Town Board meeting to plead with the board to intervene with the railroad for them.

"The timing is pretty critical," said Noel Desch, a resident of the neighborhood and former Town of Ithaca Supervisor.  "We have winter coming and we'll be dealing with snow removal on private roads.  We know that the Town has rules and regulations for maintaining access to our individual properties.  But we feel the Town Board needs to step up and recognize that it also has a function here to assure that both life and property safety is restored."

Lansing school officials told the Board of Education Monday that AES Cayuga will be contributing more in property taxes beginning next year.  The money will come as a result of an agreement between the power company and Tompkins County.  Superintendent Stephen Grimm said that the agreement has been negotiated by Tompkins County Administrator Stephen Whicher, who he noted has significant assessment experience.

'This agreement is extremely beneficial to the school district," said school Business Administrator Mary June King.  "It is leading to a reassessment of the value of AES Cayuga at two years, then again at five years, ten years, and fifteen years.  The tax rate will be based on our tax rate every year.  We will receive the same tax rate from AES Cayuga as we receive from all of the other citizens of the district."

U.S. Congressman Michael Arcuri was in Lansing Monday to learn about the global electronics market.  Arcuri visited Kionix in the Cornell Business & Technology Park to talk to executives about their market, global competition, and what Congress can do to promote American business, as well as to tour the high tech facility.

"I've been to about 60 different businesses in the past year throughout the district," Arcuri says.  "I think it's really important to find out what's going on, especially at a company like this that is doing such cutting edge, innovative things.  So much of what they do is not just local, but international.  I want to find out what affects them, how they affect the rest of the business climate, and what I can do to help."

Tompkins County Administrator Steve Whicher has delivered to the County Legislature his final recommended budget, a 2009 Tentative County Budget that meets the Legislature’s goal of a tax levy increase of no more than 3 percent.

“This goal was accomplished through the hard work and responsible budgeting by all departments and agencies,” notes Mr. Whicher in a cover letter to the budget document.  “Many departments and agencies agreed to absorb initial State funding reductions as part of their submitted budgets.  Their good work is to be commended.”

The New York State Department of Transportation (NYSDOT) announced $1,207,006 in grants for six projects in Central New York to help students walk and bike safely to school and home again.

The intent of the Safe Routes to School program is to enable and encourage children to adopt a healthier and more active lifestyle by making bicycling and walking a safer and more appealing transportation alternative. The funds will also help local agencies plan, develop and implement transportation projects that improve safety while reducing traffic, fuel consumption and air pollution in the vicinity of schools.

WASHINGTON, DC – U.S. Rep. Michael A. Arcuri (NY-24) and U.S. Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton (D-NY) today announced that Building #3 at the Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) in Rome, NY, will be formally named the “Sherwood Boehlert Center of Excellence for Information Science and Technology,” during a formal ceremony hosted by the U.S. Air Force on Monday, September 15th.

“Sherry Boehlert fought aggressively on behalf of our local defense facilities throughout his entire career,” Arcuri said.  “Naming this building after Sherry is a testament to his character and work ethic.  I’m honored to have worked with Senator Clinton, to pay tribute to Sherry for his efforts to improve, expand and promote Rome Lab’s presence within the Air Force and throughout Upstate New York.”

Tompkins County Area Transit, Inc. (TCAT) has extended their 50-cent off-peak fare promotion until October 31st 2008.  TCAT off-peak fares are weekdays from 10AM to 3PM and after 6PM and all weekend long.  Half fare discounts do not apply to the reduced fare promotion.

The promotion was originally scheduled to run in just July and August. "We've a such great response to the 50-cent promotion," Joe Turcotte TCAT General Manager reported. "Increased off-peak ridership shows us that people appreciate the reduced fare."

The American Red Cross is ready for Hurricane Gustav and Tropical Storm Hanna. Gustav entered the Gulf of Mexico as a hurricane this weekend and the Red Cross was hard at work making preparations long before these storms even make landfall.

Staff from Red Cross chapters throughout the country are arriving in Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, and Alabama to assist local volunteers in the preparations and imminent response to both Gustav and Hanna. Eleven people from New York’s Southern Tier Chapter of the Red Cross, both staff and volunteers, have been deployed in anticipation of mass evacuations from the storms.

Legislature Expresses Official Intent to Pursue Joint Lifelong-Aging Office Facility
By a vote of 13-1, the Legislature approved a resolution of intent to cooperate with Lifelong to develop a joint facility which would house both the Lifelong agency and the County’s Office for the Aging.  (Legislator Pam Mackesey voted no; Legislator Tyke Randall was absent.) 

Calling a joint facility “in the interest of Lifelong, Tompkins County and the people served by both organizations,” the resolution indicates that it is intended that County financing would be used to support construction of a facility, with each party bearing a proportional share of the capital cost, less any public grant funding that may be obtained.

Over the month of August Lansing Principals Pettograsso, Thomas, and Brandtner and Director of Special Services and Grants Pam DiPaola reported to the Board Of Education on state wide tests and how Lansing students fared on them over the past three years.  Test data came from 'No Child Left Behind' compliance tests, and also Regents and advanced placement tests.

While the data showed that there is room for improvement, the news was generally good for Lansing students.  "At Lansing we're looking at more than just what you score on that test," said Superintendent Stephen Grimm.  "If we helped them get onto that next phase of your life, we're preparing them for a good future."

Lansing's Board of Education voted to go ahead with an energy performance contract that could save the district $2,817,549 over 18 years.  Board President Anne Drake has signed a contract with Johnson Controls, a Syracuse firm, to install energy conservation equipment in the Lansing schools that will provide $9,118,190 in energy cost savings.  The company will monitor the performance of the improvements they make, and if the district doesn't realize at least $5,671,049 in savings Johnson Controls will write a check for the difference.

"If you don't make your savings Johnson Controls writes you a check," Johnson Control's David Angelo said.  "It all fits within the parameters of when you get your first check from the state and when your first payment is due.  And most importantly when your first state aid check is due so there will be no outflow of cash from the district before all of this kicks in."