5 from county will be highlighted for acts of bravery in combat

Photos by Tom Rivers

ALBION — David Bellavia, a Medal of Honor recipient from Lyndonville, attended the unveiling of a new Medal of Honor wall in the Orleans County Office Building on Wednesday afternoon.

He is shown in front of photo of him receiving the medal from former President Donald Trump on June 26, 2019 in the East Room of the White House.

Bellavia is the first living veteran from the Iraq War to receive the nation’s highest military medal.

Bellavia is one of five county residents to receive the Medal of Honor. Charles D. Harris was the first to be honored with the medal for his heroism in the Apache Wars in 1869.

Bellavia said he is very appreciative to have grown up in Orleans County, where veterans are respected and people are encouraged to serve their country in the military.

He is a radio talk show host for WBEN and also travels extensively as an ambassador for the Army, speaking at colleges, high schools, bases and other events.

Congressman Chris Jacobs, second from right, joined in unveiling of the wall. Jacobs commended the Legislature for creating the wall, which is a prominent display about heroism on the second floor of the new addition of the County Office Building.

Jacobs praised Bellavia for his acts of valor on Nov. 10, 2004 in Fallujah, Iraq.

Bellavia led an infantry squad clearing houses of insurgents, saving the lives of the members of his unit. He is the first living Iraq War veteran to receive the nation’s highest honor for military service.

County Legislator Ed Morgan embraces Bellavia after the wall unveiling. Morgan attended the Medal of Honor ceremony at the White House nearly three years ago.

Nancy Traxler, director of the Veterans Service Agency in Orleans County, discusses the history of the Medal of Honor. There have been about 3,500 recipients since the medal was first awarded on March 25, 1863.

County Chief Administrative Officer Jack Welch and Lisa Stenshorn, clerk of the Legislature, take the cover off the wall.

County legislators unveil the Medal of Honor wall in the county building. Pictured include from left: Ed Morgan, Don Allport, Bill Eick, David Bellavia, Lynne Johnson and John Fitzak.

The other four Medal of Honor recipients will be recognized on the wall. Johnson said she is hopeful family members of those individuals can attend the unveilings in the future.

Former Orleans County Historian Matthew Ballard researched the four other Medal of Honor recipients from Orleans County. He shared the following details in previous columns and presentations when he was historian:

• Forrest Vosler of Lyndonville was assigned as a radio operator and aerial gunner aboard a B-17 Flying Fortress during World War II with the 358th Bombardment Squadron, 303rd Bombardment Group stationed out of England. On Dec. 20, 1943, Vosler’s fourth combat mission. The plane was under fire and had two engines knocked out with the aircraft windmilling out of control. When a fellow aviator was knocked unconscious, Vosler maneuvered himself into the tailgun. Another 20-mm shell hit the aircraft, sending shrapnel into Vosler’s chest, face, and eyes. He continued to deliver defensive fire upon German aircraft until the attacks subsided. Nearly out of fuel and losing altitude quickly, the crew jettisoned every piece of equipment to lighten the plane.

Vosler, severely wounded and floating in and out of consciousness, begged the crew to throw him out of the plane to reduce weight. As the aircraft plunged into the frigid waters of the North Sea, Vosler crawled out of the aircraft onto a wing. A passing Norwegian trawler quickly picked up the crew and transferred them to a British rescue vessel. One of Vosler’s eyes had one of his to be removed, and the other required extensive surgery.

John Butts was awarded the Medal of Honor for acts of valor in the Normandy invasion in June 1944.

• John E. Butts of Medina is the only one of the five Medal of Honor recipients from Orleans County who received the honor posthumously. He was recognized for his heroic actions near Cape La Hague, France in World War II.

Butts was in command of four squads in Easy Company of the 60th Infantry Regiment, 2nd Battalion, 9th Infantry Division charged with driving towards St. Colombe, France. On June 12, 1944, 2nd Battalion progressed so quickly towards their objective that the remainder of 9th Division thought the 60th Infantry was lost. In fact, 2nd Battalion had pushed forward through heavy German resistance and established a bridgehead at the Douve River. Butts was wounded twice, first near Orglandes on June 14th and then at the Douve River just two days later; he refused medical treatment on both occasions in order to remain with his men.

On June 23, 1944, the 60th Infantry led the 9th Division’s advance from the Cotentin Peninsula as part of the breakout from St. Lo. While moving towards Flottemanville-Hague, Butts and his men encountered a German stronghold atop a hill, well defended with tanks, machine guns, and mortars. Butts was struck in the stomach by machine gun fire while progressing towards the objective. Pulling himself into the shelter of a nearby hedgerow, he planned a flanking maneuver with his Sergeants.

One squad was to progress up the left flank, another up the right flank, and the third was to remain in reserve. Holding one hand over his midsection and the other grasping his carbine, Butts charged the hill alone. The might of the entire German stronghold fell upon him directly, Butts falling approximately 10 yards from his objective. The distraction allowed the two flanking squads to outmaneuver the Germans while the third squad hit the hill head-on.

Awarded on July 19, 1945 by President Harry Truman, John Butts’ Medal of Honor citation references the two painful wounds he received in the days leading up to the deadly assault on June 23, 1944. His citation concluded by stating, “By his superb courage, unflinching valor and inspiring actions, 2d Lt. Butts enabled his platoon to take a formidable strong point and contributed greatly to the success of his battalion’s mission,” President Harry Truman said in the citation for the medal, which was awarded on July 19, 1945.

• Thomas Wilbur Kates, born in Shelby on May 7, 1865, received the Medal of Honor for his actions in 1900 during the Boxer Rebellion, a nearly two-year uprising led by the Yihetuan (or Boxers) against foreign imperialists in China.

Kates accepted enlistment with the U.S. Marine Corps at New York City on July 21, 1899. Pvt. Kates and other Marines were dispatched to China on June 18, 1900, where they remained through October 10, 1900. According to his citation, Kates was awarded the Medal of Honor “…for extraordinary heroism while serving with the 1st Regiment (Marines), in action in the presence of the enemy during the advance on Tientsin, China, 21 June 1900. Private Kates distinguished himself by meritorious conduct.”

Maj. Waller wrote in a letter dated July 6, 1900, that “…of the men I wish to say, while all in the engagements we participated in, behaved in such a manner as to bring forth the highest praise from the foreign officers…Cpl. Thomas W. Kates.”

He continued, “…the specifically distinguished of these being Corporal Kates and Privates Campbell and Francis, with the Colt gun.” According to the Report of the Commandant of the U.S. Marine Corps dated September 29, 1900, these three men remained with Lt. Powell, holding a position with an M1895 Colt-Browning Machine Gun until all but Campbell and Powell were gunned down. They destroyed the gun to prevent it from entering enemy hands before they commenced their retreat.

• Charles D. Harris, who fought in the Civil War, was awarded the Medal of Honor for his heroism in the Apache Wars in 1869. The specifics of the engagement and the actions that warranted the awarding of the medal remain shrouded in mystery. After the war, Harris returned to Albion and lived a quiet life until his passing on September 6, 1895. He is buried at Mount Albion Cemetery.

ALBION – The phone issue has been fixed at the Orleans County 911 Center, Sheriff Chris Bourke said.

All non-emergency phone lines into the Orleans County 911 Center were down for much of the day but are back working.

Callers were encouraged to call 911 if they needed assistance. But now the non-emergency lines are working.

“Thank you for your patience,” Bourke said.

Photos by Tom Rivers

ALBION – The courthouse dome on East State Street is lighted up in blue and yellow tonight in a show of support for the Ukrainian people who have been under attack since Russia invaded the country on Feb. 24.

The courthouse will remain lit for the foreseeable future in blue and yellow, the colors of Ukraine.

“Around the world everyone is finding ways to show their solidarity with Ukrainians during this time of crisis. Orleans County stands with them,” Orleans County Legislature Chairwoman Lynne Johnson said earlier this week.

One side of the dome is blue and the other yellow.

The courthouse was built in 1858 and is the focal point of the Courthouse Square in Albion, a district that is on the National Register of Historic Places.

Chart from Genesee & Orleans County Health Departments.

The number of new confirmed Covid cases in Orleans County declined again in seven days (March 9-15). There were 13 new cases in Orleans, down from 15 the previous week.

In the past seven weeks in Orleans the cases have dropped from 255 from Jan. 26 to Feb. 1, 157 from Feb. 2-8, 84 from Feb. 9-15, 41 from Feb. 16-22, 29 on Feb. 23 to March 1, 15 from March 2-8, and then 13.

Genesee County also has seen a steady decline of cases until the past week, when they increased from 25 to 38.

Both Orleans and Genesee are considered to be at low Covid community levels, according to the CDC.

The 51 cases in both counties in the past week is far fewer than the Covid peak in early January when there 2,703 cases in the two counties from Jan. 5-11.

The Genesee and Orleans County Health Departments is reporting one more Covid-related death in Orleans County, bringing that total to 113 during the two years of the pandemic. Genesee County has 184 Covid-related deaths during the pandemic, according to the G-O Health Departments.

Paul Pettit, public health director for Genesee and Orleans counties, continues to urge people to get vaccinated from Covid to protect themselves and help bring an end to the pandemic.

Workforce Development Board wants to highlight careers in health field

BATAVIA – The GLOW Workforce Development Board is looking to fill gaps in the healthcare field by highlighting jobs to local high schoolers.

Photos by Tom Rivers: Jay Lazarony is director of the GLOW Workforce Development Board.

GLOW already does a “GLOW With Your Hands” event for building trades. About 700 to 800 people from the four counties have attended those events at the Genesee County Fairgrounds.

Now the GLOW Workforce Development Board wants to have an event showing job prospects in healthcare businesses and organizations to high school students.

The Workforce Development Board will have a kickoff meeting on April 5 from 10 a.m. to noon at the Robert Morris Campus’s Multipurpose Room, 80 Union St. in Batavia.

GLOW wants to hear how to inspire youth from the four rural counties – Genesee, Livingston, Orleans and Wyoming – to pursue careers in healthcare.

The Workforce Development Board is open to other GLOW With Your Hands events to highlight other career clusters, said Jay Lazarony, director of the Workforce Development Board.

“We need the support of the business community or else it won’t work,” Lazarony said about the healthcare event.

With the building trades focus, businesses did demonstrations about the careers, from brick-laying, welding, electrical wiring, heavy equipment operations and other skills in construction.

Now, GLOW wants to expand that career exploration to healthcare where businesses are in need of workers.

“We have to engage them if we’re going to solve the skilled workforce gap – and we have to solve it,” Lazarony said last week during a discussion with Leadership Orleans.

Lazarony said the Workforce Development Board welcomes participation from Orleans County businesses in the GLOW With Your Hands events, for both healthcare and the building trades.

Healthcare businesses or officials interested in attending the kickoff meeting on April 5 are encouraged to RSVP with Lazarony by calling (585) 344-2042, ext. 4212.

Joe Lang, line supervisor for National Grid, shows Pavilion students how to set a switch with a pole during the first GLOW With Your Hands event on Sept. 24, 2019. National Grid representatives said the company offers many career opportunities as a line man, or jobs in administrative, metering and the service department.

The state Department of Labor reports a better employment picture for Orleans County this past January compared to a year earlier.

The unemployment rate dropped from 6.8 percent in January 2021 to 4.3 percent in January 2022. In Orleans, there were 400 more people working – 16,000 to 16,400 – while those on unemployment dropped from 1,200 to 700.

The 4.3 percent unemployment rate is the lowest for January in Orleans County for state DOL records going back to 1990. It was up from the months ending 2021 with 3.2 percent in December, 3.4 percent in November, 3.7 percent in October and 3.9 percent in September.

The unemployment rates for January in Western New York counties includes: Orleans, 4.3%; Genesee, 3.8%; Wyoming, 4.5%; Livingston, 3.8%; Monroe, 4.0%; Erie, 4.4%; Niagara, 4.9%; Chautauqua, 4.7%; Cattaraugus, 4.7%; and Allegany, 4.6%.

In United States, the national rate is at 4.4 percent, compared to 6.8 percent a year before in January 2021. In New York State, the rate dropped from 9.3 percent to 5.3 percent.

The US increased employment by 7.235 million, from 148.38 million to 155.62 million and unemployment dropped by 3.64 million.

In New York, employment increased by 426,500, from 8.475 million to 8.902 million with unemployment decreasing by 365,900 from January 2021 to January 2022.

ALBION – The courthouse dome on East State Street will be lighted up in blue and yellow beginning this evening in a show of support for the Ukrainian people who have been under attack since Russia invaded the country on Feb. 24.

“Around the world everyone is finding ways to show their solidarity with Ukrainians during this time of crisis. Orleans County stands with them,” said Orleans County Legislature Chairwoman Lynne Johnson.

The courthouse dome will remain lit for the foreseeable future in blue and yellow, the colors of Ukraine.

Agency has secured about $1 million in grants, foundation funding for community

MEDINA – Despite the recent pandemic, during which fundraisers and workplace campaigns were curtailed, United Way of Orleans County has made strides toward meeting the needs of the community. They have continued to raise giving each of the last three years.

And yet, much more remains to be done, and to that end executive director Dean Bellack has embarked on an ambitious program to ensure the agency’s sustainability far into the future.

This began two years ago with his vision to look outside Orleans County for funding. Currently, United Way of Orleans County provides funding to ARC of Genesee/Orleans (Camp Rainbow and Meals on Wheels), Community Action of Orleans and Genesee, Genesee Council on Alcoholism and Substance Abuse (GCASA), Genesee-Orleans Ministry of Concern, Supportive Care/Hospice, Orleans County Adult Learning Services (OCALS), Orleans Recovery-Hope Begins Here; Orleans County YMCA; P.Raising Kids Daycare, Project Stork, Care Net and VIA WNY 211. However, since United Way funding is so limited, there is not enough to fund these and other organizations adequately.

Bellack has outlined his quest for moving United Way forward with two documents – one of which is an Impact Report and will be hand delivered to 100 community leaders, and the other a mailing of 1,000 newsletters to residents of Orleans County.

Dean Bellack

These mailings detail the founding of the Community Chest in 1964, which eventually evolved into United Way of Orleans County. They describe current activities and how Bellack reached out to foundations in Buffalo and Rochester, which resulted in an initial awarding of $144,000 for community agencies.

Subsequent multi-year grant requests were funded, resulting in a $450,000 grant to hire grant writer Matt Holland and fundraiser/event planner Nyla Gaylord, and $364,000 to promote digital literacy in collaboration with Cornell Cooperative Extension. As a result of funding coming to Orleans County through the CARES Act, United Way is currently developing a program to deploy free internet equipment to more than 900 low- to moderate-income households. These are all programs and services that would not have come to Orleans County without the United Way.

The 100 letters introduce the United Way Impact Report to community leaders, asking them to read it, absorb it and truly think what Orleans County would be like with no United Way.

If there were no United Way, Bellack said programs would be forced to cut back on services; some organizations would go out of business; Orleans County would no longer have a free grant writer or digital literacy initiative; our United Way would no longer be an advocate fighting to bring in funding and services that will help improve the health, education and financial stability of every person in the community; United Way would not be there to serve as a trusted conduit for funding from major foundations; Orleans County would no longer have a central point of contact and vehicle for fostering community collaboration to address pressing needs.

The pandemic taught that the United Way plays a critical role in bringing resources to the community and that there are resources and partnerships outside of the county that are willing to help, Bellack said.

Recipients of the 1,000 newsletters will also read about the different ways to give to United Way. Bellack shared a question asked by board member and retired judge Jim Punch.

Why should I give to the United Way?

Bellack’s answer was “Because United Way is all-encompassing. Every penny donated to United Way stays in Orleans County unless the donor designates otherwise. You get the personal satisfaction of knowing you are giving to the only charity which impacts the whole community by funding a network of partner agencies. Local funding produces results. Nobody does it better or more cost effectively.”

He is referring to the fact that based on last year’s income, including grants, administrative costs of United Way of Orleans County were less than seven percent. That means 93 cents of every $1 donated to the agency went to direct services.

“We have five staff members at the cost of one and a half,” he said.

Bellack volunteers his time, while event coordinator/fundraiser Nyla Gaylord and grant writer Matt Holland are paid from a grant, as is digital divide coordinator Katie Leach at Cornell Cooperative Extension. The other position is part-time bookkeeper Dawn Winkler. To further cut costs, United Way has moved its office into space next to Dunkin’ Donuts in Medina, donated by local car dealer George Bidleman.

The 1,000 newsletters share how several community leaders have attested to the help United Way has given them.

“As in all grant writing, it takes patience and perseverance,” said Kathie Valley with P.Raising Kids, a child care center in Medina. “United Way, Dean, Nyla and Matt have stayed by our side in this long journey and blessed us profoundly.”

“Matt Holland has been a huge asset to us on the initial phases of a community project,” said Marc Shurtz, CEO of Orleans Community Health. “His involvement further shows the strong relationship Orleans Community Health has with United Way.”

Lynne Johnson, chairwoman of the Orleans County Legislature, said across this county, United Way is stepping up and helping bridge the digital divide.

“They are our trusted partners on the ground, focusing on education, income and health,” she said. “We are stronger together.”

Roosevelt Bouie, a Kendall resident and Hall of Fame basketball player for Syracuse University, said he is excited to work with the United Way team to see his dream of rebuilding the basketball courts at Bullard Park in Albion.

“With their help, we are pulling together many different people and resources so that it is now a community project,” Bouie said.

United Way sets $250,000 fundraising goal for annual campaign

Bellack stressed how important it is to be effective in our fundraising and to have widespread community support. United Way’s campaign goal for 2022 is $250,000.

“We can’t have the impact we need to have until we have resources comparable to urban United Ways,” Bellack said.

He referenced United Way of Erie County and Buffalo, whose per capita revenue is $24.12, compared to Orleans County, where it is $3.62. Clearly, he said the United Way of Orleans County is underfunded.

The United Way board is playing an active role in developing new community-wide fundraising events. In September, the Orleans County Legislature has announced it will proclaim September as “United Way Month” in Orleans County.

Last year, Mark’s Pizzeria in Medina designated a week in September in which they donated $2.00 for every pizza sold to United Way. That resulted in a check for $2,890, and Bellack will be asking other businesses to follow suit during United Way Month. Following United Way Month, United Way will sponsor its annual gala in October.

Another way United Way annually connects with the community is the Day of Caring, scheduled this year on April 22.

“It is the largest day of service in Orleans County and the perfect opportunity to help a non-profit in need of a few extra hands,” Bellack said.

Day of Caring promotes the spirit of volunteerism, increases awareness of local human service organizations, and demonstrates how people working together for the common good can accomplish great things.

A major fundraiser for United Way is the annual golf outing, this year taking place June 3 at Shelridge Country Club in Medina.

Bellack’s final project is the establishment of an endowment fund that will generate revenue to support United Way operations and new programs in perpetuity. Local contributions to the endowment are critical to helping leverage major donations from area foundations, Bellack said. He said a major foundation, when asked to contribute $1 million to the United Way endowment did not say “no.”

“They said, ‘Go back to Orleans County and see what funds you can raise there, and then come back to us,’” Bellack said. “Clearly, community support is critical to the long-term survival of United Way and the key to leveraging financial support from outside the county.”

There are many ways to make a legacy gift to United Way. It can be as simple as designating United Way as beneficiary to an investment, insurance policy or bank account. Bellack urges everyone to remembering United Way in their will or to consider establishing a named fund to honor a loved one or support a specific service area. Major donors are encouraged to offer a challenge grant to a foundation.

“Together we can make a lasting difference in our community that will endure beyond our lifetime,” Bellack said. “This is what motivates me to work so hard to ensure the long-term sustainability of United Way.”

Bellack feels a great sense of urgency in establishing the endowment, he said.

“The generation I come from – the Baby Boomers – is retiring and many want to leave an enduring legacy to the community,” he said. “United Way is how we can all make a lasting difference in our community.”

Convenient ways to donate to United Way of Orleans County, besides a credit card, include Cash App, Text to Give and Venmo. Those who wish to write a check may make it payable to United Way of Orleans County, P.O. Box 188, Medina, NY, 14103

“The United Way is now playing a major role as a change agent in Orleans County,” Bellack said. “Our work is advancing ‘change thinking’ – a new understanding of what is possible if we work together. We are uniting non-profit organizations, county government, local business, and service groups around the shared goal of making Orleans County a great place to live, work and learn for all residents.

Bellack’s invitation is, “Join us.”

In the middle of fundraising efforts to benefit its 2022 campaign and promote new projects, United Way of Orleans County is shifting some of its focus to helping the war-stricken people of Ukraine.

“Today we do recognize our concern is broader than our county’s borders,” said Dean Bellack, director of United Way of Orleans County.

Bellack has announced United Way Worldwide, of which the local United Way is part of, has launched a global relief fund for the people of Ukraine. The money raised will provide refugees with food, shelter, medicine, transportation, hygiene kits and critical childcare supplies for infants, such as formula and diapers.

Some two million people have fled Ukraine, and experts predict four to seven million will be forced to leave before the war is over. United Way is stepping up to support those displaced by the violence by providing life-saving relief.

Through the end of May, anyone who makes a donation to United Way of Orleans County, can designate to have 20 percent of every dollar sent to the United Way Worldwide Ukrainian Relief Fund. That fund is guaranteeing 95 percent of money donated will go toward helping the refugees.

Bellack also stressed while United Way has always guaranteed that 100 percent of donations stay in Orleans County, it is proper for the agency to recognize the needs of the Ukrainian people at this time. He noted the remaining 80 percent of donations during this time period will still stay in Orleans County.

“This is the right thing to do,” Bellack said. “This is a way to make one gift count twice.”

There are several ways to give to the United Way. Donors can go to the United Way website or on their internet device and choose Cash App, Venmo or Text to Give. They still have the option to use a credit card or send a check to United Way of Orleans County, P.O. Box 188, Medina.

Orleans won’t ask towns to chip in after expenses fall below $2,050,000

Photo by Tom Rivers: Genesee Community College is shown at the main campus in Batavia in this photo from Feb. 13, 2018.

ALBION – The Orleans County Legislature put towns on notice for 2021 that the county wouldn’t keep absorbing the full costs for climbing community college charge-backs.

The Legislature in October 2020 voted to cap the county’s share of the charge-backs to $2,050,000. Anything beyond that would be passed to the towns in the county.

The county started the new policy in 2021 but the towns won’t be getting a bill from the county to help with community college expenses. That’s because the cost dropped nearly$400,000.

In 2020, the county was billed $2,214,515 for charge-backs to the home county of a community college student.

In 2021, the cost decreased to $1,839,535, a drop of $374,980.

Community colleges were supposed to be funded with the state paying a third, the student paying a third, and the local town/county covering the other third.

But the state has pulled back on its contribution, putting more pressure on students and local municipalities, Lynne Johnson, the County Legislature chairwoman, said when the county capped its contribution at $2,050,000 on Oct. 27, 2020.

The charge-backs to the county topped $2,050,000 in other recent years. It was $2,086,538 in 2018 and $2,188,769 in 2019, County Treasurer Kim DeFrank said.

She said there was a decline in community college enrollment by county residents last year, resulting in less expense to the county.

If the cost goes over $2,050,000 in 2022, the town share will be based on credit hours of residents in those towns.

Most community college students from Orleans go to Genesee Community College. But Orleans County has paid towards local students who attend other community colleges in the state, and some are far more costly than GCC, including the Fashion Institute of Technology in New York City.

ALBION – A series of six workshops will start on Tuesdays beginning March 22 with a goal of instilling positive life skills to promote healthy relationships in a safe environment.

It’s part of a program called Lilypad being offered by the Orleans County Department of Social Services.

Lilypad is designed to reach children and older teens (12 to 18) who have been trafficked, sexually exploited, or who are at risk of victimization and to meet identified service needs of these youth, said Cyndi Stumer, deputy social services commissioner for the county.

Each week there will be a different presenter to educate adolescents and parents on sex trafficking and sexual exploitation.

DSS encourages anyone with an adolescent in the county to sign their teen up and encourage them to share with their friends. All adolescents must have a permission slip on file to attend. Anyone interested should contact Sharon Nenni at 585-589-3136 or sharon.nenni@orleanscountyny.gov for a required permission slip.

The workshops will be at Hoag Library, 134 S. Main St. in Albion from 4 to 6 p.m. on March 22, March 29, April 5, April 12, April 19 and April 26.

CARLTON – The real estate boom in Orleans, with median sale prices up 16.7 percent in 2021 from the previous year and 25.8 percent in two years, will likely lead to much higher property assessments for homeowners as part of a re-valuation this year.

That was the message from Dawn Allen, the Orleans County director of the Real Property Tax Services Department.

Allen has worked in the field for 30 years and has never seen real estate go so quickly, and often well above the asking price, as in the past two years. That includes properties in the village, where values had largely stagnated the past 20 years. But lately they have been selling fast and well above their assessed values.

“It is nothing to see a house assessed for $60,000 and go for $120,000, $130,000, even $140,000,” she said. “We’re getting above the asking price. People are outbidding each other.”

The median sale price in Orleans County is up 68.5 percent over four years – jumping from $81,000 in 2017 to $136,500 in 2021. Allen shared data from the Greater Rochester Association of Realtors.

Allen spoke on Tuesday to village, town and county officials during a meeting of the Orleans County Association of Municipalities at the Black North Inn. She told the officials they may get some pushback from property owners when the assessments go out from March through May, and show sizable increases.

If assessments jump significantly that doesn’t mean the total tax bills will see a big hike. The tax rates should then go down because there is larger tax base.

The municipalities still need to push to stay under a 2 percent tax cap and that is determined by the size of the tax levy, what the town, village, county or school district collects in taxes. A much larger tax base should result in lower tax rates. Ultimately most property owners should only see slight increases in their tax bills if their municipalities stay under the tax cap.

But Allen still warned the local officials that property owners may be shocked when they see their assessments with much higher values.

Seven of the 10 towns in the county will be doing property re-vals for the first time in three years. Barre does a re-val every year. Murray and Yates won’t be doing one this year but equalization rates will help adjust for the higher real estate values in those towns, Allen said.

Allen attributed the higher values in the county to a lack of housing inventory. When houses become available, they are in demand, especially with more people working from home due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

While housing values are way up, Allen said commercial real estate is holding steady with a small increase in value.

The Greater Rochester Association of Realtors shows big increases in real estate sales through its 12-county region. The median sale price in 2021 was up by the following in each county: Monroe, 11.8%; Ontario, 10.8%; Livingston, 9.6%; Wayne, 15.8%; Genesee, 15.4%; Orleans, 16.7%; Wyoming, 14.2%; Yates, 22.3%; Allegany, 11.9%; Steuben, 18.8%; Seneca, 6.2%; and Cayuga, 17.1%.

The association said a strong seller’s market in 2020 continued and even was stronger in 2021.

“Fervent buyer demand, driven by pandemic-induced changes to housing needs and preferences, reached extraordinary levels in 2021, the association stated in an annual report.

The organization said inventory of available homes was down 23.3 percent last year, which helped push up prices.

Each of 15 counties and cities of Rochester and Buffalo currently has own rep but that would change under proposal

File photo by Tom Rivers – Batavia Downs on Park Road in Batavia was a big factor in WROTB distributing nearly $5 million in earnings to its member municipalities in 2021.

ALBION – The Orleans County Legislature is opposing legislation in the State Senate that would change the makeup of the 17-member board of directors for Western Regional Off-Track Betting Corp.

Currently, each of the 15 counties plus the cities of Rochester and Buffalo have a member of the board and their votes carry the same weight, regardless of the population of their county or city.

State Sen. Tim Kennedy, a Democrat from Buffalo, has proposed making the board seats be based on population. Erie County, the most populous of the 15 counties, would get four seats on the board. Orleans, Wyoming and Monroe would share three directors, under Kennedy’s proposal.

Chautauqua, Cayuga, Genesee, Livingston, Schuyler and Seneca would share one member, with Niagara getting its own director. There would be one director for the counties of Oswego, Cattaraugus and Wayne; one each for the cities of Buffalo and Rochester; and a member to be appointed by the governor, another by the State Senate leader and one by the Assembly speaker.

Kennedy has also proposed capping the allowance of promotional items for certain members of the corporation to not receive a gift of any kind valued at an amount greater than $15. Kennedy also wants to prohibit take-home vehicles for OTB staff.

“Through this legislation, we’re holding members accountable, revising outdated policy, and creating fairer representation on the OTB board moving forward,” Kennedy said in a press release last month. “Taxpayers deserve better, and we intend to ensure they receive that.”

Orleans County is currently represented on the board by Ed Morgan, the former County Republican Party chairman who started as a county legislator last month. Morgan abstained from the Legislature’s vote on Wednesday when it approved a resolution in opposition to changing the structure of the board.

“This legislation will in fact have the opposite effect of the stated intention in the bill, as it will decimate the balanced representation formula determined previously by both the state legislature and governor as equitable and impartial, with a clear and explicit intent of providing each municipality that comprises the corporation an equal voice in WROTB matters,” the resolution states.

WROTB has distributed $236 million to the 15 counties and cities of Rochester and Buffalo since WROTB formed in 1974 with Orleans receiving $2.5 million.

The organization has shifted its operations away from OTB parlors to the gaming center in Batavia. The organization now only runs 11 OTB parlors, and 27 E-Z Bets at other businesses such as bowling alleys and bars.

Batavia Downs – the race track, gaming center, restaurant and hotel – is WROTB’s big money maker. It is the main reason WROTB was able to distribute $4,906,280 in earnings from 2021, the largest earnings in the organization’s history. The total shared from WROTB was $5,793,184 with surcharges on betting at horse racing boosted the number in addition to the earnings.

“The performance and accomplishments of the current WROTB Board and leadership cannot be discounted when considering this drastic and overreaching legislation,” the resolution states, and lists achievements including: the acquisition of an 84-room hotel on the grounds of Batavia Downs and countless fundraising events for charitable organizations.

The current board has a Republican majority and Kennedy’s proposal would likely tip it to Democratic Party favor.

The Orleans County Legislature urged the State Senate and Gov. Kathy Hochul to not support Kennedy’s proposal “as it will cause irreparable harm to Orleans County, its interests in WROTB, the economic interests of Orleans County, and the taxpayers of this county.”