Editor:

I sincerely hope that the residents of the Town of Barre do not believe the ads bought by Apex promoting how much money the town will have by accepting Heritage Wind into the community.

Apex is very adept at misleading the public and Town Boards. The term PILOT is Payment in Lieu of Taxes. PILOT payments generally pay only 25 percent of the value of a project. That is why companies like PILOTs so much and will often not move forward without a PILOT. So, from the outset there is a huge loss of taxes for the town. But that is only the beginning.

Apex makes it seem that all of the funds will benefit the town but that is not so. PILOTs are negotiated by the county’s Economic Development Agency (EDA) or Industrial Development Agency (IDA) and that is how they fund their staff and offices. So they take a large chunk of any PILOT.

The school district, or perhaps school districts, take a large portion of the PILOT money because students from the town of Barre attend one of four districts. (The Heritage Wind documentation (PSS) indicates school districts – plural.) However, PILOTs mess up limitations set by the state tax cap and will cause additional problems if and when it goes into effect and when it ends. So the New York State School boards Association has taken a stand against schools accepting PILOT payments.

The Orleans County IDA lists pilot payments to both villages and towns with the villages taking a greater share of PILOT payments than the towns. Whether any villages will receive any PILOT payments from Heritage Wind is unknown but must be considered.

In the 2018 Orleans County Economic Development Agency’s IDA report of PILOT payments, the schools received almost half of the PILOT monies (48%), the county received almost a quarter of the PILOT monies (23%), towns received just less than 10 percent of PILOT payments and villages were paid almost a fifth of the PILOT monies (19%). So, the town gets the last and smallest share of a PILOT payment.

But that is not the end of the Apex deception. This payment is over the life of the project – proposed to be 15 years or so. So instead of considering the advertised $35 million benefit to the town, consider $2.33 million each year divided among the EDA, school districts and the town [(and or village(s)].

How much will be left each year for the town’s benefit? It will certainly be less than a third perhaps much less and what will you be trading away to get it? And why does the Heritage Wind logo only show a tractor – not a wind turbine in sight?

Elizabeth Wolanyk

Barker

Editor:

There is way too much partisan baloney in the United States. But I have no intention of “going off” and writing a book at this time.

Depending on the Democratic nominee, I might vote for a Republican in 2020. But it won’t be someone who differs from Richard Nixon principally in that he isn’t smart enough to resign.

However, should Mark Sanford or William Weld be the Republican nominee, I may very well vote Republican in 2020.

It would take someone as level-headed as Senator Amy Klobuchar to get me to check the box on Row B. Of course, if the current occupant of the White House is re-nominated, my guess is that it will practically guarantee a Democratic victory in 2020.

I continue to believe that impeachment and conviction lets the citizens of this Republic off the hook. He and his entourage deserve it, but it is time to admit we made a mistake in 2016.

Sincerely yours,

Gary F. Kent

Albion

Editor:

President Trump tried to use foreign aid to Ukraine to dig up dirt on his potential political opponent. Ukraine, an ally of the United States, is involved in a shooting war with Russia.

The aid to Ukraine is needed military aid which was approved by Congress to support our ally. Using taxpayer money to extort political favors is an impeachable offense. Using taxpayer money for personal gain is an impeachable offense. Using taxpayer money to impede a democratic ally in a shooting war against an autocratic adversary of the United States is an impeachable offense.

Republicans are pushing some conspiracy theory that Vice President Joe Biden did the same thing. There are several important differences. First, Joe Biden was working with our democratic interest and European allies. Second, Vice President Biden was pushing Ukraine to investigate corruption not to squash an investigation. Third, there is no evidence of wrongdoing by Vice President Biden. If there was, the FBI would investigate, not a struggling democracy.

Chris Collins supports Mr. Trump. Collins doesn’t think using tax payer dollars to subvert U. S. foreign policies to enrich Mr. Trump is an impeachable offense. He does not think supporting an ally, a democratic ally, over an autocratic adversary is an impeachable offense. He doesn’t think using taxpayer money for personal gain is impeachable. He doesn’t think subversion of democracy is impeachable.

It is time to put country over politics. It is time to defend democracy. It is time to defend our constitution. It is time to elect new representatives. Thank you.

William Fine

Brockport

Editor:

It was with sadness in my heart that I walked into The Family Hardware early Monday morning. A gaggle of long-time customers was seated in the back area for what will be one of the last get-togethers there.

Yes, this is so very sad for this community to lose yet another convenient and frequently entered store in the heart of our village. Thanks to Fred Miller and all that he maintained in the village of Albion following the loss of Fischer’s Newsstand and the loss of many county employees as they moved to the hill well beyond walking distance of any village retail stores.

Even with formidable health conditions last year and this, Fred kept his business open and the village and customers benefited from his dedication. And so Fred, enjoy the abundance of time before you now in good health!

Karen Watt

Albion

Editor:

I want to publicly thank Assemblyman Steve Hawley, his staff members Eileen Banker and Jayleen Carney, Eileen’s husband Dale Banker for a great and successful Patriot’s Trip to Washington, D. C. I also want to thank the bus drivers Mike Degaugh and Cory Duthoy for their mild-manner handling all the traffic conditions while being friendly and courteous to all passengers. Finally, a thank you to Jim Freas for all of his assistance.

We left the slow rolling hills of Genesee County, full of gently swaying corn fields, for the turbulent memories of war and conflict. The trip included too many stops to mention here. This was not just a trip to learn history, or to remember past heroes.

For me this was also a trip to remember men I knew, who fought next to me; men who died in my arms while a medic tried to save them. Remembering is not the word I want to use because I can never forget these scenes; they never leave me.

This trip served a therapeutic purpose, I got a sense of closure. Again, I want to thank Assemblyman Steve Hawley, his staff, the bus drivers and Jim Freas for a very successful trip.

William Fine

Brockport

Editor:

Unfortunately we live in a time where all our student athletes are not able to participate in the sport or program of their choice in the school district in which they live.

Fortunately neighboring districts have recognized this and are willing to allow our student athletes to participate in their programs.

We live in the Barker Central School District. I work in the Lyndonville Central School District.

This weekend we had our “Mustang Pride” sign stolen from our yard.

Our student athletes are proud to be “Mustangs” for 3 months a year in the Medina football program.

Our student athletes are gladly “Rams” for 3 months a year in their wrestling program.

Our student athletes are thrilled to be “Barker Raiders” for 3 months a year in their own district’s baseball program – all while maintaining a GPA of 90 or above.

For a student athlete to participate in programs in a school district not their own is a huge commitment. They do it for the love of the sport, program and their teammates.

Our clothesline in the back yard consists of red, white and blue; purple and white; orange and black; and maroon and white.

We are proud of all of it!

We support our student athletes regardless of where or for whom they play, and you should, too.

Beth Hill

Middleport

Editor:

I would agree with Gary Kent. Time to oust the present federal administration if you enjoy the following:

No economic growth.

Raising local taxes to fund public pensions caused by market declines.

Gun confiscations.

Open borders.

Brownouts and black outs as fossil fuel is eliminated.

Forget seeing your family if they live beyond 162 miles.

Free inferior health care and college.

Middle class tax hikes.

US corporate headquarters moving to Ireland.

Government regulations.

Not certain where your next meal will come from as US agriculture is fossil fuel based.

Look at the bright side, we are not in a coastal area where the rising seas will flood the county. Plan 2014 developed by the last federal administration already accomplished that.

Ed Urbanik

Lyndonville

Editor:

At some point there may be no other option, but impeachment of “the chosen one” would, in my opinion, be of no benefit to the United States of America today. While the House of Representatives has the basis to charge him, removal from office requires more than simple majority cooperation from the Senate. Without that, impeachment is futile.

In essence, impeachment (the equivalent of a grand jury indictment) would rile up the president’s ardent supporters. It would allow him to play the role of victim (a part he milks for all it is worth) while letting the citizens of our republic off the hook.

The 2020 election should decide whether the president of the United States stays in office. In other words, people who care enough about this exceptional country and all the good it stands for need to examine his record and their consciences and decide whether he deserves a second term.

Until then, we have democracy and ourselves to thank for the situation we are in. That is to say that whatever short-term gain may result from the self-proclaimed “chosen one’s” tenure will likely come at the cost of considerable long-term pain.

Sincerely yours,

Gary Kent

Albion

Editor:

I just read the article about noise from wind turbines and wasn’t surprised by what I read. Since the noise from the wind turbines causes problems with 10 percent of the human population, what does it do to the domesticated animal and wildlife populations? Have any studies been done?

I think this should be a concern since these wind turbines are being located in rural areas with pets, farm animals and wildlife sharing the same space.

Pam Turner

Lyndonville

Editor:

Wind power, the burning question in our little corner of the world. Wind turbines are big and ugly, but so are high-voltage transmission lines, silos, manure lagoons, skyscrapers, industrial-size milking parlors and billboards, just to name a few. We got used to seeing them.

The argument, “not in my back yard,” begs the answer in whose back yard should we build them? Not every place is suited for wind turbines. Wrong climate patterns, wrong geography, poor political climate all make some places unsuitable for wind farms.

Push back, if strong enough, will force the developers down the road to more favorable locations. They will take potential jobs, income, and tax revenue with them.

The locals will lose out with possibly lower taxes, higher land values with lower tax rates. Lower electric rates, maybe not because the developer sells electricity to the power authority which then sells it back to local utilities that set the rates.

This has become a political football. Follow the money, who benefits the most from the turbine debate? Is the developer helping politicians? It’s hard to be critical of someone who gives you money.

Paul Tiffany

Yates

Editor:

I would just like to inform readers about people serving on the committees for political parties.

I was surprised that when I knock on doors that a good number of people do not know what I do.

I volunteer my time and gas to help potential candidates get on the voting ballot.

I go door to door of members of the party I belong to. I do it because potential candidates need a certain number of registered party members to qualify for a name to go on the party line on the ballot.

I would like voters to understand when they pick a party that the party needs them at petition time and ballot time.

Also committee people are voted in, so I need them to sign only if they want me. I also will listen and see if there are any issues that need to be addressed at committee meetings.

An American voter has liberty to help choose America’s government. Because this affects the voter’s life and his family and friends it is something to cherish and be proud of. At the right level of elections it could affect the world. That is why I volunteer.

So in closing please sign and  help us committee members keep America great.

Best regards,

Steve Colon

Lyndonville

Editor:

This is in response to Andrea Rebeck’s letter from August 28. I don’t know how she can speak knowledgably about the conduct of Clear Skies when she hasn’t been at most of the town meetings and doesn’t live in Barre anymore.

Charles Mathes’ letter stating that Clear Skies has been acting out and being rude at meetings was correct. All you need to do is watch the Town Board meetings that Robin Nacca so kindly provides for us to see for yourself. It seems that their mission at each meeting is to yell, hurl insults, and badger people with falsehoods about turbines, so they will eventually win out. That strategy has been used by other anti-wind groups around the country. It isn’t everyone from that group, but a small number turn each meeting into a three-ring circus.

It was totally inappropriate to go after the entire Mathes family! Leaseholder families have taken a lot of hits from Clear Skies, regularly being called greedy, their names being submitted to the Attorney General, and being harassed at meetings. This was just another shameful swipe at them!

It was also inappropriate to suggest that the town officials are taking kickbacks from Apex to support the project. She has no evidence of this and suggesting it only feeds into the paranoia that the group has been promoting.

The town officials have done a lot of research and are doing their best to ensure that Barre will get the best deal out of having such a large economic investment. To suggest that town officials have taken paybacks is further proof of their disrespectful behavior.

Apex is not employing a divide and conquer strategy. They cannot control how the community handles them simply doing business. As adults, we should all have control over our own behavior. The suggestion that they are making millions and not sharing it with the town is another paranoia tactic. Please give me the name of any company that is going to give you most of their profits!

However, the town will get a good amount that will help the town, taxpayers, and school. Regarding the laws on developing wind projects being weak and ineffective, Heritage Wind is in the Article 10 process which is one of the most strict and litigated permitting processes in the nation. Not only is it strict, but Apex was required to give Clear Skies $35,000 dollars to fund their fight against the project.

Many Barre residents and taxpayers are struggling, and the revenue from this project will help everyone. Aside from that, my support for this project is not just about monetary gains, but the fate of our planet. We need this project to give future generations the hope that they will have a planet to live on. If Clear Skies succeeds in destroying Heritage Wind, just know that the turbines will come at some point. In a few short years, the opinions of the anti-wind groups will be totally disproven.

Chris Loss

Barre

Editor:

This letter is in response to that of Charles Mathes posted August 23, 2019. It is a shame that family and community relationships have been so damaged by the proposed imposition of an industrial wind development in our town, but it shouldn’t surprise us.

For many years now this has been happening in town after town, state after state across our nation and in other countries, ever since such projects have been built in populated areas.  These developments permanently alter the physical environment of a community. Those who make money from them are happy; those who suffer from them are not.

I must admit that I am saddened to see a Mathes becoming such a vocal proponent for the wind developer, and claim that all the nastiness is coming from those who oppose the wind project.

Clear Skies Above Barre members have worked extremely hard to be civil and understanding of those who hold an opposing view, while pro-wind people are sometimes acting like bullies, stealing signs from our yards (this has happened to me at least twice – so such vandals are committing trespass and interfering with my right of free speech); telling groups with whom they have had good, long-term relationships that they are no longer welcome to hunt or ride snow machines across their land; defending improper and possibly illegal acts by town board members; and parroting the misinformation put out by the wind industry.

The reason I am especially sorry to see Mr. Mathes defame a group of people I have come to know and respect is that it was his grandparents who played a very large part in welcoming me to Barre and helping me undertake the restoration of my house here. Helen Mathes was Town Historian in 1998 and invited me to her house to spend the evening going over her materials, sharing with me the history of the property. She continued to give me information and encouragement, and one day after I’d been working on the house for a few years, she and her husband David pulled into my driveway and gave me a check for $500 to help with the restoration. I was amazed at their kindness and generosity.

Most of the benefit from an industrial wind project in Barre will be enjoyed by the out-of-state corporation that is promoting this project. It stands to make millions of dollars. The roughly 75 lease holders will make some money. The rest of the town’s residents and property owners will be inconvenienced during construction and quite likely impacted negatively for years to come.

The Payment in Lieu of Taxes that our town board is currently negotiating will actually provide property owners with LESS money than if we granted no PILOT at all. These are no longer conjectural statements. There is ample evidence to back them up, and the reality will speak for itself if the project is completed.

We need go no farther than Arkwright to know that the assurances of wind developers are nothing but lies. Unfortunately, New York’s laws protecting its occupants from such damage are weak, nonexistent, or not enforced. Some of our elected and appointed officials are being compensated by the wind developer so that they will promote the project. It would be so much better for all of us here if these officials would genuinely represent all of us, instead of just their own interests and those of the wind developer.

Andrea Rebeck

Barre

Editor:

This letter is in response to Rev. Larry Eastlack. I, too, am proud to be a resident of the Town of Barre. I agree that the proposed Heritage Wind project has caused an uproar in the town, but not because of the leaseholders or supporters.

The truth is, the unrest in town has started from one side of this issue – those against the turbines. They have called me and fellow farmers unsophisticated, greedy, etc. They have attacked our Town Board time and time again, when they are working hard to get the best deal for the town.

We voted these men into office to lead our town, and it is a thankless job. They don’t deserve the insults and aggressive behavior they have endured. Just watch a video of one of the Town Board meetings posted from Know Your Facts USA  or the Town of Barre website, you will see that the opposition treats Apex staff, leaseholders, and the Town Board with absolute disrespect.

They yell and scream like children, and even stand on tables. They should have concrete proof to back up their allegations. With this behavior, we may need security at our meetings. This is not the Barre that I know and love.

I want to see this project happen because it has the potential to transform the Town of Barre into a leader in the future of green energy. The money this project will bring in will allow us to keep the agricultural landscape of Barre that we all know and love. This project will benefit all of us, which is why us supporters want to see it through. And yes, to lower taxes!

Charles Mathes

Barre

Editor:

I recently read how the needs of the handicapped and elderly were ignored when the new county building went up. I have written over the years about building outside of downtown as a death knell to downtown Albion.

And whoever heard of a Legislature meeting outside a County Seat. (It appears there needs to be an election to authorize moving legislator’s clerk’s office out of the village but I do not recall that being on the ballot. Do you recall this being put to a vote? Maybe I missed something there.)

Conrad Cropsey

Albion