County legislators interested in looking at unreimbursed expenses incurred by other jurisdictions

There's a little interest brewing in the Genesee County Legislature about getting reimbursement for services provided by the county that are used by the City of Batavia and other jurisdictions.

One example, law enforcement use of the Monroe County crime lab.

The county pays $68,213 a year to Monroe County to process evidence from crime scenes. Police departments in Batavia, Le Roy and Corfu can all send evidence to the crime lab on the county's bill.

"Even if it's just $2,500, that's $2,500 we don't have today," said Legislator Robert Bausch during the Public Service Committee meeting Monday. "It's all these little charges that we don't get back that add up."

Bausch wants to see a list of "all these little charges" at a future Ways and Means meeting.  

Legislator Jay Grasso, serving his last meeting as chairman of the committee, agreed with Bausch.

"As the economy changes, maybe we can't do all the little things we used to do," Grasso said.

Legislator Ray Cianfrini first broached the issue of seeking reimbursement from the city for crime lab use.

Sheriff Gary Maha agreed to get more information on how costs might change if the use of the crime lab by other jurisdictions was taken out.

In other items from Monday's agenda:

• The committee approved purchase of a Caterpillar 140M-2 All-Wheel Drive Grader from Milton Caterpiller, 4610 E. Saile Drive, Batavia. Grasso noted the purchase was of an American-made product from a local dealership. The purchase will be paid for in five yearly installments of $40,048.33 from the Road Machinery Fund. The total purchase price is $200,241.65.
• The committee approved a resolution declaring an old railroad car surplus material. The tanker car is currently installed on rails at the Fire Training Center on Bank Street Road. Emergency Management Coordinator Tim Yaeger said the car is sitting in an area needed for a new law enforcement firing range and it makes no economic sense to move it. The car is 40,000 pounds of solid steal. It will be sold for scrap. The proceeds will be used to help pay for the firing range. The car, as best anybody knows, was donated by a railroad company more than 30 years ago for emergency training. Yaeger said the county has other resources now for similar training.