Archive: News

Governor Andrew M. Cuomo announced Tuesday that assistance is available for farmers impacted by extreme rainfall and wet weather conditions last summer. Last week, the federal government declared 12 counties across the state as natural disaster areas. With these designations, farmers in the impacted areas may be eligible for assistance, including emergency loans, from the United States Department of Agriculture Farm Service Agency.

"As extreme weather becomes the new normal, we must protect our farmers who all too often bear the brunt of these weather events with damaged crops and land," Cuomo said. "In the wake of the excessive rainfall experienced in these counties last year, the declarations will ensure farmers have access to emergency funds they need to help get them back on their feet and recover from these devastating losses."

Lansing School Superintendent Chris Pettograsso shared what information she had Monday when a school district resident asked what the impact of the plant's devaluation and a possible repowering with natural gas will mean in terms of how it impacts the schools.  She asked the school board specifically how a plan to deliver Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) between using 25 to 60 trucks per day would impact safety as the trucks drive past the school campus, and also how the devaluation or possible closing of the plant would impact taxes and school programs.

"We can talk about what we know, because we're often, too, trying to get information," Pettograsso said. "We have somewhat regular meetings with the plant to gather some input, and often they'll ask for our input."

Senator Pam Helming greets Korean War veteran and longtime veterans advocate Ralph Calabrese during the 4th of July parade in Canandaigua in July 2018

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The public hearing for the Osmica Bed & Breakfast / Reception Venue project came to an end Monday, after nine neighbors spoke, for the most part urging the Town of Lansing Planning Board to use a long form environmental impact assessment, rather than the short form that would typically be used for a project of this size.  Opponents to the project have been speaking out since the public hearing began on January 28th.  While Planning Board Chairman Gerald Caward asked only for new comments and information, the gist of the speakers' message was the same -- they are concerned with noise, traffic and parking, lighting, temporary tents, the size of gatherings, and storm water runoff in their rural neighborhood.

"Remembering the many issues from our previous public hearings, I ask that the long form environmental review be used for this proposal as a tool to identify problems, leading to best solutions for the neighborhood," said Patricia Van Every.  "Since this form was previously used for the Dutch harvest Farm project, a smaller site with fewer guests in a much more remote location, we would expect this larger environmental form to be used here also."

Lansing School Business Administrator Kate Heath reported Monday that the district is considering updating its school bus communication system, and that the district is hiring bus drivers.  Heath reported to the Board of Education that the radio communications system the Transportation Department is using hs aged, and is not providing reliable connectivity.

"When I met with the supervisors one of the things that came up was the bus radio system," she said. "It's old and outdated.  There are some areas within our district where connectivity is really low between the buses and the bus garage via the radio system, just because of low spots and various areas that are hard to reach using that equipment."

TCAT has teamed up with Fitzgerald Brothers, a local charter service that is leasing TCAT two 37-foot buses to help alleviate bus shortages that have been causing service disruptions.

Effective today, TCAT is using the Fitzgerald buses on its rural routes serving Enfield, Trumansburg, Lansing, Dryden, Caroline and Newfield during a.m. and p.m. peak time on weekdays. This is relieving strain on TCAT’s fleet and freeing up TCAT buses to serve heavy commuter routes. Even with the additional buses going into service, TCAT was still forced to cut some trips today, but the situation should improve as TCAT implements other solutions, such as using third-party maintenance shops to assist with routine maintenance.

Bridge Financing Approved for Tompkins Center for History and Culture Interior Renovations

The Legislature, by a vote of 12-1 (Legislator Shawna Black voted no; Legislator Deborah Dawson was excused), authorized a loan of up to $500,000 to the History Center, to enable completion of interior renovations to the Tompkins Center for History and Culture, pending receipt of approved grant and funds pledged through the Center's capital campaign. The interest-free bridge loan, to be repaid within three years, is provided to the History Center, as representative of the Center partners, and supplements similar bridge financing provided by The Park Foundation and to be provided by Tompkins Trust Company. The loan amount will equal that provided by the Trust Company, not to exceed $500,000.

Tompkins County, traditional underwriter of the History Center, in 2017 purchased the historic Tompkins Trust building, located at 106-112 N. Tioga Street in Ithaca, in anticipation of the bank's relocation to its new headquarters, to house the History Center, along with other co-located non-profits, having financed the acquisition through casino revenue received by the County, including $1.9 million in licensing fees. Center partners are responsible for all non-code related and structural costs for interior renovations, tenant improvements, and exhibits, with a total cost of just under $3,750,000—$2 million in grant funding committed and a capital campaign of $1,750,000 in progress, including support pledged over a three-year period.

Senator Pam Helming today announced that her legislation to prohibit garbage incinerators from being established in the Finger Lakes region has once again passed the Senate unanimously. The Assembly unanimously passed its version of the bill last week, and the legislation is now ready for the Governor's consideration and signature. The legislation, known as the Finger Lakes Community Preservation Act, protects this beautiful and precious area of New York State from the adverse effects of these facilities, such as air and ash pollution, additional traffic on public roadways, damage to the local tourism, winery, and agriculture, and threats to the lakes and farmland throughout the region.

"The fact that this legislation passed unanimously in both the Senate and the Assembly – with support from Republicans, Democrats, and legislators of a variety of interests and backgrounds – is a clear sign that garbage incinerators are not welcome in the Finger Lakes region. A garbage incinerator would devastate the surrounding communities and negatively impact our health and our environment. The fact that this legislation passed both houses of the State Legislature and now awaits Governor Cuomo's signature is a moment of celebration for the entire Finger Lakes region and all those who believe in clean water, clean air, and a high quality of life for our children and families. The Governor has indicated that he opposes a garbage incinerator in the Finger Lakes region, and I look forward to him signing this into law. On behalf of the residents and business owners of the Finger Lakes region, I strongly urge the Governor to make this happen as soon as possible. Thank you to Senator May and Assemblyman Cusick for their tremendous partnership and outstanding leadership in pushing this important legislation through their respective houses," Senator Helming said.

Governor Andrew M. Cuomo announced two new measures to assist and protect immigrants targeted by ICE and the federal government's anti-immigrant policies in their communities March 14th. Cuomo's first-in-the-nation Liberty Defense Project has selected regional providers and attorneys for a Rapid Response Program to better respond to unanticipated ICE enforcement actions, targeted raids and sweeps statewide. Additionally, Cuomo's Office for New Americans has selected 21 new Opportunity Centers across the state to deliver essential services, education and guidance to immigrants in their own neighborhoods - including the Southern Tier for the first time.

"While the federal government continues to threaten our immigrant communities, New York will not stop fighting to protect the rights of new Americans," Cuomo said. "With this new program and expanded opportunity centers, we are ensuring vulnerable immigrants who are unfairly targeted by ICE have the legal assistance and services they need to achieve their full potential in New York."

The Lansing Town Board authorized the creation of a map plan review Wednesday for a proposed Sewer District #2 that would bring sewer service to a new NYS Department Of transportation (DOT) facility on Warren Road.  The facility will include a 30,000 square foot 'sub-residency' maintenance building, a 5,000 square foot Cold Storage, a 8,200 square foot Salt Barn, and a 2,500 square foot Hopper Building (covered lean-to).  Town Supervisor Ed LaVigne explained authorizing a map plan review was a last minute addition to the agenda because the Town's Municipal Water and Sewer Advisory Board had met later than usual this month, thus their recommendation was forwarded shortly before the town Board meeting.

LaVigne noted that Wednesday's vote was only to authorize the creation of a map plan report, and that the Board was not voting on actually creating the new sewer district.  But Councilman Joe Wetmore said he wanted to wait until next month's meeting because it hadn't been on the agenda long enough for the public to be notified.

After still more power outages in Lansing this week, Town Supervisor Ed LaVigne told Tompkins County Legislator Mike Sigler to 'be our champion' in an effort to bring more reliable power to the town.  LaVigne has been updating frustrated Lansing citizens on Facebook, and said that many people's electronics have been destroyed by the constant blackouts in the town.

"(County Legislature Chair) Martha Robertson is already on board with a lot of stuff," LaVigne said Wednesday. "She is very concerned.  So is (Airport Manager) Mike Hall.  We're the only town that's growing 2% in the whole area.  If we don't have reliable power I'm afraid that won't last much longer."

The Lansing Town Board authorized up to $5,000 for lead testing in and around Salmon Creek from Ludlowville to the creek outflow area.  Town Supervisor Ed LaVigne says he would prefer the testing be done by independent soil samplers and lab to remove any doubt about the findings.  But Councilwoman Katrina Binkewicz said that she and Councilwoman Andra Benson will collect samples to be analyzed by a local laboratory.

"If we end up having any measurable levels anywhere we will want to bring in additional outside testing for duplicate verification," said Binkewicz, who has a masters degree in soil sampling.  "I did talk to the lab about their protocol -- particle size, exactly how to do the testing."