KENDALL – A proposed tax abatement plan would save a company more than $200,000 in property taxes over the next decade as it works to develop The Cottages at Troutburg.

The Orleans Economic Development has crafted a 10-year tax savings plan for the 126-acre former Salvation Army site in the northeast corner of Kendall along Lake Ontario. The plan only applies to the land. Any new seasonal cottages will be taxed at 80 percent of their value.

The land is currently assessed at $1,305,200. The EDA will have a public hearing 9 a.m. Jan. 15 at the Kendall Town Hall for a tax abatement plan or PILOT (payment in lieu of taxes).

The EDA is proposing the Wegman Group not pay any taxes on the land for the first year and then pay incremental 10 percent increases in taxes until it is at 100 percent after 10 years.

The plan would save the company $41,414 the first year, according to Orleans Hub calculations. (I multiplied the $1,305,200 assessed value by a $31.73 tax rate. The rates in Kendall include $17.21 for the school district, $10.09 for the county and $4.43 for the town.)

That loss in revenue would be absorbed by other residents. The company would pay about $4,145 in the PILOT the second year with $4,145 increases added the following years until it is as the full $41,414. Orleans Hub calculated the plan would save the Wegman Group $227,791 over 10 years.

The EDA typically works out PILOTs to reduce the tax burden for companies when they are in the early stages of projects. The deals typically help companies with their cash flow so they can get their projects off the ground in the early capital-intensive stages.

The Wegman Group has about 10 cottages under construction. The company believes 400 cottages could be built at the site over the next decade, increasing the site’s assessed value by about $25 million.

To offset the loss in the taxes for the land through the PILOT, the Wegman Group would need about 25 of the new cottages to be built. That assumes they are assessed for $60,000 with the town then discounting them by 20 percent due to their seasonal status.

The site historically didn’t generate any tax income for the community because it was tax exempt under the Salvation Army.

The PILOT plan isn’t final. Residents and local officials will have a chance to weigh in on the plan during the public hearing on Jan. 15.

KENDALL – A Kendall Central School District school bus carrying four students was involved in an accident with another vehicle this morning near the intersection of Route 237 and Ridge Road.

Our four students and bus driver were taken by ambulance to Strong Hospital as a precaution. Thankfully, their injuries are minor.

We are saddened to learn news that the driver of the other vehicle suffered fatal injuries and we are working with the Orleans County Sheriff’s Department as they conduct their investigation.

Kendall Central School District

Press release, Orleans County Sheriff Scott Hess

MURRAY – A Brockport man is dead following a head-on crash this morning with the car he was driving and a school bus.

The incident was reported at 7:09 a.m. and occurred in the 16600 block of Ridge Road (State Route 104) in the Town of Murray.

Daniel L. Hollaert Jr., 23, was operating a 2006 Chevrolet Cobalt, travelling east on Ridge Road when the vehicle collided with a full-size school bus owned and operated by the Kendall Central School District.

Hollaert was pronounced dead at the scene by Orleans County Coroner Joseph Fuller.  Hollaert was extricated from the car by firefighters from the Holley and Fancher-Hulberton-Murray Fire Departments, and then transported to the Monroe County Medical Examiner’s Office in Rochester.

The driver of the bus is identified as Harold F. Barnard, 72, of Kendall. There were four students on-board at the time of collision ranging in age from 11 to 15. All the students as well as their driver sustained minor injuries. They were all transported by ground ambulance to Strong Memorial Hospital in Rochester. School District officials responded to the crash scene.

Deputies D.E. Foeller Jr., & A.J. Houghton responded to the incident.  They were assisted by Deputy D.S. Klips, Investigator C.L. Black, and Chief Deputy T.L. Drennan.  State Troopers from the Albion barracks also assisted at the scene.

The incident remains under investigation by the Orleans County Sheriff’s Office.

Photo by Tom Rivers – A Kendall school bus is towed back to the school at the intersection of routes 104 and 237 this morning at about 9:45 a.m.

MURRAY – The driver of the car that collided with a Kendall school bus at the intersection of routes 237 and 104 this morning has died. None of the students on the bus were seriously injured. Four of the children have been taken to the hospital with minor injuries.

Route 104 is now open in both directions. The school bus has been towed from the scene.

Orleans Hub will have more information as soon as it becomes available.

MURRAY – Orleans County Sheriff’s Deputies are at the scene of a serious school bus accident in the town of Murray. The accident occured at the intersection of routes 237 and 104 around 7:40 a.m.

Time Warner Cable News is reporting that a car and a Kendall school bus collided and the accident has resulted in one fatality. It has not been determined whether there were any students on board the bus at the time of the accident.

Route 104 is closed between Kendall Road and Route 237 (North Main Street).

Orleans Hub is on the scene and will have more information as soon as it becomes available.

Photos by Tom Rivers

KENDALL – The Kendall community held its annual tree lighting and caroling celebration tonight at the gazebo at the town park.

Kendall school musicians performed for the event. Jonathan Price plays the saxophone.

Eliya Cooper, wearing Santa hat, sings with the Kendall chorus. The group sang a few songs, including “Jingle Bells” and “Silent Night.”

Bob Ryan, a member of the Kendall Lions Club, leads a group of children in singing several Christmas songs.

The Lawnchair Ladies performed a couple choreographed songs. The group of 18 includes Kathy Kemp, in front. They will be part of Brockport’s parade of lights at 5 p.m. on Sunday.

The crowd gathered to help celebrate the holiday season.

Santa and an elf joined the celebration at the gazebo, posing for pictures with children. The event then shifted to the firehall, where Santa mingled with residents before getting back to work.

KENDALL – A Kent man was killed in a accident on Route 18 in Kendall at about 11:20 p.m. Tuesday night.

Joshua Lunn, 25, was traveling westbound on Route 18 when he attempted to pass a westbound vehicle, state police reported. Lunn lost control of his pickup truck and left the south shoulder striking several trees.

Lunn was not wearing a seatbelt and was ejected from the vehicle. He was transported by Kendall Ambulance to Medina Memorial Hospital where he died. State Police are continuing an investigation of the accident.

Lunn was owner of the Grease Lightning business at 102 East Bank St. in Albion.

Photo by Tom Rivers – Kendall Town Supervisor Dan Gaesser, left, is pictured with Town Councilman Bart Joseph. Gaesser is backing Joseph for town supervisor in a write-in campaign.

KENDALL – As Dan Gaesser wraps up four years as town supervisor and seven years on the Town Board, he has been thinking about the transition for the town to a new supervisor and new majority on the board.

Gaesser says he has worried in recent months about a trio of candidates backed by the Republican Committee to serve on the board. The candidates, including the GOP-picked candidate for town supervisor, haven’t served on the Town Board before.

As the election neared in recent weeks, Gaesser admits he grew more worried about the new team that seemed destined to take office.

Gaesser said other people in town voiced some misgivings about the Republican candidates. Gaesser said he saw an ideal candidate already on the board in Town Councilman Bart Joseph, who has six years on the board.

Joseph didn’t pursue the Republican endorsement in the spring. He assumed Gaesser would seek re-election.

“I thought Dan was running,” Joseph said.

Gaesser opted against another two-year term, saying he wanted to devote more time to his family and business.

Gaesser last week convinced Joseph and two other residents, David Balka and David Gaudioso, to mount write-in campaigns for the Town Board. Joseph agreed to be a candidate for town supervisor.

“With his experience, it would be very beneficial moving forward,” Gaesser said. “People are concerned with a board that is 60 percent new.”

The Republican Committee picked Tony Cammarata as its candidate for town supervisor. The committee also endorsed Bruce Newell and Patrick Snook, Jr. for the Town Board.

Cammarata ran for the Town Board with the Democratic Party’s endorsement in 2009 and 2011. A former independent, he is now a registered Republican. He also retired last year after a 34-year career in sales with Georgia Pacific, a paper products and plywood company.

Cammarata said his career in sales and management gives him “a vast background working with people.”

He serves on the town Zoning Boards of Appeals and is a member of the Kendall Lions Club.

He didn’t fault Joseph and the other write-in candidates for making a run for office.

“That’s what free elections are all about,” Cammarata said. “That’s what America stands for and it’s what I believe in.”

Cammarata said he has the time to devote to the position now that he’s retired.

“I’m totally available,” he said.

Cammarata said he wants to extend waterlines in town. He thinks Kendall can draw more residents. It has close proximity to the lake, a respected school district and beautiful rural landscapes.

“I want to work with the people and identify their needs,” he said. “I know working with people accomplishes a lot.”

Gaesser said the trio of Republican-endorsed candidates may not quickly grasp town budgeting, the process of forming new water districts, and working on business projects, including the 400-unit development at the former Salvation Army Camp. The Wegman Group has begun construction of “The Cottages at Troutburg,” a development projected to take about a decade to complete.

Joseph has been heavily involved in town projects the past six years, Gaesser said. Joseph said he also knows how to advance projects through the layers of local, state and federal governments.

He has worked the past 32 years as a paramedic with the Rochester Fire Department. He is the department’s line safety officer. He also has been a volunteer firefighter in Morton for 39 years.

“This town has invested a lot in me over the years,” Joseph said. “I have experience working in the city government, the fire community and the Town Board.”

Winning as a write-in requires voters to write the names of the candidates on the ballot. It’s unusual for a candidate to pull off a write-in victory.

Three years ago Lisa Murkowski became the first U.S. senator in more than 50 years to win an election with a write-in campaign. She received more than 100,000 votes in Alaska to win as a write-in. Both Joseph and Cammarata mentioned Murkowski’s victory as an example that it can be done.

If Cammarata wins on Tuesday and becomes town supervisor, Joseph would still be on the board as a councilman. Cammarata said he would welcome Joseph’s input and contributions.

Cammarata said he sees his role as assembling a team that can work on projects for the town.

“If you’re the town supervisor, you’re the manager,” he said. “You’re the leader and you have to have people skills. I bring that and I’m highly motivated.”

Photos by Michael Karcz – Little Jack Horner was featured by the Kendall Elementary School.

KENDALL – Kendall celebrated its annual Scarecrow Festival on Saturday, when about 30 scarecrows, many of them decorated as popular children’s characters, were on display.

The festival included a 5-kilometer race, live music in the gazebo, a pumpkin seed spitting contest, scavenger hunt, magician, balloon artist and police K-9 demo.

This scarecrow was created by the Kendall PTSA.

Photos by Michael Karcz

KENDALL – The school district celebrated homecoming over the weekend, including a carnival on Friday where Kendall students and teachers took pies in the face.

The carnival also included a bounce house and other games and activities. The school district had a parade on Saturday and graduates were welcomed back to participate in alumni soccer and baseball games.

KENDALL – A project that will significantly add to the town of Kendall and Orleans County tax base will be celebrated with a ribbon-cutting ceremony at 11 a.m. on Wednesday.

Construction has started on the Cottages at Troutburg, a new three-season waterfront community along the Lake Ontario shoreline in Kendall. There could be 400 houses built on a 126-acre site in the next eight to 10 years.

The Wegman Group is developing the project at a former Salvation Army camp that includes a half-mile of lake front property at the eastern end of Kendall.

The Wegman Group estimates the project will have a $40 million dollar impact for the town of Kendall and the county. The Cottages at Troutburg will add 40 to 50 new jobs over the next couple of years. The cottages range in size from 450 to 1,300 square feet.

“We chose this site because it is spectacularly beautiful and will offer residents endless opportunities for lakefront recreational activities,” said Dan Wegman, president at The Wegman Group. “This location also makes it convenient and accessible to families and seniors from Rochester, Buffalo, Syracuse and even Toronto.”

The Cottages at Troutburg provide owners a maintenance free, secure living experience through a range of cottage and cabin styles for sale and land lease. Residents will have access to swimming, fishing and boating; open recreation areas, including a playground, two tennis courts and a basketball court; walking trails; a heated swimming pool; community center; and gated community with a keypad.

The ribbon-cutting on Wednesday will be at 19 Monroe-Orleans County Line Rd. The following officials are scheduled to attend: State Sen. George Maziarz, State Assemblyman Steve Hawley, Orleans County Legislature Chairman David Callard, Kendall Town Supervisor Dan Gaesser, Kendall Planning Board Chairman Paul Gray, Kendall Town Clerk Amy Richardson, and members of the Orleans Economic Development Agency, including CEO Jim Whipple, and Gabrielle Barone, vice president of business development.