Congresswoman Claudia Tenney (NY-24) sent a letter to Cornell University President Martha Pollack demanding Professor Russell Rickford immediately resign for his anti-Semitic and pro-Hamas comments.
In the wake of the terrorist invasion of Israel that has killed over 1,300 Israelis so far, Mr. Rickford referred to the slaughter of Israeli civilians by Hamas as “energizing” and "exhilarating," while speaking at a pro-Palestine protest on Cornell's campus. Tenney’s letter detailed the severity of this rhetoric and called for Professor Rickford to either immediately resign from his position as an educator at Cornell or be fired.
In the letter, Tenney wrote, “Anti-Semitism should not be tolerated in academia or any other part of a civilized society. Professor Rickford holds a position within the university that allows him to mold and influence young minds. This position demands a higher standard of behavior, one that is free from anti-Semitic rhetoric and the vocal support of terrorism. By perpetuating these abhorrent views, Professor Rickford has not only violated his ethical responsibility as an educator but has also jeopardized the safety of the Jewish community and tarnished Cornell University's reputation. I sincerely hope that, as the President of Cornell, you will take this matter seriously and understand the severity of these faculty statements."
Please be advised that Blue Heron Construction will be mobilizing equipment in preparation for construction on the Jackson Street Water project within the City of Batavia.
Construction on this project is scheduled to begin the week of Oct. 30 and will include the installation of approximately 2,250 linear feet of new 8-inch water mains and appurtenances to replace existing 4-inch and 6-inch water mains on Jackson Street from Chestnut Street to Ellicott Street.
Traffic delays are to be expected; however, no street closures are anticipated at this time. We apologize for any inconvenience and thank the public for their patience and cooperation as we work to improve our community.
Come and experience the 22nd annual Wonderland of Trees! The opening gala will occur on Friday, Nov. 17 from 6 - 8:30 p.m. at the Holland Land Office Museum. This year’s theme is “The 12 Days of Christmas.” Visit the museum to see all the wonderfully decorated trees and displays by local businesses and organizations.
This year’s opening gala will feature many great gift baskets to win, including an extra special grand basket. The night will also feature holiday music by the Genesee Symphony Orchestra. After dinner hors d’oeuvers will be provided by D&R Depot Restaurant. Tickets are $20, $15 for museum members, and $5 for children 12 and under.
The Wonderland of Trees will run through the end of December. The basket raffle winners will be drawn on Friday, Dec. 15. Further holiday events will also be held throughout the season. Please contact the museum at 585-343-4727 to get your tickets.
If your organization or business would like to participate in the Wonderland of Trees, there are many options. Options include decorated trees, gift baskets, or donations and sponsorships. Registration forms can be found at the museum’s website www.hollandlandoffice.com.
Submitted photo of Genesee County 4-H members Justin Deleo and Bing Zuber attended the NYS 4-H ABC Trip and met up with fellow 4-H member and SUNY Cobleskill student Ian Keberle. (Left to Right: Justin Deleo, Bing Zuber, Ian Keberle)
Press Release:
Genesee County 4-H members Bing Zuber, Justin Deleo, and Kylie Paddock attended the New York State 4-H Agri-Business Career Conference (ABC Trip) last week. Forty youths from across NYS met in Cobleskill on Oct. 19 & 20 for the 46th annual 4-H ABC Trip. This trip for 4-H teens is in collaboration with SUNY Cobleskill and gives youth an up-close look at different agri-businesses as well as an opportunity to tour the college and meet with professors to learn what a college experience in their desired program area would look like.
Youth were able to choose which agri-businesses they toured on Thursday. Participating businesses included: Schoharie Valley Farms, Sweet Tree Farm, Hessian Hill Farm, Jack Miller’s Tractor and Truck, Fairbanks Stable, and Black Willow Pond Farm. On the SUNY Cobleskill campus, tour options included Speaking with A Veterinarian, The Dairy Processing Center, the Meat Processing Lab, and the Milk Quality Lab. Following their tours, teens worked together to create presentations to share with the rest of the group following a dinner on campus.
Friday was spent on campus starting with breakfast in the dining hall followed by campus tours led by SUNY Cobleskill Ambassadors. Following the tours, teens visited their academic area of interest which allowed them to meet with professors in that field and learn about the program area. Areas to choose from included Ag Business, Floriculture/Nursery Management, Equine Studies, Biotechnology, Ag Engineering, Livestock, Canine, Dairy, Fisheries & Wildlife, Histotechnology, and Ag Communications.
The event culminated with lunch in the dining hall giving participants another opportunity to experience the food on campus. The ABC Trip is offered each fall to NYS 4-H members 14 years of age and older. For more information on this trip and other 4-H offerings, contact the Genesee County 4-H Program at genesee4h@cornell.edu or (585) 343-3040 ext. 101. The Genesee County 4-H Program is a youth development program for youth ages 5-18. New 4-H youth members, adult volunteers, and clubs are always welcome to join. Enrollment information is also available on our website at http://genesee.cce.cornell.edu
The “We’ve Only Just Begun” senior luncheon is on Tuesday, Nov. 21, from 11:30 a.m. - 1:30 p.m. at the South Alabama Firehall. OPEN to the public!
This month our speaker is Ray Cianfrini, retired Oakfield Attorney & our former Genesee County Legislator. He will be speaking about the “KU KLUX KLAN” in Oakfield and Genesee County, during the early 1920’s. The Klan and local immigrants are the subject of a talk titled “Clash of Cultures”! An interesting topic you won’t want to miss.
Come and bring a dish-to-pass OR make a donation at the door. Contact person: LaNora Thompson (630) 888-8966.
On Wednesday, Nov. 8, from 11 a.m. – 2 p.m., the Anna Ingalsbe Lovell NSDAR chapter and the Holland Land Office Museum (HLOM) are collaborating on a special event to honor our Genesee County veterans and Vietnam War-era veterans.
All veterans plus 1 guest will have their entrance fees waived and will receive a small goodie bag; Vietnam War-era veterans, who have not yet been acknowledged by the Vietnam 50 Commemorative Committee, will also receive the DAR Certificate and an eagle pin.
Any military personnel, with an honorable discharge, who served during the Vietnam War era is eligible for the Award Certificate and eagle pin. Please pre-register your name and service for your Certificate. If you are unable to attend, please let us know by November 30 so we can arrange another time & date. Robin Laney Ettinger, a member of the NSDAR chapter, has created a limited-time email address for inquires – r.j.laney1@gmail.com.
Congresswoman Claudia Tenney (NY-24) made the following statement on the recent election of Speaker Mike Johnson (LA-04).
"Congratulations to my dear friend, Speaker Mike Johnson, on being elected Speaker of the United States House of Representatives. Mike Johnson is an inspirational conservative who will restore faith in our government and bring strong, principled leadership to America.
"Speaker Johnson is committed to restoring transparency to Congress, reining in runaway spending, holding our adversaries accountable, and strengthening oversight of federal bureaucrats. Though 70% of appropriation priorities have already been passed in the House, the remaining appropriations bills will be considered expeditiously.
"Speaker Johnson's first action was to immediately open the People's House in order to bring a bipartisan resolution to the floor in support of the nation of Israel, our most important ally in the Middle East. He is immediately addressing issues critically important to the American people. This starts with direct action on the border crisis, prioritizing legislation to address runaway inflation due to far-left spending under Pelosi and Biden.
"Speaker Johnson will renew our commitment to backing our courageous officers in blue, empowering parents' rights against the hostile agenda imposed by the Biden Administration and its weaponized law enforcement agencies, unleash American energy production which will lead to greater freedom, prosperity, and security for all Americans.
"House Republicans understand this historic moment for America and are laser-focused on providing leadership, restoring transparency and responsible government, and achieving real results for the American people."
Submitted photo colored by Grade K-1 first place winner Thomas VanRemmen (Jackson Primary, Mrs. Restivo Kindergarten).
Press Release:
The City of Batavia Fire Department is proud to announce the winners of our 10th Annual Fire Prevention Coloring Contest. With over 400 entries from Batavia Schools, this contest was very difficult to judge.
Congratulations to the following winners:
Grade K-1
First Place - Thomas VanRemmen -Jackson Primary, Mrs. Restivo Kindergarten
Second Place - Everleigh D.- St. Josephs, Mrs. Case, Kindergarten
Third Place - Bryson Lee -Jackson Primary, Mrs. Reeves- 1st grade
Grades 2-3
First Place - De’Aungelo Rolle- John Kennedy, Mrs. Antinore 3rd Grade
Second Place - Josephina Varland- St. Paul Lutheran- Ms. Austin 3rd Grade
Third Place - Claire Lutey- St. Josephs School- 2nd Grade
Grades 4-5
First Place - Caleb Janis- St Paul Lutheran School- Mrs. Dunn 5th Grade
Second Place - Raven Casey Batavia Middle School St. Mrs. Falleti, 5th Grade
Third Place - Lyla McClellan- St. Paul Lutheran School, Mrs. Dunn, 5th Grade
An awards luncheon will be held Saturday, Oct. 28 from 11:30 a.m. - 1 p.m. at the City of Batavia Fire Station located at 18 Evans St. for all 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place winners. The 1st place winner of each group will receive a ride to school on a City of Batavia Fire Engine. Congratulations to all the winners.
Submitted photo colored by 3rd Grade first place winner De’Aungelo Rolle (John Kennedy, Mrs. Antinore).
Submitted photo colored by 5th Grade first place winner Caleb Janis (St Paul Lutheran School- Mrs. Dunn).
GO ART!’s Preschool Music and Movement class is back and open for registration. The cost for the four-week session is $40 (Non- Members) or $36 (Members). For more information and to register go to goart.org/programming/exlporeart/exlporeart-children/.
Do-Re-Mi will focus on seasonal song, play, motor and locomotor movement, instrumental exploration, vocal and rhythmic call and response, listening activities, storytime, and fun for children ages 2 through 5, alongside their parent or favorite person!
The curriculum is designed to engage young learners through play and exploration while providing a safe and nurturing space for them to discover and grow important skills, such as language, cognition, and physical development, as well as support and encourage social and emotional learning. We are so excited to provide this opportunity and instill a love of music and the arts in our youngest community members!
In this session, we will have two different classes. One class will meet Monday evenings (November 6, 13, 20, 27) at GO ART! in Batavia from 6 - 6:45 p.m. and the other will meet Tuesday evenings (November 7, 14, 21, and 28) at the Hoag Library in Albion from 6 - 6:45 p.m. Pre-registration is required and space is limited.
The Cornell Cooperative Extension (CCE) Genesee and Leadership Genesee (LG) offices will close for the day at 12 p.m. on Nov. 9. The offices will reopen at 8:30 a.m. on Monday, Nov. 13.
Congresswoman Claudia Tenney (NY-24) today introduced the Producing Incentives for Long-term Production of Lifesaving Supply of Medicines (PILLS) Act to promote the production of generic medicines in the United States.
This legislation offers pharmaceutical companies various tax incentives to encourage them to shift all aspects of the manufacturing process for generic medicines, including materials and testing, to the United States. Currently, the generic drug industry is experiencing a trend toward centralization in India and China due to their significantly lower production costs. However, this shift raises concerns about inadequate drug safety measures and the potential for supply chain disruptions.
“In recent years, drug manufacturing has shifted away from the United States, threatening American jobs and the security of our vital medicine supply chains,” said Congresswoman Tenney. “To bolster domestic generic medicine production and guard against future supply chain disruptions, I introduced the PILLS Act to incentivize businesses to produce these important pharmaceutical products in the United States. This legislation is a crucial step to not only re-shore drug production but also to strengthen our domestic supply chains and create American manufacturing jobs."
"The PILLS Act is an incredibly important bill that would create massive incentives to strategically restore U.S. domestic production of generic medicines," said Zach Mottl, Chairman of the Coalition for a Prosperous America.
"Our country is facing a national health care crisis due to ongoing, and worsening, shortages of essential lifesaving generic drugs, which account for roughly 90% of all prescriptions dispensed in the U.S. Currently, the U.S. is dangerously dependent on foreign manufacturers—particularly in China and India—for essential, lifesaving generic medicines. Since 2002, imports from India have increased 35x, while the floodgates have opened to allow imports from China to rise to an astounding 165x their 2002 levels. This should sound alarm bells through Washington and highlight the need to pass the PILLS Act in order to address the shortage crisis and rebuild America’s domestic production of generics, antibiotics, and other key medicines."
On Sunday, Oct. 29 St. Joseph's held a teaching Mass. Father Matt Zirnheld and Deacon Todd Bowman explained mass preparation and various parts of the mass in the sacristy prior to mass.
Mass was held at 11:30 a.m. at St. Joseph's.
Students also dressed up as Catholic Saints in preparation for celebrating All Saints Day on Nov. 1.
A city worker pushing snow in Downtown Batavia in 2021. Although no forecast for this area is anywhere near this just yet, city officials have issued a set of reminders for the winter season. Photo by Howard Owens
Perhaps a public conversation during a recent City Council meeting has resulted in several "helpful reminders" for the upcoming winter weather, or they were coming anyway, but citizens are asked to heed these seasonal rules to make the best of it for yourselves and others for the next several months.
This is the time Driving conditions can change quickly, so be prepared for those changes. This is the time to check over your vehicle for proper operation of all safety features. This is the time to put on those snow tires if you use them. This is the time to check over your entire vehicle for winter driving.
There is “No Parking" on city streets between 2 and 6 a.m. If at all possible, try not to park on the street when snowing so that snow can be cleared to the curb line/edge of pavement.
Stay back from snowplows at least 100 feet. If you can't see the mirrors on the snowplow, then the snowplow operator cannot see you. Snowplow operators are out there to help make the roads safe.
The property owner's responsibility. Please keep your sidewalks clear of snow and ice. It is the property owner's responsibility to keep the sidewalks adjacent to your property clear. There are significant numbers of pedestrians in the city.
It was this issue that came up during a recent City Council meeting, as it often does at least once a year. A citizen complained about not being able to walk on the sidewalks when not shoveled, and she had to walk in the street along with school children. Council members encouraged folks to help out their neighbors when possible and understand there may be times when circumstances result in unshoveled pathways.
Do not shovel, plow, or snow blow into the road. If you have your driveway plowed, do not push it into or across the road or block sidewalks. These all create hazards for you and the community.
Be patient and plan ahead. None of us can control the weather. Leave more time for travel if the weather is forecasting snow. In severe weather, try to limit any unnecessary travel.
Bureau of Maintenance's first response:
When it does snow the City Department of Public Works, Bureau of Maintenance, responds to the weather. Upon the initial onset of snow, the Bureau of Maintenance will respond with what we call a salt run.
Three plows outfitted with material spreaders are dispatched to apply anti-icing materials (rock salt) to roadways and parking lots. This will help prevent or break up snow from binding to the pavement. If snow persists and depending on the type of snow, this operation will change from a salt run to a plowing operation.
Bureau's typical plowing operation: In a plowing operation, there are nine distinct routes designed for the most efficient use of our equipment. Be it wide streets, narrow streets, dead-ends or parking lots, we have different equipment to handle each unique area.
It takes about four hours to get through the city once in a moderate snow event. We normally try to get through the City twice during a plow operation.
Each snow event is different. Snow events vary from low moisture to high moisture, from flurries to high intensity, from relatively warm to bitter cold, with traffic or without traffic, day/night, weekends and holidays. Each impacts how we fight the snow, with our ultimate goal to keep the City open for business and safe for travel.
City officials thank you for your cooperation and ask you to be safe this winter season.
I was looking at our collection of Pat Burr’s drawings of old Batavia in the 60s and was amazed at all the stores that dotted Main Street. You really could walk down the street and, beginning at one end, mail a letter, buy a car, smoke a cigar, look for a gold watch, buy plumbing supplies, pick up your dry cleaning, buy paint, order a drink, have your picture taken, see a movie, eat a doughnut, have your shoes repaired or buy a new pair of shoes.
If it was afternoon, you could have a drink, buy a sewing machine, smell the delicious aroma of freshly baked bread, pick up a prescription, buy a wedding gown, buy new shoes to go with the dress, order a man’s suit for the wedding, buy children’s clothing (you might need another drink after the cost of the wedding gown), have your eyes checked, purchase new furniture, drink a cherry Coke, register for new china, and have a late lunch.
Continuing west on Main Street, you could make a bank withdrawal for the wedding, buy more jewelry, possibly a wedding band, pick up some fresh produce, purchase a new hat and a real mink coat, pick up another prescription, and buy more jewelry.
Now, see if you can match the names of these establishments and their merchandise with their locations on Main Street going east from Jefferson to Bank Street.
In the 60s, on the north side of the street, there was Mancuso’s Dealership, Chris’ Gifts, The Smoke Shop, William Maney’s Store, Marchese’s Produce, and six jewelry stores, Krtanik, Martin Berman’s, Valle’s, Francis and Mead, Rudolph’s and Brenner’s. Clothing stores were plentiful: Alexander’s, Town Shop, Helen’s Darlings, A.M. and M. Clothiers, and Smart Shop. Bon Ton and Bell Hat Shops, Humboldt’s Furriers, and Charles Men Shop were also located on that side of the street, along with the beautiful Dipson Theater.
There were two paint stores, Mosman’s and Sherwin Williams. There were many restaurants and drinking establishments: Mooney’s, Hamilton Hotel, Young’s Restaurant, Mike’s Hotel, Main Grill, Vic’s Grill, The Dagwood Restaurant, and Jackie’s Donuts. A favorite bakery was Grundler’s. A soda shop and candy store was called Kustas’. The furniture store was Bern Furniture, and the dry cleaner store was Jet Cleaners. Lawing Picture Studio, Singer Sewing, Genesee Hardware, Western Auto, and the drug stores of Whelan and Dean Drugs were located on different corners. There were four shoe stores: Ritchlin, Cultrara’s, Endicott and Johnson, and C.E. Knox. The shoe repair was called Boston Shoe Repair.
How many of you could match the store with its location?
If you were traveling down the opposite side of the street, you would begin with the Court House and pass the County Building, where a beautiful Christmas tree would be on the lawn. Eventually, you would hope to have a deed to your new home filed at the clerk’s office. You couldn’t miss the Hotel Richmond on the corner that was now just an empty shell. Located within the building of the hotel was Rapid Dry Cleaners. Next was the three-story JC Penney Department Store.
If you needed a uniform, The Uniform Shop was at your disposal. Kinney’s Family Shoe Store was located next to the Camera Shop. Caito’s Liquor Store was followed by Beardsley’s Men’s Store, Sleght’s Book Store, Bank of Batavia, Sugar Bowl, SS Kresge’s, Scott and Bean, Dean’s Drug, M & T Bank, Thomas and Dwyer, C.L. Carr’s Department Store, Marchese Produce, Good Friend Shop, Rudolph’s Jewelers, JJ. Newberry’s and WT Grant.
Imagining all these stores decorated for the holidays makes you nostalgic for the simpler times and slower pace when the highlight of your week was going to the city on a Friday night to meet friends and shop!
Thank you, Urban Renewal, for taking our Main Street. But you couldn’t remove our memories. Thank you, Pat Burr, the artist, for preserving Main Street with your beautiful artwork, that we are lucky to have your entire collection.
Main Street lives on in our hearts.
Photos by Pat Burr paintings of old Batavia taken in 2010 by Howard Owens at the Genesee County Nursing Home.
The fact that Jennifer Cobb's birthday and Halloween fall so close together may be why she has such an affinity for the holiday, Cobb conceded during a tour of the haunted house she, her husband, and children created on their property in Bethany.
"My mom always kind of combined them," she said.
For one of her birthdays in her 20s, her mom bought her a casket.
"Every year since I was a little kid, I've enjoyed Halloween," Cobb said. "I've always done big, extravagant things. This year, I decided to go super, super big. In the years past, I've built haunted houses out of my parent's garage and let the public in. I was on the news for that in Buffalo. Then we moved out here and did big huge parties, but I'm like, 'nobody's gonna come out here.' It's too much of a drive, and then we were like, we'll give it a shot, and I hope it's gonna be good. So we'll see. But I love Halloween. I love to scare people."
Her birthday is five days before Halloween.
If you visit the Leising Manor and Graveyard, you will start in the house's dining room, where you will gaze upon a rather macabre dining scene, then you will walk through a haunted kitchen and into the expansive back yard into the trails in the woods where you will find ghouls, goblins, witches, ghosts, cadavers and skeletons among the graveyards scattered among the trees.
Asked why she likes Halloween, Cobb said, "I don't know. I think it's just because it takes people out of their element. Sometimes it makes them really question, 'What drives me, what scares me, what are my fears?' I don't know. I like the gore and the creativity of it. It means something to everybody different. It's just one of them things that you don't have to be a certain religion to like Halloween. You can just like it, you can be young, or old. It doesn't matter. There's no age limit."
The attraction is free, but Cobb said she is asking for donations.
"I'm trying to raise money for a friend who just recently had a fire and lost everything in the fire," she said.
The haunted house is open from 6 to 9 p.m. Sunday, Monday and on Halloween, which is Tuesday. If it rains, Cobb said, "we'll make the best of it." The address is 9772 Bethany Center Road, East Bethany.
Trick-or-treaters were able to visit 28 Downtown businesses on Saturday in an event organized by Michael Marsh of Edward Jones, and all participating businesses purchased their own candy.
A parolee with a lengthy criminal history is in custody following a string of car thefts in Genesee County.
Edward G. Ruckdeschel, 61, of Batavia, is charged with two counts of grand larceny in the third degree and two counts of grand larcenhy in the fourth degree, and could face more changes, according to the Sheriff's Office.
During a lengthy investigation, "several" stolen vehicles were located throughout Genesee County and surrounding areas.
The investigation was conducted by road patrols and criminal investigation divisions with the assistance of the State Police and the Orleans County Sheriff's Office.
Ruckdeschel available criminal record goes back to 1986 when he was arrested in Monroe County and sent to prison, convictions for criminal possession of stolen property 2nd and criminal possession of stolen property first.
In 1997, he was imprisoned for criminal mischief in the third degree and burglary in the third degree.
In 2000 he was sent to prison again on a conviction in Cayuga County for grand larceny in the fourth degree.
In 2006, in Oneida County, burglary in the third degree.
In 2011, criminal possession of stolen property in the third degree and criminal possession of stolen property in the fourth degree.
In 2017, unauthorized use of a motor vehicle in the second degree.
His first conviction to lead to prison time in Genesee County was in 2020 for grand larceny in the fourth degree, auto theft, and grand larceny in the third degree.
Ruckdeschel was arraigned and jailed without bail.
The Sheriff's Office said the investigation is ongoing and Ruckdeschel faces several additional charges.
2023 File Photo of the entrance to the new Genesee County Jail during a beam-signing event at the site on Route 5 next to County Building 2. The new $70 million facility will not only affect the 2024 budget but future budgets as well since there will be debt service and additional personnel -- and the salaries and benefits that go with them -- required for the new site. Photo by Howard Owens
With a $150 million future phase III water system and $70 million new county jail facility in progress, coupled with addressing a $3.4 million deficit that “emerged” after receiving budget requests from all department heads, it was no wonder why county Manager Matt Landers needed extra time to put his annual budget message together this year.
What was originally expected for release a week ago had to be delayed until Friday of this week, with Landers explaining along the way that he was working to make edits and needed more time with his words than he did with the budget numbers.
"The next few budgets will have a uniform theme and consistent message from the Manager’s Office, which centers on the new County jail and the constant race to keep water supply ahead of demand. The county is embarking on two of the largest capital infrastructure projects in its history, with a new County jail carrying a price tag of approximately $70 million and phase three of the countywide water system with a current projected price tag of $150 million,” he said in this year’s message. “These two projects are going to weigh heavily on decisions made by the Manager’s Office and County Legislature for the foreseeable future, and is evident in the 2024 recommended County budget.”
Despite all of the upcoming expenses for infrastructure and jail to house men and women out on Route 5, the thrust of the message is not nearly as dire as one might expect. This next year’s all-funds budget of $182,790,077 is $20 million more than the 2023 adopted budget and includes a tax rate that is 37 cents less than the current tax rate, or an expected $8.08 per $1,000 assessed value. For a home assessed at 100,000, if nothing has changed with its assessment this past year, the annual tax bill will decrease by $37.
The total budget also includes:
Approximately $5 million in Phase 2 construction costs in the County Water Fund.
Seven new hires related to the new County Jail.
Additional operational cost increases at the Jail in preparation for the facility opening in 2024, both of which amount to approximately $1.9 million.
Increased Medicaid costs to the County for approximately $1 million as a result of NYS eliminating the Federal subsidy known as eFMAP.
Two new contracts with local ambulance service providers totaling over $600,000 annually.
NYS retirement cost increases for approximately $1.2 million: These costs have risen significantly, with an average increase in all tiers exceeding 18 percent.
Necessary collective bargaining contract increases for “a highly dedicated and underpaid workforce,” which amounts to approximately $3 million.
Inflationary cost increases that are causing significant budgetary increases in a variety of commodities the County purchases every year.
Mandates: Approximately 92 percent of the 2024 recommended property tax levy is made up of state-mandated expenditures to fund departments and programs, such as Medicaid, Probation, the new jail, Public Defender’s Office, assigned counsel, Social Service programs, Mental Health Department, Early Intervention, 3-5 Preschool Services, and various others.
“This budget funds County government in an efficient and responsible manner while making key investments that will help deliver better service to the residents of Genesee County. The recommended budget stays under the NYS tax cap while covering a lengthy number of expensive State mandates of which we have little to no control,” Landers said. “Crafting a balanced 2024 recommended budget presented considerable challenges, particularly in addressing a $3.4 million deficit that emerged after receiving budget requests from all department heads. To meet the challenge of keeping the net County support impact in line with the 2023 budget, County departments were encouraged to think innovatively and find cost-effective solutions.
“This was a challenge, considering New York State Retirement rates were once again increasing while higher than normal inflation and supply chain issues are causing vendor contracts to increase,” he said. “Despite these increases, I was pleased to see the majority of departments hold the line on spending, which helped greatly in delivering a budget that stays under the tax cap.”
The recommended budget includes $1.5 million of unappropriated fund balance, a decrease of $500,000 from the 2023 adopted County budget, he said. He is proposing a property tax levy of $32,722,377, an increase of $641,615, or 2 percent, which falls within the allowable tax cap. That would drop the current tax rate from $8.45 per $1,000 to $8.08 per $1,000 assessed value for a 4.37 percent decrease.
While he worked with department staff to control spending where possible, Landers also kept an eye on a “continued commitment in increased funding for our roads and bridges infrastructure,” he said, by putting an extra $1 million to play catch-up on work that's been put aside for too long.
“The cracks are showing,” he said. “This continued commitment of an extra $1 million is a big step in addressing the deferred maintenance of the county road and bridge infrastructure.
“The County continues to make strategic investments in its workforce, which will result in better service delivery to Genesee County residents. A large share of the investments in the 2024 recommended budget are being made in public safety,” he said. “Newly created positions are necessary to run an effective 21st Century correctional facility and include creating six new correction officer positions and a new custodial position to help maintain the significantly larger county jail.”
Another key piece of infrastructure is the multi-phase Genesee County Water System, which is nearing completion of the $25+ million phase 2 while Phase 3, a $150 million project, is being quickly designed, Landers said.
“Phase 3 includes bringing in enough water from Monroe County to close the City of Batavia water plant, which draws from a threatened source and has long outlived its useful life,” he said. “However, before the plant comes off-line, millions more have to be invested to ensure water supply keeps up with demand until Phase 3 is complete.”
As he had announced earlier this year, Landers had struck a deal with Mercy Flight and Le Roy Ambulance Service for dedicated ambulance response within the county. That is reflected in the 2024 budget with two new contracts for more than $600,000 annually “to help stabilize emergency response resources in Genesee County.” This action was listed as one of the recommendations from a recent County-funded study that examined fire and ambulance service in Genesee County, he said.
“These new contracts will strengthen the capabilities of local providers, improve emergency response times for County residents and allow the County to avoid directly purchasing ambulances and hiring staff,” he said.
Overall, Landers, with assistance from the assistant county manager and executive assistant, took a “deeper dive” into more specific budget lines, resulting in “significant budgetary savings,” he said, and more sharing of resources between departments.
How is he reducing the tax rate with all of those expenses on the county’s plate? There’s a $1.5 million fund balance, $1 million from reserves, an increase in sales tax revenue of $6.7 million — due to the price of goods increasing as the result of inflation, larger online purchasing by Genesee County residents and the retail growth happening in the Town of Batavia, plus a large percentage of sales tax from gasoline sales — and recent interest rate increases have earned the county an extra $1.45 million of interest earnings, all going toward the 2024 budget, Landers said.
The public will have the opportunity to weigh in on the proposed budget during a public hearing at 5:30 p.m. Wednesday at the Courthouse Chambers, second floor of the Old County Courthouse, 7 Main St., Batavia. The county Legislature is expected to vote on a final budget on Nov. 20.
Genesee County’s Legislature approved a slate of resolutions Wednesday, including funding to cover a budget shortage in the Sheriff’s Office due to overtime pay and fringe expenses for services to outside agencies, including for the air show and Darien Lake.
During the Public Service meeting earlier this month, Undersheriff Bradley Mazur explained a shortage of more than $120,000 due to overtime costs, due at least in part tosheriff’s deputy details at the Wings Over Batavia air show and at Darien Lake concerts during this calendar year.
The Legislature approved expenses of$95,000 for the additional overtime in police services, $5,890 for Social Security tax, $1,378 for Medicare tax, and $18,525 in retirement costs, for a total of $120,793.
The county will recoup those expenses by billing the agencies where sheriff's office services were rendered, county Manager Matt Landers said.
The Legislature also approved an increase in revenue to the Sheriff’s Office from STOP-DWI grant funds in the amount of $12,607 to cover the cost of the High Visibility Enforcement Campaign details worked in 2023.
Genesee County law enforcement agencies, including the Genesee County Sheriff’s Office, City of Batavia Police Department, and LeRoy Police Department, will be participating in a coordinated effort with the STOP-DWI program this coming week to bring awareness to the dangers of impaired driving.
The statewide STOP-DWI Impaired Driving High Visibility Engagement Campaign begins Friday and goes through Tuesday.
The message is simple: Designate a driver, and don’t let alcohol take the wheel. When it comes to impaired driving, “Halloween can turn the roads into a horror fest,” organizers say.
While families spend time with their children trick or treating and hosting parties with loved ones, law enforcement officers and STOP-DWI programs across New York State will participate in special efforts to stop impaired driving, prevent injuries, and save lives.
The STOP-DWI Halloween High Visibility Engagement Campaign is one of many statewide initiatives promoted by STOP-DWI NY and the Governor’s Traffic Safety Committee. Highly visible, highly publicized efforts like the STOP-DWI High Visibility Engagement Campaign aim to further reduce the incidence of drunk and impaired driving.
Pembroke Town Supervisor Thomas Schneider Jr. is well aware of social media comments in opposition to a planned apartment complex on Route 77 and understands people's concerns, he says.
But he hasn't received a lot of direct contact from opponents at Town Hall.
"We do hear the concerns," Schneider said after Thursday's board meeting. "One thing is the zoning has been in place since 1991. We've been working under the same zoning. I know it's sometimes hard for people to be informed, but if you don't know what's in your zoning, you can't be shocked when something comes in that's allowed in the zoning with a special use permit or buy right."
The project is approved. The Town Planning Board approved it on Sept. 27. On Thursday, GCEDC approved an incentive package for the project. There's no amount of opposition that can stop it now.
But even if there had been greater opposition before the approvals, mere opposition from community residents isn't enough to stop a development that meets all the legal requirements to be built at a specific location.
"According to state law, you shouldn't turn it down just because public opinion is 'we don't want it,'" Schneider said. "There should be a justifiable reason, an evidence-based reason, to turn it down."
Developer Mike Schmidt of Alden is planning to build four buildings over four phases at 8900 Alleghany Road. Each phase consists of a building with eight one-bedroom and 16 two-bedroom units, totaling 96 market-rate units, with 168 parking spaces along with garages.
Schmidt is planning on investigating $15 million in the project.
GCEDC on Thursday approved a sales tax exemption estimated at $739,200, a property tax abatement estimated at $2,020,688, and a mortgage tax exemption estimated at $130,000.
Schneider said he personally supports the project.
"My personal feeling on the whole thing is, as a former school board member, there are people who want to be in our district," Schneider said. "Our district does need kids in the district to help it survive."
He said he has met with Schmidt, and he believes Schmidt will do what he says he's going to do.
"I think he's a man of his word," Schneider said. "I don't see him as wanting to have subsidized housing (meaning HUD aid to tenants). The EDC said they're gonna pull the incentives if it is subsidized, so I am not concerned about it. I think there's a lot of change going on in the town this year that has people a little squeamish, but we need to grow."
Growth is part of the town's approved Comprehensive Plan, he said.
"I think that's the direction of the town board's past and present," Schneider said. "The comp plan in the town says (routes) 5 and 77 and 33 should have more intensive type of commercial build-outs."
The project did raise some issues with current zoning, Schneider noted during the meeting, and he's proposing the town work on making some changes to the zoning code with a moratorium on some development until the changes are approved, which could take about a year to get through the legal process.
One example he used of an area to be addressed is bus access to an apartment complex site.
"Things like that we can actually write into the zoning law," Schneider said. "That really takes it out of the hands of the planning board or, (not having) them having a struggle with what type of stipulations to put in the (approval). Let's spell it out."
He stressed he is not proposing a complete ban on anything.
