The lowest price isn't always the best deal, but awarding public works contracts to the lowest bidder has been the law for Genesee County for some time.

The Legislature is considering a change in local law that would allow the county to consider such things as differences in warranty, materials used and quality of workmanship.

"Sometimes the better value is not just the lowest cost," County Attorney Chuck Zambito said during a meeting of the Ways and Means Committee on Wednesday. "But there is a process to go through to approve a bid. You can't just do it."

Among the requirements, the request for proposal must specify the criteria for awarding a bid, the contractor must specify value-added aspects of the bid and department heads and purchasing agents must review and make recommendations to the Legislature based on these specifications.

A public hearing on the proposed change to local law is set for 5:30 p.m., Sept. 10.

Two things that don't change under the proposed change -- giving preference to local vendors (barred by state law) and the county can still eliminate from considerations vendors that don't measure up to "responsible" (business reputation matters).

New York is one of the last states to change the law to allow local governments to change its own rules governing contracts and accept "best value" bids.

The specific criteria that could be considered for "best value" bids are:

• Lowest cost of maintenance for goods or services;
• Durability of goods or services;
• Higher quality of goods or services;
• Longer product life of goods or services.

"As long s you protect the interest of the taxpayer then you're going to be OK (awarding bids on these criteria)," Zambito said.

Vixie is missing and owner Alli Crawford is looking for her. She's a red pomeranian and was groomed recently. When she took off, she still had her leash attached. Alli has only had her about a week or so and she's very timid, Alli said. Vixie went missing in the area of Shepard Road about 2 p.m. yesterday. Alli can be contacted at (940) 368-3899.

UPDATE Thursday, Aug. 7, 6:13 p.m.: Vixie has been found and reunited with her family!

Press release:

Koolatron Corporation is increasing its footprint in Batavia with a major expansion this fall. The consumer goods manufacturer is nearly doubling its warehouse and shipping capacity in Genesee County with a planned expansion of its facilities from 25,000 square feet to 45,000 square feet.

Koolatron is a leading manufacturer and distributor of 12 volt coolers and accessories, wine cellars, Pants Saver brand car mats, Michelin auto care products, Coca-Cola personal fridges, Biteshield mosquito and pest repellant lines, along with rain barrels and garden décor products.

The decision to expand in Batavia, NY, is fueled by major growth in the company’s e-commerce business. In addition to its growing list of traditional retail customers, major e-retailers such as Amazon, Overstock, Costco, Home Depot, Walmart, and Sam's Club all carry Koolatron products, along with dozens of other online sites.

“Our business keeps growing and we can barely keep up with the warehouse space we have right now,” says Koolatron President Arun Kulkarni. He adds that keeping pace with the boom in online shopping is priority for the company.

“We have seen a 30 percent compounded growth in our e-commerce business in the past five years and for us Batavia, New York is the perfect gateway in which to build up our U.S. shipping hub,” Kulkarni said.

The expansion of Koolatron’s property on 4330 Commerce Drive is under way with construction set to be completed by December 2014. Koolatron will also be looking to boost staffing as it fully rolls out its warehouse expansion plan by the end of this year. Hundreds of parcels of Koolatron products are shipped daily from the warehouse to homes across the United States. The expansion will help ensure rapid delivery and prompt service for Koolatron’s growing U.S. customer base.

Previously: GCEDC board approves Koolatron and Premiere Credit projects

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UPDATED 9:25 a.m., Thursday.

It took more than an hour, but police did nab a warrant suspect late this afternoon after a police officer spotted him on Walnut Street, Batavia.

The suspect was listed as a missing person and also had a county arrest warrant. The charges are not listed in in the Batavia PD press release. The Batavian is not publishing the suspect's name at this time.

The youth is a resident of Walnut Street.

Officer Chad Richards spotted the youth walking on Walnut and when he turned around, the suspect fled. Backup units were called from Batavia PD and the Sheriff's Office, including Deputy Chris Erion with K-9 Destro.

Officers cordoned off the area and conducted a search. After the search area was expanded, the suspect was spotted on Franklin Avenue and taken into custody.

Assisting in the search were Sgt. Dan Coffey, Det. Thad Mart, Det. Eric Hill, Officer James Defreze, Officer Jason Ivison, Officer Wojtaszczyk along with Det. Paul Caffo and Investigator Greg Walker. 

The youth was taken into custody on Franklin by Mart and Defreze.

A bicyclist was hit by a car at Liberty and Ellicott streets. The driver said he came around the corner and did not see the bicycle in time. The victim was taken by ambulance to UMMC and was conscious and alert.

• Abbott’s Frozen Custard
• Adam’s Welding & Fabrication 
• Alberty Drugs
• Alpina Foods
• Atherton Farms
• Baskin Livestock, Inc.
• Batavia Starter
• Bauer Services
• Belhaven Kennel
• Big O Farms, Inc.
• Big Pauly’s Pizza
• Boyles Motor Sales, Inc.
• B’s Pet Grooming
• Cargill
• Carolina Eastern Crocker
• Castilone Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep & Ram
• Corfu Machine Company
• Corfu-Darien Vet Clinic
• Cummings & Bricker
• CY Farms, LLC.
• Dries Farms
• Duyssen Family Farm & Strawberry Patch
• Enterprise Rent-A-Car
• Falletti Motors
• First Choice Travel
• Freed Maxic CPA
• Ganson Rose Equipment
• Genesee Community College
• Genesee Orthopedics
• Genesee Patrons Cooperative Insurance Co.
• I.D. Booth
• Jackson Welding & Gas 
• Ken Barrett Chevy-Cadillac
• Lee Shuknecht & Sons, Inc.
• Liberty Pumps
• Linwood Turf Equipment
• LJK Feeds
• McKenzie Farm
• MacDuffie Sand & Gravel
• Maple Lawn Farm
• Max Pies Furniture Company
• Mother Nature Enterprises
• Muller Quaker Dairy, LLC.
• MY-T Acres
• Out on a Limb Maple Farm
• Perry Vet
• Phillips Oil
• Pumpkin Hill Vet Clinic
• R B Adams Agency
• Rebel Liners
• Reisdorf Brothers Feed
• Reisdorf Oil & Propane
• Roblee Plumbing
• Scott Adams Trucking
• Stafford Trading Post
• Stella Collision
• Stephen M. Hawley & Assoc., LLC. @ The Insurance Center
• The Bank of Castile/Tomkins Insurance
• Toyota of Batavia
• Turnbull Heating & Air Conditioning
• Turner TreeScape
• UMMC
• Upstate Niagara Cooperative
• Viking Valhalla Restaurant & Rose Garden Bowl 
• Will’s Carpet One
• William Kent, Inc.
• WNY Fireplace Outlet

• Ad-Stuff
• Alexander Equipment
• Attica Veterinary
• Barnard Trucking
• Batavia Downs
• Batavia Legal Printing
• Batavia Restaurant Supply
• Batavia Sign Company
• BC Transportation & Repairs
• Beachy Cabinetmakers
• Bethany Fire Department
• Bob Babbitt Automotive
• C.H. Wright Distributors 
• Caledonia Diesel
• Camping World
• Carol Topolski Lawn Care
• Cedar Street Sales & Rental
• Cold Springs Construction
• Dan Duyssen Farm
• Empire Tractor
• Fastenal - Batavia
• Geer Farm Supply
• Genesee Country Automotive
• Genesee County Farm Bureau
• Genesee County Soil & Water
• Genesee Valley Penny Saver
• George & Swede Sales
• Home Depot – Batavia
• Java Farm Supply
• Joe's Pro Shop
• L.D. Stevens Golf Carts
• Mercy Flight of WNY
• Metalico – Bergen
• Monroe Tractor 
• Paul Figlow Productions
• Photography by Susan Meier
• Posy Power Peddler
• Pudgie's Lawn & Garden
• Raceway 5
• S-B Farms
• Scofield Rolloff Service
• Seven Springs Gravel
• Smitty’s Amish Sheds
• Stafford Fire Department
• Starbucks of Irondequoit
• Sterling Tents & Awnings 
• The Batavia Daily News
• The Batavian
• Town of Batavia Fire Dept.
• Tractor Supply – Batavia
• T-Shirts Etc.
• Walmart – Batavia
• WBTA
• WCJW
• Z & M Ag & Turf
• All of the Volunteers

D Andre J. Cramer, 15, is a runaway from Batavia and police believe he is in the local area.

He is 5'6" tall, 145 pounds, with black hair and brown eyes, and the missing child flier says he is of mixed race (black/white).

D Andre was last seen on Monday, Aug. 4, wearing a dark gray Nike shirt, tan shorts, gray and white sneakers and a baseball cap.

He may go by the names "Dre" or "D."

If you have information of his whereabouts, contact Det. Richard Schauf with the Batavia PD at 585-345-6312 or e-mail  Schauf@batavianewyork.com

Also, the NYS Missing Persons Clearinghouse can be reached at at 1-800-346-3543 or go to www.criminaljustice.ny.gov

His missing person case number is:   14-17356-TW

James Herbert Manes, 77, of Sunset Parkway, Oakfield, is charged with criminal mischief, 4th. Manes allegedly stood on a shed in his yard and used a saw to cut branches from a tree in his neighbor's yard. Manes was previously charged with trespass in the incident. He was arraigned in Town of Oakfield Court on Monday night on the upgraded charge.

Alfredo Jalowayski, 52, of Saint Paul Street, Rochester, is charged with possession of more than 400 untaxed cigarettes, speeding (43 in a 30 mph zone) and no or inadequate exhaust. Jalowayski was stopped at 6:25 p.m. Tuesday on Main Street, Village of Oakfield, by Deputy Patrick Reeves. 

Gregory John Richenberg, 56, of South Holley Road, Holley, and Jeremy John Richenberg, 34, of Fancher Road, Albion, are charged with trespass. The two men were allegedly on property in Byron owned by a family member after being advised by the propery owner to stay off the property.

Mercy Flight is being dispatched to a landing zone the Indian Falls Methodist Church on Route 77, Pembroke, for accident on the Thruway.

The accident involves a motorcycle, though the driver was last reported as conscious. 

Indian Falls Fire and Pembroke Fire dispatched to the accident scene, along with Mercy EMS. Corfu Fire requested to the landing zone.

UPDATE 12:03 p.m.: Mercy Flight has landed.

UPDATE 12:30 p.m.: Mercy Flight is airborne, "possibly to ECMC." The assignment is back in service.

UPDATE: Photo and update info by Alecia Kaus / Video News Service. Chief Ed Mileham said the rider was headed east on the Thruway with a group of other riders when the accident occurred. He landed in the median. Mileham said his helmet saved his life. There was a big softball-sized dent in it. He was transported to ECMC with apparent serious injuries.

Press release:

On Thursday Aug. 7, the City of Batavia Infrastructure Improvement Project will finish paving on Summit Street, weather permitting. This phase of the project includes paving the roadway; the work zone will be from East Main Street (RTS 5 / 33) to North Street.

Given the scope of this work Summit Street will be closed to all thru traffic on Thursday from 7 a.m. until 5 p.m. Local traffic will be allowed to access their residences throughout the duration of this phase, however thru traffic will be detoured by use of Ross Street and Bank Street. No parking will be permitted on Summit Street during this time.

Weather permitting, it is anticipated that this phase of the project will be completed in one day. The City of Batavia and Keeler Construction Co., Inc., appreciates your patience and cooperation during the construction and asks motorists and pedestrians to abide by this closure and use the posted detour whenever possible.

The point of contact is the Department of Public Works at 345-6325.

Salt supplies are down after our long, cold winter, so prices are going up, County Highway Superintendent Tim Hens told county legislators Tuesday.

American Rock Salt in Mt. Morris is increasing its prices by 8 percent, so the county will be spending $2.96 per ton in 2014-15.

"It's nothing we can't manage," Hens told the Public Service Committee.

One way the highway department is handling the increased expenditure on salt is cutting back on road work this summer.

Hens said the county went from a surplus of salt at the start of the 2013-14 winter (after two consecutive mild winters) to currently storing only about 1/5 the total amount of salt the county will likely need this winter.

That means the county will need to spend $25,000 to $30,000 before the start of winter just to get even.

That's after going over budget by about $25,000 in salt last winter, when cold weather carried into spring.

Hens has to shift spending priorities to keep up with the salt demand, he said.

A few years ago, Hens said he regularly budgeted $115,000 for salt, but last year, when the county had built surpluses, the budget was only about $50,000. In the coming year, he will budget again for at least $115,000.

Legislator Bob Bausch said he's heard from private contractors that they are being put on an allotment system by American Rock Salt for salt as the company makes salt deliveries to municipalities a priority. Hens said he's heard the same thing.

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A two-car accident, unknown injuries, is reported at the intersection of Bank Street and Washington Avenue. It is not blocking traffic. City fire and Mercy medics responding.

UPDATE 7:12 p.m.: No one was injured in the collision, caused by one vehicle's brake failure.

Daphne's Restaurant & Lounge, at 341 S. Swan St., Batavia, has closed.

The restaurant opened in September 2010 at the former location of St. Nick's Social Club.

Charles H. Wroten, 53, of Buell Street, Batavia, is charged with criminal obstruction of breathing/blood circulation, second-degree robbery, and second-degree assault. Wroten was arrested on the charges following a domestic incident Aug. 4 on Hutchins Street. He is accused of slamming a person to the ground, causing injury, and taking the phone from the victim. He was jailed without bail. The case was investigated by Batavia PD officers Jason Ivison and James DeFreze.

Mark Walter Grabowski, 56, of Chestnut Street, Batavia, is charged with second-degree harassment following his arrest this afternoon for a monetary dispute that initially arose on July 10 on Margaret Place. He was issued an appearance ticket. The case was investigated by Batavia PD officers Peter Flanagan and Devon Pahuta.

Kelly J. Stone, 40, of Le Roy, no other address provided, was ticketed for failure to keep right following a one-vehicle accident in Warsaw on Aug. 3. State Police reported that the accident occurred at the CSX railroad crossing on Saltvale Road, just entering the Town of Middlebury. Stone was northbound on Saltvale when she allegedly failed to reduce her speed at the crossing in time to avoid entering the southbound lane. Then her vehicle struck a sign on the west shoulder before it came to a stop. Neither Stone nor her two passengers were injured in the collision. She is to return at a later date to the Middlebury Town Court.

Are you a maker? Perhaps you are, and don't even know it.

There's makers all over the country these days -- people who are inventive and like creating new and innovative things.

It's a whole culture.

And it's coming to Batavia, where business innovation has strong roots -- the Harvester Center.

Tom Mancuso and some of his friends have been talking for a year about creating a maker community locally. Last week, they put their plan into action, hosting a 3-D printing demonstration with local design and manufacturing expert James Dillon.

3-D printing is one of the widely used tools for creating in the maker community. The printer works much like any printer, except it doesn't use ink or paper. It uses plastics and other material to layer material into a computer generated form. It might be a cup, a model airplane or a part for a car, or just about anything the maker can imagine.

Makers also work with electronics, robotics, metalworking, woodworking, and traditional arts and crafts.

Mancuso said the plan is to create a space in the Harvester Center -- if there's enough interest in the community -- where makers can come and create and innovate together.

The space will be open (possibly with a fee like a health club) to artists, hobbyists, trainees and budding entrepreneurs. 

Makers will have available a variety of tools, from welding equipment, vacuum forms, laser cutters and, of course, a 3-D printer. There will be big spaces, which the hobbyist doesn't necessarily have at home.

"Maybe you work at home, but you want to do a bigger project," Mancuso said. "Where do you go to do that? You're limited by your equipment, by your workspace. We're trying to help those start-up hobby guys maybe go to the next level."

A gear created by the 3-D printer.

James Dillon with one of his first 3-D printing projects, a model jet.

3-D printer on the right.

The owners of Frost Ridge Campground have been told Judge Robert C. Noonan has lifted his court order barring live, amplified music at the campground, at least for this weekend.

The band Blackberry Smoke headlines Sunday Saturday.

At a hearing last week, David Roach, attorney for Frost Ridge, told Noonan that if the order wasn't lifted in time for this weekend's show, Frost Ridge was facing insolvency. 

David Luetticke-Archbell, co-owner of Frost Ridge, called The Batavian a short time ago to share the news. We're still awaiting a copy of the order.

Frost Ridge will still be barred by the original court order from selling alcohol, but that doesn't mean patrons can't bring their own beverages.

The temporary suspension of the temporary order baring amplified music at Frost Ridge comes as court proceedings in a pair of civil suits against the campground have bogged down.

Two neighboring residents, the Cleere and Collins families, along with the Town of Le Roy, are suing David and Greg Luetticke-Archbell alleging that the campground as a whole and live music and alcohol sales in particular, are not permitted under current zoning.

David and Greg contend that those uses are grandfathered in by the property's prior zoning and they have two Zoning Board of Appeals rulings that support such a claim.

The Cleere and Collins' suits challenge the ZBA's 2013 determination, and here's where the case has bogged down: If it's proven that the ZBA's 2013 determination was filed with the town clerk more than 30 days before Cleere and Collins filed their suit, it could mean their complaint could be thrown out of court. Attorneys and the court have been unable so far to hold a hearing on that point

Since the hearing can't be scheduled now until the end of the month, Roach sought for his clients, permission from the court for the concert this weekend.

The Baby Cafe is a place of encouragement and support for breastfeeding mothers. UMMC opened the room at Cary Hall recently and held an open house yesterday.

Expectant mothers, breastfeeding mothers and mothers experienced with breast feeding are invited to the room every Tuesday from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.

The Baby Cafe is supported by a national, nonprofit organization dedicated to helping mothers who are breastfeeding.

Cary Hall is located at 211 E. Main St., Batavia.

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