Archive: News

In a controversial public meeting Wednesday, Lansing's Town Board voted three to two to form a new water district extension on Algerine and Lansing Station Roads. The vote was the culmination of months of public hearings, legal and engineering exploration and consideration by the Board of this difficult issue.

The heart of the controversy is that residents on Algerine Road who can least afford new fees have good, working wells. Those on Lansing Station Road, where some wells have failed health Department inspections, are better able to pay the fees. The district must include both, because water must run from the existing water main on 34B down the hill along Algerine Road to Lansing Station Road, which parallels the Cayuga lake front.

Resident Claus Nyberg asked for details on what the proposed sewer district will cost Lansing taxpayers, saying that communication from the Town to residents has been inadequate. He noted that the sewer project Web site is not updated and that there is no way for residents to know what the sewer will add to their annual bill.

Speaking after the public hearing on the Algerine and Lansing Station Roads water district, he said, "If you think the water district is expensive, the sewer is maybe the most expensive project ever in Lansing, but we have no concrete numbers." He lamented the lack of a Town newsletter, stopping just short of accusing the Town of keeping the information secret.

Lansing School officials bade a warm farewell to Interim Superintendent Tiffany Phillips in her last Board of Education meeting Monday night. Board President Bonita Lindberg told the assembly, "We have been fortunate that we have been able to call upon Tiffany, who brings with her a wealth of knowledge, a sense of balance, a sense of humor, and great leadership to this district. I have thoroughly enjoyed our short time." She presented a parting gift on behalf of the BOE.

It was all about preparing for the possibilities as Lansing's Sewer Committee met Wednesday to consider their options for forming a sewer district in the Town of Lansing. With the number of attorneys attending doubled, it was clear the committee is almost ready to go from the planning stage to the action phase. Attorneys explained how the district may be formed and how to address legal pitfalls once the sewer route is chosen.

Sewer Committee Chairman Bud Shattuck called for a report from Village trustee Frank Moore, who has been attending Town Sewer Committee meetings from the beginning. The village is scheduled to send the Town its choice for a trunk line route through the Village before the end of this month. Mr. Moore reported that although the Village hasn't come to an official determination yet, that their strong preference is the Route along East Shore Drive (Route 34). They are aware, however, that State Department of Transportation (DOT) regulations make that route too expensive.

The Lansing Fire District continues to explore plans for replacing Fire Station 5 on Oakcrest Road. The building is too small for modern equipment and does not meet mandates for a fire house. The site is not sufficient for a new fire house that would need a traffic pattern and storage space large enough to move bigger modern fire trucks in and out, plus State required Hazardous Materials (Hazmat) facilities.

Ststion 5 is too small for modern fire equipment and Village needs

In Monday's Trustees meeting the Village of Lansing's engineer confirmed the Town's cost estimates for the three proposed routes for a sewer trunk line from the Cayuga Heights treatment plant through the Village to the town. Asked by Mayor Donald Hartill to check the numbers estimated by Jim Blum, an engineer developing the sewer project for the town, Village engineer Dave Putnam said that his analysis confirmed that the Town's cost estimates are about right, or possibly even a bit low.

The Mayor had hoped the Town's numbers would prove to be high, taking the sting out of the price tag for constructing the trunk line along East Shore Drive (Route 34). Because it is a State road East Shore is the only one of three proposed choices that is subject to State Department of Transportation (DOT) regulations. The DOT requires limited work hours each day, and that equipment be moved at the end of each day so the road can be reopened the rest of the time. This would add almost a million dollars to the price tag in labor costs, extra days and traffic control.

Lansing Fire District elections are scheduled for this Tuesday, December 13. Two seats are up for election, each with one candidate running unopposed. Jeff Walters is running for the Fire Commissioner seat being vacated by Steve White. George Gesslein is running for the Treasurer's position held through December 23 by Linda Beckwith.

Lansing's new Superintendent of Schools Mark Lewis met the public, teachers and school administrators at a casual open house in the Middle School Cafeteria yesterday (12/08).


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Lansing's Board of Education hunkered down for another Capital expansion workshop Monday night. The board is pouring through the details of a multi-million dollar plan to expand classrooms, and to improve facilities and security on the Ridge Road campus.

This was the fourth of a series of sessions with project planners and architects to carve the project down to a size that voters might be likely to approve in a March referendum. Architects and engineers from King & King were present as well as project planners from C&S Design Build, Inc., the construction manager firm. Also present was Mark Lewis, who will be Lansing's School Superintendent starting in early January.

The other day Star reader Robin Sharpless sent this note and a scan of a gas receipt: "We hear of the cries that the big oil companies have forced prices so high and the common man is suffering. The attached receipt is from a purchase made last week in New Jersey, a State which touches New York. Our prices are still in the mid $2.30's to the 2.40's. I believe the questions should be asked much closer to home as to why we pay so much more then our neighbors in New Jersey.

Please note the date and the location. This is news. News which should beg the question WHY!!!"

Why indeed! This represents a big difference of at least 50 cents per gallon. The Department of Energy says there are several factors that affect price. The proximity of the supply, disruptions in the supply, local competition, environmental programs and local station operating costs gas station owners incur all affect what you will pay at the pump.

Still waiting for Village Trustees' preference of a sewer trunk line route through the Village of Lansing to the Cayuga Heights Treatment Plant, the Town's Sewer Committee concentrated on funding options for the multi-million dollar project in their regular meeting Wednesday.

Tension seems to be mounting between the Town and Village as the deadline draws near, with both sides trying to second-guess the other. The trunk line must go through the Village to reach the Town, and the choice of which route to use is hotly contested. The Village will communicate its choice to the Town before the end of this year, at which time the final scope of the project can be calculated.

Both the Town Board and the Board of Education held special meetings Thursday evening (12/01) to take care of a few bits of business. The Town Board met to pass resolutions to start the SEQR process for the proposed Algerine Road water district extension. This is the process of environmental review that determines whether the project will be disruptive to the effected neighborhoods.

By law this resolution must be passed no more than 20 days before a public hearing can be scheduled, which is why the special meeting was needed. Next the Board passed a resolution to schedule the public hearing in the regular December 21 meeting. They also passed a resolution that adjusted funds in the budget, and appointing Greg Travis as the chair of the Zoning Board of Appeals, after accepting the resignation of current chair Steve White. A smattering of Algerine and Lansing Station Road residents were present to observe the proceedings.