Jeff Cole will continue as handler following Otto’s retirement

Photos by Tom Rivers: Orleans County Sheriff’s Deputy Jeff Cole, left in front, and Sheriff Chris Bourke introduce Odin, a Belgian Malinois, to county legislators during Tuesday’s Legislature meeting.

Jeff Cole introduces Odin to county legislators and officials on Tuesday. Odin has been trained for tracking and searches, and soon will be certified for drug detection.

ALBION – The Orleans County Sheriff’s Department has welcomed Odin, a K9 that is already trained in tracking and searches. Odin will finish his certification later this month for drug detection.

Odin, a 2-year-old Belgian Malinois, is paired with K9 handler Jeff Cole. Odin has been in a narcotics detection school the past 10 weeks at the City of Rochester. Odin has been working with Cole the past 3 months.

The dog is from Holland and was imported by Upstate K-9 Boarding Kennels in Hilton.

Cole worked with the Sheriff’s Department’s previous K9, Otto. That dog retired after 8 ½ years in August.

Odin was paid for through community donations and a forfeiture account from the District Attorney’s Office.

Sheriff Bourke said Odin and Cole will be available to assist other departments in the county and in neighboring counties when needed.

“It’s a great asset to the Sheriff’s Department to have a K9 available,” he told county legislators.

‘I’ve always loved Orleans County but now I have a better understanding of it’

Photos by Tom Rivers: The class of the 2024 Leadership Orleans program is pictured after the graduation program on Thursday evening at the White Birch Golf Course in Lyndonville. Pictured front row from left: Marsha Rivers, Courtney Henderson, Barbara Koert, Reita Fletcher, Melinda Daniels, Melinda Rhim, Linda Weller, Pam Rounds and Tina Bell. Second row: Lisa Stenshorn, Lisa Bors, June Robinson, Tiffany Smith, Rebecca Robinson, Stacy Silker, Mike Winter, J.T. Thomas and Darren Brodie. Back row: Liz Mastromatteo, Gregory Hallock, Betty Sue Miller, Scott Robinson and Jeffrey Pasnik. Missing from photo: Walt Breese, Justin Robinson, Brad Pritchard and Deborah Schiavone.

LYNDONVILLE – The seventh class of Leadership Orleans has completed the year-long program where 27 people learned about different sectors of the county each month.

The new class of graduates brings the total to 176 who have completed the program in its seven years.

Skip Helfrich, the program’s director since it started in 2018, commended the class for committing to learn about themselves and the local community.

“We are making people more aware of what this county is all about,” he said during the graduation program on Thursday evening at the White Birch Golf Course.

Orleans County Legislature Chairwoman Lynne Johnson addressed the group, and said their talents and commitment to the community are needed in Orleans County.

The county needs more people to serve on boards, in elected positions, as coaches and other leadership roles, she said.

Many are deterred because of the time commitment, the workload and the criticism that comes from being in a leadership position, she said.

“Our community thrives when the best and the brightest – and that includes all of you – are actively engaged, sharing ideas, challenging each other in constructive ways and ultimately offering solutions that move our community forward,” Johnson said.

The graduates include:

• Tina Bell, office manager for Art Hill Excavating in Medina
• Lisa Bors, public relations director for Arc GLOW
• Walt Breese, president of Subway in Albion
• Darren Brodie, environmental health director for Genesee & Orleans County Health Departments
• Melinda Daniels, executive assistant for Community Action of Orleans & Genesee
• Reita Fletcher, branch manager of M&T Bank in Lyndonville
• Gregory Hallock, executive director of Genesee-Orleans Regional Arts Council (GO Art!)
• Courtney Henderson, owner of Babe Cave Inc. in Albion
• Barbara Koert, assistant director of UConnectCare (formerly GCASA) in Albion
• Liz Mastromatteo, coordinator/assistant principal of Orleans/Niagara BOCES in Medina
• Betty Sue Miller, director of Hoag Library in Albion
• Jeffrey Pasnik, council rep for North Atlantic States Regional Council of Carpenters in Cheektowaga
• Brad Pritchard, principal of Albion Middle School
• Melinda Rhim, coordinator of care management for Orleans County Mental Health Department
• Marsha Rivers, pastor of First Baptist Church in Albion
• Becky Robinson, partner with The Vintage Cigar in Medina
• June Robinson, associate director of quality at Baxter Healthcare in Medina
• Justin Robinson, dairy farmer with Poverty Hill Farms in Albion
• Scott Robinson, director of marketing for Orleans Community Health
• Pam Rounds, supervisor at Baxter Healthcare in Medina
• Debbie Schiavone, payroll administrator for Community Action of Orleans & Genesee
• Stacy Silker, court clerk for Town of Ridgeway and Town of Yates
• Tiffany Smith, assistant chief of nursing for Rochester Regional Health
• Lisa Stenshorn, clerk of the Orleans County Legislature
• JT Thomas, operations director at Iroquois Job Corps in Medina
• Linda Weller of Albion, president of Info Advantage Inc. in Rochester
• Mike Winter, controller for Western New York Energy in Medina

Melinda Daniels, executive assistant for Community Action of Orleans & Genesee, is congratulated for completing the Leadership Orleans program. She received a certificate from the New York State Assembly and a Special Recognition Award from the Orleans County Legislature. The people offering congratulations include County Legislator Skip Draper; Eileen Banker, Assemblyman Steve Hawley’s chief of staff; Legislature Chairwoman Lynne Johnson; Jackie Dunham, member of Leadership Orleans steering committee; and Kelly Kiebala, chairwoman of the steering committee.

The program aims to build the “citizen capital” of the community, helping develop leaders who are educated on the many facets of the community.

The class in the opening retreat did many ice-breaker activities to get to know each other. They also learned about their individual strengths and weaknesses, their personality types and how that shapes their decision-making and tendencies.

The class then met monthly, building leadership skills and gaining knowledge, experiences and meeting people from many different sectors in the community, from agriculture, non-profit organizations, government services, small and larger businesses, tourism, arts and culture, community health and economic development. Next year the program will add a day focused on law enforcement.

The program receives a stipend from the county, and there are many sponsors of programs throughout the years. The class members also pay tuition to be in Leadership Orleans.

Photo by Marsha Rivers: Michelle Kingdollar, chief financial officer for Western New York Energy and a Leadership Orleans graduate, leads a tour of the ethanol plant in March. WNY Energy won the “First Impression Award” among the host sites in the past year. Leadership Orleans visited 34 sites in the past year.

Bill Lattin, retired as Orleans County historian and director of the Cobblestone Museum, won the award as “Presenter of the Year.” He was called a master storyteller and a “local legend.” He was among 53 presenters for the program in 2024.

Lattin shared a famous quote from Margaret Mead: “Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has.”

And he shared a quote from Robert G. Ingersoll: “Life is a narrow vale between the cold and barren peaks of two eternities. We strive in vain to look beyond the heights. We cry aloud, and the only answer is the echo of our wailing cry.”

Lattin said we are all given a short time on Earth to make a difference. We need leaders with talent and vision to serve the community.

Susan Howard, a graduate from the 2022 Leadership Orleans program, was named “Alumnus of the Year.” Howard, the county’s first assistant district attorney, was elected district attorney in November and starts on Jan. 1, replacing Joe Cardone who is retiring. Howard said the program helped convince her to step up her involvement in the community and to seek being the DA, the county’s top prosecutor.

Linda Weller, president of Hoag Library and president of Info Advantage Inc., is hugged by Kelly Kiebala. Weller has lived in Orleans County for nearly 40 years. She learned many new things about the county, including its status as a “fishing mecca” drawing thousands of fishermen each year, especially for the fall tributary season.

Weller she was inspired by many of the presenters throughout the year who shared a passion for their careers.

“I learned so much about our county and the resources that we have here,” she said. “So many people are doing the best they can for our community.”

Tiffany Smith, assistant chief of nursing for Rochester Regional Health, completed the year-long Leadership Orleans.

Scott Robinson, director of marketing for Orleans Community Health, is commended for his participation in the program.

Betty Sue Miller, director of Hoag Library, was picked by the class to share reflections on the past year for the group. She said the class all learned about themselves, each other and opportunities and challenges in the county.

Miller said people bring different backgrounds, different personalities, and different ways of learning.

“As leaders, we can’t pigeon-hole our employees or volunteers,” she said.

Miller said she is the oldest person in the class this year. She learned more about the community, and saw passion from people who are often overlooked.

She highlighted a tour of the Albion sewer plant, led by chief operator Aric Albright. He has worked there for 30 years.

“It was just amazing,” she said about the tour of the plant on Densmore Road in Albion. “Aric, there is a man who loves his job.”

JT Thomas, operations director at the Iroquois Job Corps, accepts his certificates for completing the program.

Thomas was pleased to meet people from many different employment backgrounds in the class.

He feels more pride in the county after completing the program.

“I’ve always loved Orleans County but now I have a better understanding of it,” he said.

Slowing sales tax growth, rising mandate costs strain the budget

ALBION – Orleans County legislators unanimously passed the 2025 county budget on Tuesday.

The budget represents $99,092,747 in total spending, a 7.1 percent increase that raises taxes by 1.95 percent.

Jack Welch, the county’s chief administrative officer and also the budget officer, said nine mandated programs are seeing a $2,003,938 increase in 2025 or a 10.5 percent jump to $21,060,228. That exceeds the county’s total tax levy of $19,639,000.

The “9 for 90” mandated programs used to consume 90 percent of the tax levy, but next year will be 107 percent.

Those mandates include:

• Medicaid, $8,845,064 – up 1.7%
• Public Assistance/ Safety Net, $2,974,100 – up 27.6%
• Child Welfare/Protection $2,259,557 – 2.9%
• Special Education, $1,006,696 – up 1.6%
• Indigent Defense, $749,690 – 6.9%
• Probation – $694,581, down 10.9%
• Mental Health – Law Expense § 730.30 (competency exams), $500,000 – up 1,000%
• Early Intervention, $318,681 – up 15.3%
• Pension, $3,711,859 – up 22.0%

Total: $21,060,228, or  $2,003,938 over 2024 budget

Another big expense for the county, health insurance, will see a 19.8 percent increase to $7.7 million.

“The true challenge of this expense is that nearly 24 percent of this cost is for one drug,” Welch said in his budget message. “As an experience-rated group, orphan drug expenses play a significant role in the calculation of health insurance premium rates by all health insurance companies.”

The budget increases the tax levy by $375,000 from the $19,264,000 for 2024. That increase keeps the county under the tax cap, Welch said.

The tax rate will drop by 66 cents per $1,000 of assessed property to $7.91 due to growth in the tax base through reassessments. Not all the towns pay the same tax rate because not all have completed recent town-wide reassessments to put them at full values. Towns that are considered under value by the state will pay higher tax rates to be determined just before the tax bills go out in January.

Sales tax helps offset property taxes, and sales tax has been rising significantly in recent years. However, this year it was $900,000 below the amount in 2023 for the first six months, but then saw an $800,000 jump in the third quarter.

“Accrued sales tax collections year-to-date are still below 2023,” Welch said. “This is the first time since 2016 we have experienced this. Residents have shifted their spending from taxable sales to sales that do not have a sales tax connected to essential goods like food and rent.”

Welch said the recent increase in sales tax has been consumed by state mandates which include the increased costs for the homeless crisis and the Mental Health Law expense Section 730.30 – competency exams to determine a defendant’s competency. The county has experienced big increases in homeless placements the past 30 months for temporary and emergency housing, Welch said.

The budget includes $10,925,755 in a capital plan for projects and equipment upgrades.

That includes the following departments:

Highway – $8,132,479

Peter Bilt 10-wheeler, $260,000; Rollers, $200,000; local bridge and culvert repairs, $200,000; two pickup trucks on lease, $22,104; Upper Holley and South Holley Road replace and overlay, $460,000; patch and seal county roads, $200,000; highway reconstruction, $2,464,280; Eagle Harbor Road culvert replacement design, $170,000; Eagle Harbor Road culvert replacement, $759,625; Gillette Road bridge replacement design, $289,270; bridge preventive maintenance, $1,809,300; Route 279 bridge replacement, $1,136,900; Lakeshore Road bridge design, $161,000.

Buildings and Grounds – $1,410,000

Public Safety Roof, $1,200,000; sewer lateral lining, $150,000; Mental Health and Clerk’s buildings, $50,000; Animal Control roof, $10,000.

Information Technology Services – $70,000

Firewall replacement, $70,000.

Sheriff’s Office – $1,313,276

Dispatcher Stations upgrade, $810,000; jail repairs, $200,000; Jail vests, $13,000; Axon Tasers lease in jail, $6,000; animal control leased truck, $15,000; fleet maintenance program 2022, $66,493; fleet maintenance program 2024, $52,958; fleet maintenance program 2025, $106,000; Tasers lease from 2024 to 2028, $43,825.

The county budget includes 445 full-time, 107 part-time and 163 seasonal positions across numerous programs and services. This is a decrease of 4 full-time positions and an increase of 10 part-time positions compared to 2024.

The county has struggled to fill some positions in the government. With that reality, plus the rise in costs for employee benefits, the county has begun changing the work week for employees from 35 hours per week to 37.5 hours per week – with a goal of 40 hours per week rather than hiring additional employees, Welch said.

The annual fee for solid waste and recycling service will increase $5 to $225. This fee will continue to support the e-waste collection efforts for county residents at three sites across Orleans County.

BATAVIA – The Genesee, Livingston, Orleans, Wyoming Workforce Development Board will honor businesses and agencies in the four counties during its annual meeting on Dec. 13.

That meeting starts at 7:30 a.m. and goes until 9 a.m. at the Terry Hills Restaurant in Batavia. The GLOW WDB will present awards to the following businesses or agencies

• Geib Estates Corp. in Genesee County
• Coast Professional, Inc. in Livingston County
• P.Raising Kids in Orleans County
• Beaver Hollow Conference Center in Wyoming County

The Workforce Development Board also will honor a participant and youth from each county for their success with employment. The WDB also will go over its annual report.

The public is welcome to attend the meeting. For more information, call Jay Lazarony, GLOW WDB executive director, at (585) 344-2042 ext. 4212.

Photos by Tom Rivers

MEDINA – A fiberglass ox painted by artist Stacey Kirby Steward is pulled on a trailer during Medina’s Parade of Lights on Saturday.

The ox includes an agricultural theme on one side and a tribute to the Orleans County 4-H Fair on the other side. It makes its home at the Fairgrounds.

The Orleans County Bicentennial Committee spearheaded the project with the Cornell Cooperative Extension.

The Bicentennial Committee would like to see more of the oxen painted for the county’s 200^th anniversary in 2025.

There will be an informational meeting for the public to hear more about how to get an ox as part of the bicentennial celebration. That meeting will be at noon on Jan. 25 at Hoag Library in Albion.

Saturday’s parade also included the debut of an ox costume created by Robyn Watts. Lucy Rivers wore the costume during the parade. She is shown here with the ox statue at the staging area before the parade at the Olde Pickle Factory in Medina.

The ox walks the parade route on Main Street. The costume includes a vest with the names of the 10 towns, four villages, five school districts and some of the hamlets.

Some of the Bicentennial Committee members and volunteers work on getting the float ready on Friday at the fairgrounds. Lynne Menz designed the float.

The ox on the float is expected to make more appearances at local parades and community events to help the county celebrate its 200^th anniversary in 2025.

(Editor’s Note: Orleans Hub editor Tom Rivers is a member of the Bicentennial Committee.)

Provided photo

ALBION – Nikolas Mroz and Nancy Traxler of the Orleans County Veterans Service Agency are presented with a $1,000 check from Scott Carlton, squadron commander of the Sons of the American Legion in Medina. The donation goes toward the van service that takes veterans to medical appointments.

“The Sons salute the Joint Veterans Council, it’s staff and volunteers for providing veterans an indispensable means of access to needed medical care,” Carlton said. “We’re proud to continue funding this program as part of our advocacy for veterans.”

This is the 13th donation Squadron 204 has given, totaling $6,600.

The Sons of the American Legion was founded in 1932 as an organization within The American Legion, dedicated to preserving American traditions and values, improving the quality of life for our nation’s children, caring for veterans and their families, and teaching the fundamentals of good citizenship.

All male descendants, adopted sons, and stepsons of members of The American Legion, and such male descendants of veterans who died in service during the period of April 6, 1917, through Nov. 11, 1918, or any time from Dec. 7, 1941, to date, who served honorably, or who died subsequent to their honorable discharge from such service, are eligible for membership in the Sons of The American Legion.

Provided photo: Katie Harvey, left, the county’s director of personnel, presents the “Employee of the Year” award to Danielle Figura, the county’s mental health director.

ALBION – Danielle Figura, the county’s director of the Mental Health Department, was named the “Employee of the Year” during an awards program last week.

The county recognized the employees of the month from October 2023 to September 2024. From that pool the employee of the year was chosen by a separate committee.

Figura, a county employee since 2014, was praised for “strengthening the presence of mental health services in Orleans County for all residents.”

She has mental health personnel working from all five public school districts in the county. Figura also expanded walk-in counseling appointments at the Mental Health building in Albion, allowing for increased access for services at a time when mental health services are a critical need all over the country, said Katie Harvey, the county’s director of personnel and self insurance.

Figura also leads a staff that responds to a local crisis offering grief counseling for students and staff at schools or for firefighters and other first responders.

“As a member of the Orleans County community she can respond timely to numerous other local incidents and crisis situations that our first responders have had to respond to,” Harvey said. “Her attention to the need for mental health services for first responders both as a coordinator for services and a counselor are critical to our ability to have a vibrant, healthy first responder service for our residents in a rural county.”

The EAP Committee at the county is tasked to recognize employees of the month.

“This is a very important and a very special occasion when fellow county employees are recognized for not only their service to the citizens of the county but to recognize those individuals who go above and beyond their duty,” Harvey said. “The EAP Committee receives nominations from fellow employees and department directors and then the nominations are reviewed and discussed by the committee and a selection is made.

The employees of the month for the past year include:

• October 2023 – Kailyn Dellinger (Planning & Development)
• November 2023 – Sharolyn Wallis (Public Works)
• December 2023 – Carie Doty (Public Health)
• January 2024 – Brandy Tooley (Social Services)
• February 2024 – Kelley Ortiz (Social Services)
• March 2024 – Kathy Fantasia (Social Services)
• April 2024 – Dana Goetze (Sheriff) & Danielle Figura (Mental Health)
• May 2024 – Michael Schultz & Leigha Collins (Dispatch)
• June 2024 – Jack Finley (IT Services)
• July 2024 – Jennifer Hammons (Social Services)
• August 2024 – Elizabeth Milazzo (Social Services)
• September 2024 – James Houseman (Animal Control)

ALBION – The tentative Orleans County budget for 2025 increases funding one agency while others stay at the same level.

The tentative budget includes $99,092,747 in spending, a 7.1 percent increase and would raise taxes by 1.95 percent.

The county allocates some funding to different agencies that provide services in the community.

Only the Soil & Water Conservation District was given an increase, from $97,500 to a proposed $100,500.

Jack Welch, the county chief administrative officer and budget officer, said Soil & Water has been working with more property owners who have experienced flooding damage and need help from Soil & Water with drainage issues.

The agency requested the additional $3,000 and it was approved in the tentative budget.

The Legislature will have a public hearing at 4 p.m. on Dec. 3 for the budget, with the Legislature to vote in a meeting following the hearing in the legislative chambers of the County Office Building.

The Genesee-Orleans Regional Arts Council (GO Art!) and Cornell Cooperative Extension of Orleans County both sought increases but have been kept at the same level as 2024.

GO Art! sought $6,000 but stays at $4,000 in the budget, while the Cooperative Extension asked for $250,000, but was kept at $240,000. That is where the county funding for the Extension has stayed since 2017.

The Extension last year requested an increase to $275,000. This time the organization tried for a more modest hike of $10,000 but again is in the budget at $240,000.

The four public libraries collectively asked for $1 per resident or $40,343 to reflect the county’s population in the 2020 Census. But the libraries remain $10,087 in the budget, the amount since 2011. (The county was giving $29,914 to be shared among the four libraries as recently as 2002, but that dropped to $7,480 in 2003. Since then, the amount was raised to $12,587 in 2007, $13,617 in 2010, and then was cut to $10,087 in 2011.)

Two other agencies stay the same and didn’t request more money: the Orleans Economic Development Agency at $200,000 and Mercy Flight at $5,000. The Orleans EDA was boosted to $200,000 in 2024 after getting $190,000 in 2023.

One of the funded agencies in 2024 was dropped from $3,000 to zero in the tentative budget. The Cobblestone Museum was given the $3,000 in 2024 after not being in the budget. Welch said the museum didn’t submit a formal written request for funding for 2025. The museum expects to break ground on a new visitor’s center in 2025.

The Sportsmen’s Federation used to be in the county budget and typically received $1,000 a year through 2023. It was dropped to $0 in 2024 and isn’t allocated any funding for 2025 in the tentative budget.

Photo by Tom Rivers

ALBION – Joyce McNutt, the Orleans County commissioner of jurors, accepts a proclamation from County Legislator Fred Miller on Tuesday declaring November as Juror Appreciation Month.

McNutt said jurors are needed in trials at the local and county courts, and also for the grand jury.

The proclamation from the Legislature states, “The right to a trial by jury is one of the core values of American citizenship and the obligation and privilege to serve as a juror are as fundamental to our democracy as the right to vote.”

The Legislature said it appreciates the services of Orleans County residents “who annually give their time and talents to serve on juries whether it be in person or on telephone standby.”

Press Release, Orleans County Youth Board

ALBION – The Orleans County Youth Board today said organizations seeking funding for youth services programs and projects must have their applications submitted to the county by Dec. 10.

Applications are for programs and projects in Orleans County that take place between Oct. 1 and Sept. 30, 2025.

Kelly Kiebala, Orleans County Youth Bureau Administrator, said there are three different funding categories, the Youth Development Program (YDP), Youth Teams Sports (YTS), and Youth Sports & Education Opportunity Funding (YSEOF).

There are separate applications and the required documents for each funding source can be found on the Youth Bureau website (click here).

“The Youth Board encourages all youth organizations to download the applications and understand the different requirements for each grant,” Kiebala said.  “Organizations should apply for the funding that best suits their programs and maximizes their funding opportunities. We appreciate the important work these groups do in serving our youth and want to be sure they do not miss the deadline for funding.”

Those with questions about the application and funding programs should email the Youth Bureau at OrleansCountyYouthBureau@OrleanscountyNY.gov.

ALBION – Orleans County officials have put together a tentative $99,092,747 budget that represents a 7.1 percent spending increase and would raise taxes by 1.95 percent.

Jack Welch

The additional $375,000  in the tax levy from the $19,264,000 for 2024 stays under the tax cap, said Jack Welch, the county’s chief administrative officer. The tax rate will drop by 66 cents per $1,000 of assessed property to $7.91 due to growth in the tax base through reassessments.

Welch filed the tentative budget on Friday, the deadline to submit the tentative plan. There will be a public hearing at 4 p.m. on Dec. 3 for the budget, with the Legislature to vote in a meeting following the hearing in the legislative chambers of the County Office Building.

Welch, in a budget message, said the fiscal plan faces many financial pressures and uncertainties.

“This year’s $99 million budget recommendation is influenced by VUCA: volatility, uncertainty, complexity and ambiguity once again,” he said.

Mandated costs are on the rise, including the “9 for 90 Mandates.” Nine mandated programs used to consume 90 percent of the county’s tax ley. In 2024, it was up to 98.9 percent. But the 2025 budget has the mandates totaling $21,060,228 or 107.4 percent of the tax levy, Welch said. The mandated programs’ cost is up by 10.5 percent.

One of those mandates, health insurance costs, are up 19.8 percent to $7.7 million.

“The true challenge of this expense is that nearly 24 percent of this cost is for one drug,” Welch said in his budget message. “As an experience-rated group, orphan drug expenses play a significant role in the calculation of health insurance premium rates by all health insurance companies.”

The costs for retirement are up 22 percent over the 2024 budgeted expense for the pension contributions.

“The retirement increase is related to the increase in benefits for Tier 6 and the comptroller’s need to increase revenue since more employees are retiring from the workforce statewide,” Welch said.

Sales tax helps offset property taxes, and sales tax has been rising significantly in recent years. However, this year it was $900,000 below the amount in 2023 for the first six months, but then saw an $800,000 jump in the third quarter, Welch said.

“Accrued sales tax collections year-to-date are still below 2023,” he said. “This is the first time since 2016 we have experienced this. Residents have shifted their spending from taxable sales to sales that do not have a sales tax connected to essential goods like food and rent.”

The county’s Capital Plan includes $10,925,755 in projects and equipment upgrades.

That includes the following departments:

Highway – $8,132,479

Peter Bilt 10-wheeler, $260,000; Rollers, $200,000; local bridge and culvert repairs, $200,000; two pickup trucks on lease, $22,104; Upper Holley and South Holley Road replace and overlay, $460,000; patch and seal county roads, $200,000; highway reconstruction, $2,464,280; Eagle Harbor Road culvert replacement design, $170,000; Eagle Harbor Road culvert replacement, $759,625; Gillette Road bridge replacement design, $289,270; bridge preventive maintenance, $1,809,300; Route 279 bridge replacement, $1,136,900; Lakeshore Road bridge design, $161,000.

Buildings and Grounds – $1,410,000

Public Safety Roof, $1,200,000; sewer lateral lining, $150,000; Mental Health and Clerk’s buildings, $50,000; Animal Control roof, $10,000.

Information Technology Services – $70,000

Firewall replacement, $70,000.

Sheriff’s Office – $1,313,276

Dispatcher Stations upgrade, $810,000; jail repairs, $200,000; Jail vests, $13,000; Axon Tasers lease in jail, $6,000; animal control leased truck, $15,000; fleet maintenance program 2022, $66,493; fleet maintenance program 2024, $52,958; fleet maintenance program 2025, $106,000; Tasers lease from 2024 to 2028, $43,825.

Welch said the county has experienced big increases in homeless placements the past 30 months for temporary and emergency housing.

“Our total monthly placements are up over 190% when compared to July 2022 with our in-county placements up 116% and our out-of-county placements up over 600% as of October 2024,” Welch said.

The county budget includes 445 full-time, 107 part-time and 163 seasonal positions across numerous programs and services. This is a decrease of 4 full-time positions and an increase of 10 part-time positions compared to 2024.

The county has struggled to fill some positions in the government. With that reality, plus the rise in costs for employee benefits, the county has begun changing the work week for employees from 35 hours per week to 37.5 hours per week – with a goal of 40 hours per week rather than hiring additional employees, Welch said.

The annual fee for solid waste and recycling service will increase $5 to $225. This fee will continue to support the e-waste collection efforts for county residents at three sites across Orleans County, Welch said.

“The program remains very popular, with high demand for the disposal of CRT monitors and televisions,” he said. “The county is also planning to continue to offer the Household Hazardous Waste pick up annually, which includes residential tires.”

To see more on the tentative budget, click here.

125 attend Diamond Gala to celebrate organization

Photos by Tom Rivers

RIDGEWAY – State Assemblyman Steve Hawley presents a citation from the State Assembly in honor of the 60^th anniversary of the United Way of Orleans County. He made the presentation on Saturday evening to Nyla Gaylord, executive director of the United Way.

“The mission of the United Way of Orleans County is to provide funding and support for Orleans County charities, civic organizations and the people of the county,” the citation states. “A connector of people, resources and fundraising, the United Way strives to make the county stronger. The United Way uses values of collaboration, responsiveness, service, accountability and aids area of the community such as youth, older adults and vulnerable families.”

The Diamond Gala was held at the Ridgeway fire hall with 125 people attending to support the United Way mission. The buffet dinner was catered by Donna Eick.

Nyla Gaylord, United Way executive director, said the organization is committed to helping raise funding for agencies in the community while also pursuing grants for other important initiatives.

Gaylord said the United Way has secured $2 million in grants towards projects, such as a respite program for caregivers of seniors, a digital literacy and low-cost internet initiative, and a nutrition program through Community Action/Cornell Cooperative Extension. United Way also helped with the basketball court upgrades at Bullard Park in Albion.

The organization also helped establish a “Code Blue Warming Center” at Christ Episcopal Church in Albion, working with other partners, including Oak Orchard Health, which runs the site.

“The United Way is one of the most recognized charities in our county, but not many people know what the United Way does,” Gaylord said. “In Orleans County the United Way raises funds to support local organizations providing needed programs and services to residents of Orleans County.”

The United Way does an annual funding appeal with that money dispersed to Arc GLOW (Camp Rainbow and Meals on Wheels), Cornell Cooperative Extension, Genesee-Orleans Ministry of Concern, GO Art!, Medina Senior Center, OK Kitchen, Orleans County YMCA, P.Raising Kids, Hospice of Orleans County, UConnectCare and Scouts.

“Our focus is on Orleans County,” Gaylord said. “All funds raised stay in Orleans County to benefit our neighbors.”

Gaylord said United Way is taking a leadership role in helping community leaders address some of tough issues, including a need for more affordable housing.

“Today, like 60 years ago, we are amid a time of great social change,” Gaylord said. “Our community faces unprecedented challenges – but also limitless new opportunities. Our mission statement says it all: United Way of Orleans County is a connector of people, resources, ideas and founding to make our community stronger.”

The attendees enjoyed a cake and cupcakes for dessert.

Jodi Gaines, president of the United Way board of directors, accepts the microphone from Assemblyman Hawley.

Gaines has been part of the United Way for 25 years. She started when she was at the former Dime Bank in Albion as a campaign captain. She liked how the United Way could take one donation and share it with agencies working on behalf of local residents.

“I can write a check and impacts so many, from babies to the elderly,” she said.

Gaines went on to start CRFS, and has recently returned as its owner and chief executive officer.

She said the United Way has shifted from a focus on an annual appeal to know securing funding from foundations in Rochester and Buffalo to address community challenges. The annual appeal still generates about $50,000 from the community, which is down from about $300,000 during its peak.

Gaines has been active with the local United Way back when there were two chapters in the county, western and eastern Orleans. The two chapters merged into a county-wide organization in 2011.

Both of the chapters originally were a “Community Chest” with local leaders helping to raise funds for agencies in the county.

Gaines said the “pivot” by the United Way to funding from the major foundations in Buffalo and Rochester has given the local United Way a renewed mission.

“We try to find the needs in the county and where we can help,” Gaines said.

Dean Bellack of Medina was asked to stand and be recognized. He served as director for three years and helped change the structure of the organization, bringing in big grants from the Rochester and Buffalo foundations. One of those grants pays the staff for the United Way over five years until the end of 2026.

Mollie Radzinski, the United Way board president, announces winners of the baskets and prizes up for raffle.

Besides Radzinski, the board officers include Jodi Gaines, president; Tim Moriarty, treasurer; and Jennifer Mateo, secretary. Other board members include Dean Bellack, Ginny Kropf, Jerome Pawlak, Don Colquhoun, Ayesha Kreutz and Lynn Vendetti.

Gary Simboli, a retired music teacher at Albion, provided the entertainment, sharing a show he wrote about the importance of positivity. Simboli said the news is dominated by tragedy, crime and natural disasters. He sang several songs with uplifting messages, including “Imagine” by John Lennon, “Firework” by Katy Perry, “Show Me The Way” by Styx, “Hero” by Mariah Carey and several others.

ALBION – U.S. Senate Majority Leader Charles Schumer and Gov. Kathy Hochul on Wednesday announced $11 million in funding to expand high-speed internet in Orleans County.

The funding was part of $140 million announced on Wednesday in ConnectAll grants. Other award winners include: City of Jamestown, $29.9 million; Schoharie County, $30 million; Central New York Regional Planning and Development Board in Cayuga and Cortland counties, $26 million; Franklin County, $13.1 million; and Sullivan County, $29.9 million.

“Access to high-speed internet is not luxury, but a necessity, a utility as vital as electricity for everyday life,” Schumer said in a news release. “Upstate NY takes a major step towards closing the digital divide.”

Gov. Hochul said the grants are “a transformative step forward in our mission to connect every New Yorker to affordable, high-speed internet.”

The grants are funded primarily through the U.S. Department of the Treasury Capital Projects Fund via the American Rescue Plan.

The Orleans County Legislature last month announced the funding had been awarded to the county. The Legislature on Oct. 22 accepted the $11,562,698 grant to upgrade wireless internet service throughout the county.

The Orleans County Department of Planning and Development applied for the grant through Empire State Development’s ConnectALL Municipal Infrastructure Program. This will allow the county to increase wireless internet speeds from the current 25 Mega Bit Per Seconds (Mbps) to 100 (Mbps).

The county recently completed a build-out of a wireless internet system. There are now 19 towers and the county will add two or three more, likely near Lake Ontario where there are gaps in internet coverage, county officials said.

Orleans has two years to complete the project, upgrading the internet infrastructure on all the towers so 100 Mbps is available in download and upload speeds. The grant also will include a digital literacy component to help people learn about the technology.

County legislators on Oct. 22 accepted a bid of $11,216,500 from North Shore Networks LLC in Medina to implement the faster internet service. That company is led by Duston Ellis, who worked over a decade in Kentucky for Broadlinc, helping run a high-speed internet service in a rural area.

The press release from Schumer states the following about the Orleans County expanded high-speed internet service:

“Orleans County will utilize $11 million in MIP funds to extend its wireless internet network to serve more than 11,000 locations with 100/100 Mbps speed. In 2020, thanks to American Rescue Plan funding that Schumer provided to Orleans County, the County was able to realize a decade-long dream to expand high speed internet access across the County.

“This new $11 million project will build on that successful 2020 wireless internet project the County launched with RTO Wireless, by installing 21 wireless hubs on existing and new towers. The County will own the network, which RTO Wireless will design, construct, maintain, and operate. The towers will be open for lease to other ISPs.

“The County will also extend its partnership with the United Way to provide digital literacy training and community outreach, addressing the adoption barrier among low-income households. The project addresses the challenge of providing high-speed internet in rural areas with a low population density of 103 people per square mile.

“The County’s cutting-edge wireless solution, combined with strong community partnerships, provides a cost-effective alternative to fiber networks, promoting digital equity and enhancing connectivity for residents, businesses, education, and the agricultural community.”

LYNDONVILLE – Orleans County veterans are welcome to a complimentary holiday on Dec. 17 at the White Birch Golf Course, 1515 North Lyndonville Rd.

The dinner is funded by the the Pfc. Joseph P. Dwyer Peer to Peer Program, which aims to increase social engagement and community connections for veterans.

Orleans County veterans are welcome to bring a guest to the Dec. 17 dinner. RSVPs due by Dec. 6. Call (585) 589-3219 to RSVP.

The dinner starts at 5 p.m., with a social hour from 4 to 5 p.m.

Guest speakers include Assemblyman Steve Hawley and retired Assemblyman Charlie Nesbitt, a helicopter pilot during the Vietnam War. Nick Mroz will be the deejay.