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UPDATED: Possible big drop in county tax rate could lower your tax bill for 2017, or maybe not

By Howard B. Owens

The county is looking at a 2017 budget that will reduce the county's tax rate by 23 cents per thousand of assessed value, but that won't necessarily be good news for all local property owners.

What each property owner ends up paying in property taxes will depend on any changes in their individual assessed value.

If your assessed value went up, depending on the size of the increase, the reduction in tax rate could hold your county tax bill even with 2016, unless your assessment increased significantly, then your overall county tax bill could increase. If you're assessed value stayed the same or went down, your county tax bill could decrease.

The county's budget is still in an early stage draft form, but County Manager Jay Gsell told legislators yesterday that what they're looking at is a possible tax rate of $9.63 up to $9.69, and even that range is subject to change as more numbers come in.

Overall, the total assessed value of all properties in Genesee County increased by $96 million. Some of that increase relates to assessors deciding some properties are now worth more money; some of it is due to new construction and some to temporary tax exemptions, such as PILOTs granted by GCEDC, expiring.

Under the state's complex property tax cap formula, the county is limited in how much of an increase in assessed value it can capture in revenue.

Roughly speaking, based on currently available calculations, the county probably can't go with a tax rate higher than $9.69.

The current rate is $9.86 per thousand.

A rate of $9.63 to $9.69 also fits with Gsell's goal of holding county spending for 2017 pretty much on par with 2016.

The instructions to department managers has been to hold the line on spending, Gsell said.

One of the big unknowns for the county as it tries to map out expenses for 2017 is the status of the Genesee County Nursing Home. The property has been sold, but the deal can't close until the State Health Department approves a certificate of need for one wing of the home for the new owner. There seems to be little progress with the state on that front and legislators are getting antsy about the lack of resolution. The unresolved issue may require legislators to budget for that expense in 2017.

UPDATE 2:30 p.m.: The following is the result of a discussion via e-mail today with Kevin Andrews, the deputy county treasurer.

The total assessed value of all properties in Genesee County has increased by $160 million. The revised number for how much of that is taxable by the county is now about $80 million.

As for the $80 million in increased assessed value, that is because of various exemptions, such as PILOTs, but also nonprofits and government-owned property are tax exempt, so there are other programs that property owners can apply for that award tax exemptions. These include a veterans exemption for homeowners, an exemption available to farms in some circumstances, and one for seniors below certain income levels, and various municipal exemptions.

The tax rate for some residents is also affected by a state formula for equalization of rates in different towns. If a town's assessments are below market rate, the county rate is adjusted accordingly.

On that point, Andrews said, "It is tough to say for sure what the tax impact will be in those towns without looking into those in a little more detail, but my guess would be that the equalization rate didn’t go down by too much, so they probably will not see an increase in taxes in those towns with a lower tax rate (unless you are a property owner whose assessment went up due to, say, new construction), but that is just a guess."

These figures are also still subject to change.

Approximately 26 percent of the properties in the county had some sort of increase in assessed value. About $14 million of the increased assessed value is because of new construction and improvements, less losses on demolition or destruction of property (fires, etc.) and properties moving from profit to nonprofit status.

About $146,000 of the increase in assessed value is the result of market-rate adjustments.

Because of updates on numbers, Andrews now estimates that stay-even tax rate is about $9.66, or $9.67.

Car hits deer on Richmond Avenue, Batavia

By Howard B. Owens

A car has reportedly hit a deer on Richmond Avenue, in front of the New York School School for the Blind.

The only injury reported is cuts from glass.

City fire and Mercy EMS responding.

Batavia Town tentative budget calls for $1 million levy and tax rate of $2.64 per thousand

By Mike Pettinella

Update: Oct. 5, 9 p.m.

As Town of Batavia councilwomen Patti Michalak and Sharon White, and Deputy Supervisor Dan Underhill pored over line items and monetary appropriations contained in the town's 2017 tentative budget, Supervisor Gregory Post provided an insight into the numbers that will effect the municipality's residents the most: the projected tax rate.

Post, while pointing out that uncertainties remain in the areas of sales tax revenue, health insurance costs, state mandates and taxable assessed valuation, indicated that town residents could be looking at a tax rate of $2.64 over the next fiscal year. This is a $1.24 increase over 2016's tax rate of $1.42, which was the town's first property tax since 1980.

A tax rate of $2.64 per thousand of assessed value equates to a yearly bill of $237.60 to the homeowner with a house assessed at $90,000.

The supervisor's budget includes $475,000 from the town's unexpended fund balance, which will drop to $1.3 million. Post said that amount in reserve is necessary to ensure that the level of services provided by the town continues.

"We're looking to keep our unrestricted fund balance around $1.5 million; that's the model we use," Post said. "But until we get valid, solid numbers, we won't know the final (tax) rate. I expect that this will be changing."

Post said business development in the town has elevated the total property assessment from $320 million to $379 million over the past five years, a trend that helps reduce the tax rate.

He said he is confident that the assessed value will continue to increase over the next five years when many of the multimillion dollar companies' PILOTs (payments in lieu of taxes) run out and they have to pay their full amount of tax.

"If this leads to growth of our excess fund balance, then I will definitely be in favor of giving back to the people of the town, either in the form of a rebate or lower tax rates," he added.

Post said he was proud of the fact that the town has no debt -- "all of our buildings are paid for and we have no big (municipal) bonds hanging over our heads," he noted -- and cited the town's ability to attract business.

"We have to partner with Genesee County, the city of Batavia, (Genesee County) economic development (Center) and New York State to bring some purity to the process so businesses will invest their millions of dollars," he said. "And thus far we have been very successful. We're still the hub of what's happening now and this is a positive sign (for the future)."

Previous report:

In a couple of hours, Batavia Town Supervisor Gregory Post will be distributing his 2017 tentative budget, an $8.5 million spending plan that currently calls for $1 million to be raised through property taxes.

The budget for the general and highway funds shows appropriations of $5.1 million with estimated revenues of $3.6 million. To close the gap, $475,000 will come from the town's unexpended fund balance and the remaining $1 million as the tax levy.

Post said his team is in the process of calculating the tax rate (the amount per thousand of assessed valuation) and he expects it to release that figure later today.

In 2016, a half-million dollars were raised via a tax rate of $1.42 per thousand that translated to a yearly tax bill of $127.80 for a house assessed at $90,000. It was the first property tax in the Town of Batavia since 1980.

Special district budgets -- Batavia fire districts, sewer districts 1 and 2, and the combined water districts -- have been set at $3.4 million, increasing the overall budget to $8,597,788, more than $400,000 greater than the town's 2016 budget.

"This year's budget has been more impacted by the special districts that are financed completely on their own," Post said. "They're paid for by the customers who benefit from these services."

Concerning the highway department budget, Post said that he is hoping to place some money -- around $100,000 -- into reserves for the first time, and to put forth a spending plan that takes into account rising costs that will "enable us to pay for the work that needs to be done."

As was the case last year, the supervisor is proposing 3-percent increases in salaries for the town clerk, justices, highway superintendent, and engineering and building and safety department personnel. Salaries of the elected town officials will not increase under the tentative plan.

The Town Board will consider the budget at its Oct. 19 meeting and a public hearing has been scheduled for Nov. 9.

Attorney will seek probation for woman who went along with robbery attempt at smoke shop

By Howard B. Owens

A second person involved an attempted robbery of a smoke shop in May where the employees fought back and the suspects fled, leading to a regionwide manhunt, entered a felony guilty plea in County Court today.

Misty Dawn Souza, 26, of St. Johnsville, entered a guilty plea to the first count of a five-count grand jury indictment, for attempted robbery in the second degree.

Last week, Jeremy J. Reynolds, 34, of Johnstown, also accepted a plea deal.

The duo was arrested after the Genesee County Sheriff's Office sought leads on the suspects in a robbery of the Smoke Rings Smoke Shop on the Tonawanda Indian Reservation. The man and woman entered the shop with what appeared to be guns, but only the man tried to continue with the robbery after his partner fled. He was confronted by an employee he didn't initially know was in the store and briefly detained in a back room before managing to escape through a window, dangling from the window, held by one leg by an employee, for a time.

Without a plea agreement for Souza, the Class D violent felony carries a maximum penalty of seven years in prison. The plea deal caps Souza's possible sentence to three and a half years, provided she stays out of trouble between now and sentencing at 9:30 a.m., Jan. 4.

At sentencing, her attorney, Fred Rarick, will argue that Souza should receive a sentence of probation with no prison term. He said in court today that he believes he can make a convincing case.

As discussed in court today, and as Souza volunteered while sitting in a Town of Alabama courtroom following her arrest in May, Souza suffers from a series of mental health issues and is required to take multiple medications.

In court May 21, Souza was frazzled and disheveled and rambled on about her concerns, the crime itself and her mental health issues while sitting in court. She said she had been off her medication since prior to the robbery attempt. 

Today, in court, she was a different person -- calm, well-spoken and polite as she answered questions from Interim Judge Micheal Pietruszka.

These factors will be part of Rarick's attempt to help Souza avoid a prison term. 

Rarick will also need to make the case that the robbery attempt was really the idea of Reynolds and that Reynolds misled Souza into participating and that while she participated briefly, she fled the scene almost immediately.

Rarick will need to successfully argue that Souza does not present a danger to the community.

She has no prior criminal record -- in the Alabama court, she said she never even had a traffic ticket before. She also has no history of use or abuse of illicit drugs.

She also has five children.

Souza's mother was in court with her today. Rarick told Pietruszka that his client has been nothing but cooperative and timely in her communications and court appearances.

She is out of jail on $50,000 bond.

Pietruszka noted that it will be up to the new county judge, likely Charles Zambito, to decide on Souza's sentencing on Jan. 4.

Previously:

Like a lot of volunteer departments, Le Roy looking for ways to shore up daytime call response

By Howard B. Owens

There was a time, Jerry Diskin remembers, when there were seven volunteer firefighters working right in the Village of Le Roy. 

That was a time, many years ago, when getting volunteers to turn out for daytime alarms was never a problem, but times have changed.

Lapp Industries has downsized, no new industrial employers have sprung up, businesses are smaller in the village, and more people work in Monroe County or elsewhere, making it hard for them to respond to daytime alarms.

That has Le Roy Fire District looking at any and all potential solutions for ensuring daytime alarms bring out sufficient manpower to cover the call, said Diskin who is chairman of the Board of Commissioners.

It's not that the department doesn't have enough volunteers -- there are 67 on the rolls, said 1st Assistant Chief Tom Wood.

"We’re not hurting for manpower," Wood said. "We’re hurting for guys available in a certain time frame. If you look at our roster, we have the manpower, but like everybody else, it’s just a time frame during the day time where people are in Rochester or wherever."

There was some confusion earlier this week over a report in a fire service newsletter, based on minutes from an East Battalion meeting, that the City of Batavia Fire Department would start to "cover" for Le Roy on structure fire calls in the Le Roy District.

That was never the plan, Diskin said. There was merely a discussion at the meeting about this issue and the city's changing role on structure fire calls.

"As a district, we’re directly accountable to the taxpayers," Diskin said. "To that end, if there is something out there that’s available to us to use or pursue we have a responsibility to do that."

The city has always sent what's known as a Fast Team (a group of firefighters tasked with being ready to rescue firefighters who might be trapped or having difficulty exiting a burning building) to structure fires in Le Roy.

There have been a total of 11 such calls in Le Roy over the past 18 months, Wood said.

In the future, the city will be asked to send a responding engine and another volunteer company will be asked to respond as the Fast Team, on daytime calls, Wood said.

"This is just change to an engine company," Wood said. "They’re not coming here to answer our alarms, they’re coming on structure fire only. ... This has been blown way, way, way out of proportion. This is just a change in assignment for them."

The county's fire response is broken into battalions and mutual aid companies and dispatchers use what are known as run cards to dispatch the right companies in the right order to the right location.

For Le Roy, the typical structure fire has Bergen sending its ladder truck almost right away, with another ladder truck (Le Roy also has its own) if needed from either Caledonia or Town of Batavia.  

The city would not likely be requested to send anything more than the Fast Team, or, now, an engine company.

"The system is designed so we don't deplete any one area," Wood said. 

Both Diskin and Wood emphasized that the issue Le Roy is facing with daytime calls is a countywide problem.

Last month, for example, there were back-to-back fires in Pavilion and Le Roy on a hot day. At the Pavilion fire, it was the third time recently that Wood became scene commander, even though it was Pavilion's district, because Pavilion didn't have a chief available to respond. An Alexander firefighter responded because he worked in Pavilion, even though his department hadn't been dispatched at that point (Alexander's Fast Team was dispatched that day). Le Roy was supposed to have a mutual aid company as a fill-in at its hall, and that company did send an engine but didn't have enough manpower available when the alarm sounded for the fire on Lent Avenue.

At that call, the city's Fast Team was pressed into firefighting duty to give the hot and tired volunteers a rest.

That's all a result of diminished manpower throughout the area for daytime calls, Wood said.

"This whole daytime thing is a countywide issue," Wood said. "It’s just being brought to the foreground by us because we’re being proactive about making sure things are covered."

Diskin said it's important to note that while getting enough people out on daytime calls is a struggle, calls are still getting covered in the district.

Like the Lent Avenue fire, calls sometimes pile up and over. And for the past couple of years, there seem to be more calls for service during the day, Diskin said.

"But that happens (the rare back-to-back call)," Diskin said. "It’s just like, 'it’s only a CO alarm,' 'it’s only a smoke detector alarm,' but somebody has got to answer that. That’s all it is, but somebody has got to go and handle it."

While manpower isn't an issue, recruiting more people is one obvious answer to boost the numbers with the hope that some greater percentage of recruits increases the number of daytime responders.

It's a challenge, and part of the challenge is that firefighting training has gone from a week to now you're into 79 hours of training, and 129 if you want to be an interior firefighter.

“It’s all good training," Diskin said. "I’ve been in training all my life. The issue is, it’s a big time commitment. So you’re trying to ramp that person up to be a valuable member of your department, you’re talking 18 months."

Because of the changing landscape of employment in Le Roy, Wood said, people's lifestyles have changed. A young firefighter probably has a family and kids today and they're signed up for more activities, making parents less available to respond to fire calls.

"Parents are just traveling all the time," Wood said. "I take my brother as an example. He’s got his daughter on a travel volleyball team. He’s gone most of the summer every weekend. So there’s a guy gone. I don’t fault anybody for doing that, but that’s the way it is."

To find out more about volunteering for your area department, visit ReadyGenesee.com.

Odor of natural gas reported in the Village of Le Roy

By Howard B. Owens

All available manpower is requested to the Le Roy Fire Hall after dispatchers received multiple calls reporting the odor of natural gas in the Village of Le Roy.

Callers are from multiple locations.

UPDATE 9:59 p.m.: Pavilion and Bergen departments requested to stand by in their halls.

Law and Order: Pavilion man accused of stalking family in local stores

By Billie Owens

On Oct. 1, SP Batavia Troopers arrested William A. Lane Jr., 63, of Pavilion, and charged him with fourth-degree stalking.

The arrest came after Lane allegedly followed a family throughout local stores.

Lane was arraigned in the Town of Batavia Court and put in Genesee County Jail pending a future court date.



 

On Oct. 1, 2016 SP Batavia Troopers arrested Nathan Constantino, 20, of Batavia, for driving while ability impaired by drugs and for possession of marijuana. Following a traffic stop on Route 33 in the Town of Stafford, Constantino was allegedly found to be in possession of marijuana and failed field sobriety tests; he was subsequently arrested. Constantino was processed and released on appearance tickets returnable to the Town of Stafford Court.

Zachary M. Bower, 19, of Shady Lane, Batavia, is charged with unlawful possession of marijuana. The defendant was allegedly found in possession of marijuana while a deputy was investigating a suspicious vehicle near the Village of Bergen Park at 2:36 p.m. on Sept. 29. He was issued an appearance ticket returnable to Bergen Town Court on Nov. 2. The case was handled by Genesee County Sheriff's Deputy Christopher Erion.

Michael Robert Simcick, 22, of Keeney Road, Le Roy, is charged with unlawful possession of marijuana. He was arrested after the strong odor of marijuana was allegedly detected emanating from his vehicle during a traffic stop at 5:44 p.m. on Oct. 3 on West Main Street in Le Roy. He is due in Le Roy Town Court on Oct. 20. The case was handled by Genesee County Sheriff's Deputy Ryan DeLong.

City fire department's annual Fire Prevention Week Poster Coloring Contest is underway, deadline is 4 p.m. Oct. 13

By Billie Owens

Press release:

The City of Batavia Fire Department is sponsoring the fourth annual Fire Prevention Week Poster Coloring Contest. This coloring contest is open to students from grades K – 5.

“Our hope is to get the children to discuss fire safety with their teachers and fellow students, as well as parents and guardians,” said City fire Lt. Greg Ireland. "Information has been distributed to City schools, but we wanted to include any City area home-schooled children as well."

Copies of the official coloring page and contest rules can be picked up at City Fire Headquarters, 18 Evans St. All eligible students are encouraged to participate.

The 2016 Fire Prevention Week (October 9-15) theme is “Don’t Wait – Check the Date! Replace Smoke Alarms Every 10 Years.” Additional information can be found at the Fire Prevention Week website www.FPW.org

Poster submission deadline is 4 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 13.

Judging of the posters will take place between Oct. 14 – 16. The winner of each group will receive a ride to school on a City Fire Engine, and be invited to a special awards luncheon with their family held at the fire station. Second- and third-place finishers in each group will also be invited to the fire station awards luncheon.

The best of luck to the students! Full rules are available at the City of Batavia Fire Department on Evans Street or by contacting the fire department via email or Lt. Ireland at:    gireland@batavianework.com

Presentation on GC's new, official disaster preparedness app is Oct. 29 at Park & Forest center

By Billie Owens

Press release:

Please join us for a Ready Genesee presentation at the Genesee County Park & Forest Interpretive Nature Center from 1 to 2 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 29th, as the Genesee County Office of Emergency Management and the Genesee County Health Department review the use of the official Ready Genesee mobile application.

The app was specifically designed to encourage the citizens of Genesee County to be prepared and protect themselves and their loved ones in the case of a disaster. This presentation is free and open to the public. Registration is required in accordance with presentation seating capacity. Register today and save your spot by calling 585-344-0078!

“The app offers all of the necessary tools and information that, we hope, will encourage our citizens to become more proactive about emergency preparedness,” said Tim Yaeger, Genesee County coordinator of Emergency Services.

“Citizens today rely more and more on their smartphones to access information, so we strongly believe that this new initiative will help us keep more people safe, should an emergency situation arise."

The app includes a module that will help community members create and share personalized family emergency plans, and identify and gather the necessary supplies. Citizens will be able to receive instant notifications, should an emergency strike. In addition to benefiting from the app’s many interactive features, app users will have access to a wealth of emergency preparedness information and resources, including up-to-date details on emergency shelters and evacuation routes.

The Genesee County Park & Forest Interpretive Nature Center is located at 11095 Bethany Center Road in East Bethany. For directions to the center visit us at http://www.co.genesee.ny.us/departments/parks/mapstrails.html

For more information and to register for the program, contact the Office of Emergency Management Services at 585-344-0078. Visit the website at http://www.co.genesee.ny.us/departments/ems/index.html

GCC History Club presents 'Four Days After Appomattox' to help fund trip next spring

By Billie Owens

Press release:

The History Club at Genesee Community College is planning an educational spring break trip to Richmond, Virginia and the surrounding area in March. In an effort to support the experiential learning opportunity and raise the necessary funds, the club is hosting a special event at 7 p.m. on Wednesday, Oct. 19, in room T102 of the Conable Technology Building at the GCC Batavia campus.

"Four Days After Appomattox" with General Robert E. Lee will take the audience back in time to the end of the Civil War just days after Lee surrendered to Union General Ulysses S. Grant at Appomattox Court House. General Lee recounts the war and imagines a future for himself and his countrymen.

"Tom Schobert's impression of Robert E. Lee is the very best historical impression I have ever witnessed," said Derek Maxfield, GCC associate professor of History and History Club advisor. "I have seen the 'Four Days' presentation several times and am always profoundly moved by it. He really captures Lee's character and manner and gives a spellbinding presentation."

The very moving program features Thomas Schobert, a Robert E. Lee impressionist of many years' experience. Schobert began his impression on the eve of the Civil War Sesquicentennial in 2011. Prior to donning the famous gray uniform, Schobert had been a longtime Union re-enactor doing a medical impression. Schobert brought to his impression many years of military experience in the Army, retiring as a lieutenant colonel.

"It seems so appropriate to host the Lee presentation when the History Club has determined to go to the Richmond, Virginia area on spring break," Maxfield added. "I am excited by the prospect of taking the Club to Richmond and Washington, D.C. There are so many great historical sites we could visit! The problem will be the selection process given the limited amount of time, and raising the necessary funds."

Tickets for the event are $15 each or two for $25 and will be available at the door; cash and checks only. To reserve tickets, contact Derek Maxfield at ddmaxfield@genesee.edu or by calling (585) 343-0055, ext. 6288. Ticket-holders will have an opportunity to have their picture taken with General Lee at no additional charge after the presentation.

Genesee Symphony Orchestra, 10 other organizations receive $20K gifts from estate of Joan Pfeifer

By Mike Pettinella

A $20,000 bequest from the estate of a longtime Batavia physical education teacher is nothing short of a godsend, according to a spokeswoman for the Genesee Symphony Orchestra, a not-for-profit organization in perpetual motion to keep the music alive.

“The directors of the symphony are constantly conducting fundraisers and asking for donations, so when we get money given to us like this, we’re just unbelievably happy,” said Roxie Choate, GSO personnel director.

The GSO was one of 11 different nonprofit entities to receive $20,000 gifts from the estate of Joan Pfeifer, a gym teacher in the Batavia City School District for 36 years prior to her retirement in 1984.

Pfeifer passed away on March 11 of this year at the age of 88.

Choate said she remembered seeing Pfeifer, a lifelong Batavian, at GSO concerts.

“I saw her at the concerts, and my husband played tennis with her at times,” said Choate, adding that Pfeifer (known as Miss Pfeifer to all of her students) was her elementary gym teacher.

Pfeifer, a 1945 Batavia High School graduate, went on to obtain her bachelor’s and master’s degrees from SUNY Brockport and University of Buffalo, respectively.

She was active in the community as a volunteer at United Memorial Medical Center and Meals on Wheels, and also was treasurer of the NYS Softball Officials organization, and had leadership roles in the Genesee Tennis Club and Midtown Tennis Club of Rochester.

She was a member of St. James Episcopal Church.

Choate said the funds from the Pfeifer estate will be go a long way to meeting the GSO’s budgetary requirements.

“We’re going to put part of it into an endowment fund, and we also need a new computer and a program to be able to keep track of payments to the performers, and eventually we will have to buy a new set of tympani,” she said.

David Metzler, Pfeifer’s executor, and partner in the Batavia law firm of Rybak, Metzler and Grasso, said the other beneficiaries were St. James Episcopal Church, Batavia Cemetery Association, Elmwood Cemetery, Genesee Area YMCA, Crossroads House, Genesee Cancer Assistance, HomeCare & Hospice, Humane Society at Lollipop Farms, Volunteers for Animals and Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra.

“These charities were near and dear to her heart,” said Metzler, who noted that he knew Pfeifer for about 10 years. “She was always giving money (to various causes). Yes, she was a very generous person.”

Truck strikes pole, wires down and blocking traffic on North Bergen Road

By Billie Owens

A pickup truck struck a pole near 6481 North Bergen Road, Byron, and it knocked the pole down. The driver is out of the vehicle and claiming no injuries. Wires are down and the accident is blocking traffic. Byron and South Byron fire departments are responding.

"National Grid will need a crew out here," says a first responder to dispatch.

Traffic will be stopped at the intersection of Route 237 and at Bird Road. National Grid has been notified.

UPDATE 1:01 p.m.: The Byron assignment is back in service.

Batavia girls soccer on a good run even with Senior Night loss to Eastridge

By Howard B. Owens

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The Batavia High School Girls Soccer Team will likely head into sectional play after three more regular season games with a double-digit win total for the first time in the program's history, despite a 1-0 loss to Eastridge last night at Van Detta Stadium, which dropped the team's record to 9-4.

Eastridge is now 8-4.

The game at Van Detta was a rare night game for the Lady Devils, and even rarer for a soccer game on Woodward Field.

Typically, the senior game is played under the lights at Genesee Community College, but the game was moved to Batavia's track and football complex because of ongoing construction at the college.

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HLOM a good investment for county, legislators told at meeting

By Howard B. Owens

More than 6,000 people from out of the state, and even out of the country, visit the Holland Land Office Museum every year, Don Burkel, chairman of the HLOM's board of directors, told the County's Human Services Committee yesterday during a department review.

That's one of the many contributions HLOM makes to the local economy and cultural life of Genesee County, Burkel said during a lengthy presentation that outlined the many programs and exhibits hosted and promoted by the museum each year.

While not a specific budget request, department reviews to help inform legislators about what is going on in all facets of county government heading into budget talks.

Each year, HLOM receives about $37,000 from the county, after a cut in financial support of about $6,000 a year in 2010.

"The museum costs less than $1 per resident in the county," Burkel said.

Patrick Weissend, a former HLOM director who recently joined the board as vice president, said not much has changed for the HLOM budget since he ran the facility seven years ago.

"The budget remains really lean," Weissend said.

The museum is also supported by memberships and donations, but Weissend said the museum is able to tap into a fund created years ago by donations from the late Congressman Barber Conable. Conable made it a practice to donate any speaking fees he received to nonprofits in Genesee County. Those donations are preserved in an investment account.

The mission of HLOM is to preserve the museum's collection of artifacts and provide educational opportunities to the local community and visitors based on that collection.

GCEDC board to consider two ag projects at next meeting

By Howard B. Owens

Press release:

The Board of Directors of the Genesee County Economic Development Center (GCEDC) will consider two applications for GAIN! revolving loan funds for agricultural projects in Pavilion and East Bethany.

Cottonwood Farms LLC in Pavilion is seeking to install a wind turbine system that would combine wind and solar power in one turbine in order to increase efficiency and electric energy output. The GCEDC is considering a GAIN! loan in the amount of $65,000 to Cottonwood Farms for the acquisition of the dual system equipment.

The GCEDC also is considering another GAIN! loan for $177,139 for Sandvoss Farms LLC -- First Light Creamery in East Bethany. The loan will be used for the construction of a new refrigeration and storage facility, site work to improve access and traffic flow as well as a new hoop house for feed and materials storage and a new goat nursery facility. Sandvoss Farms processes pasteurized cheese, milk and yogurt from raw goat’s milk.

The Growing the Agricultural Industry Now! (GAIN) initiative is a $400,000 revolving loan fund for Genesee County farms and agribusinesses. It is designed to follow existing revolving loan funds that return investments directly back into a pool for the next round of projects. Projects can receive between $25,000 and $200,000 in gap financing at a 1 percent interest rate.

THE GCEDC will also review an application from Empire Pipeline to terminate their existing PILOT agreement, and instate a new 15-year fixed PILOT for their compressor station and pipeline in Oakfield. As the project incentives are more than $100,000 a public hearing will be set if the GCEDC Board accepts the application.

The GCEDC board meeting will be held at 4:30 p.m. on Thursday, Oct. 6th, at the MedTech Center, across from Genesee Community College, on the first floor at the Innovation Center, Suite 107. All board meetings are open to the public.

Photo: WBTA posters of unknown history or origin

By Howard B. Owens

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With clowns in the news recently, it's perhaps ironic that these old posters would reappear in the offices of WBTA about this time.

Dan Fischer, owner of the 75-year-old station, said a listener delivered the two posters to the station years ago and they were stored behind a bookshelf. They reappeared again during remodeling. 

The listener who brought them in knew nothing about them and Dan doesn't know anything about them either.

If anybody knows anything about the history or what they were promoting, leave a comment.

Koolatron seeking area variances for 25,000-square-foot warehouse expansion

By Mike Pettinella

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Business is booming, according to the manager of Koolatron Corp. on Commerce Drive, north of the NYS Thruway, and more space is needed to store the hundreds of products distributed by the Canada-based company.

Gordon Pringle, head of the Batavia site, and Rick Giraulo, representing LandTech Surveying & Planning PLLC, of Rochester, appeared before the Town of Batavia Zoning Board of Appeals Monday night as part of a public hearing in connection with the firm's plan to construct a 25,000-square-foot (158x158) warehouse with another set of loading docks and a driveway for trucks to exit the property.

While no one spoke either for or against the project during the brief public hearing, going forward Koolatron will need Genesee County and Town of Batavia to approve a couple requests for area variances.

Giraulo pointed out to the ZBA that the firm is seeking setback and building coverage variances.

"Our plan has the distance (from the building to the property line) at 28.3 feet as opposed to (the minimum) 30 feet and lot coverage of 39.7 percent as opposed to 35 percent, so we're slightly over," Giraulo said. "But we're smaller than the property across the street, which is at 48 percent, so the impact is negligible really. We're not setting any precedents that haven't already been established."

ZBA members indicated that they didn't see any issues with the requests, but will not be in a position to vote on the variances until Oct. 17, four days after receiving a recommendation from the Genesee County Planning Board. Town of Batavia planners are expected to render a final decision on Oct. 18.

Pringle said the nearly $1 million project will result in the addition of a few more jobs. Currently, the business, also known as Mega Properties Inc., employs eight people.

This latest endeavor comes on the heels of a 2014 project when Koolatron increased its warehousing space from 25,000 square feet to 45,000 square feet, receiving about $200,000 in tax abatements from the Genesee County Economic Development Center.

"Business has grown so much recently, especially with Amazon, Home Depot and Walmart, which just ordered 48,000 coolers," Pringle said, noting that the company ships products around the globe. "And this is just one of many. Beyond that, dot.com orders are increasing like crazy."

Headquartered in Brantford, Ontario, Mega Properties Inc. has an international presence with facilities in England, Florida and New York. It began with a flagship product line of 12-volt portable thermoelectric coolers and has expanded to manufacture, market and distribute a wide range of items via dealer-distributor network and the Internet.

In rendering above, the blue area represents the proposed warehouse expansion at Koolatron on Commerce Drive.

Annual Roast Beef Supper to benefit Historical Society of Elba is Thursday

By Billie Owens
The annual Roast Beef Supper to benefit the Historical Society of Elba will be held this Thursday, Oct. 6, at the Elba Firemen's Rec Hall on Route 98 at the corner of Route 262 (7143 Oak Orchard Road, Elba).
 
Takeouts available starting at 4:30; serving begins at 5. Basket raffles starts at 6.
 
Cost is $9.50 adults, ages 5 to 12, $4.50, and 5 and under FREE.
 
Call for reservations -- June R. at 585-757-2791.

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