Database lists local products and services from Orleans County contractors, vendors and suppliers

Photo by Tom Rivers: Art Hill Excavating did the site work for the new hotel in on Maple Ridge Road in medina. That hotel will be a Comfort Inn & Suites and is expected to open in March.

ALBION – The Orleans Economic Development Agency is urging local businesses to register or renew their listing with the “Only in Orleans” database.

The EDA created the site in 2017 as a database of available products and services from Orleans County contractors, vendors and suppliers. Companies doing projects in the county could then easily see options for working with local businesses for new construction or other projects. There is no charge to be included on Only in Orleans.

“The Only in Orleans database gives us an overview of the local products and services that might be available for projects coming down the pipeline,” said Michael Dobell, chief executive officer of the Orleans EDA. “A reliable list of local companies that can be plugged in to new development or expansion projects gives us a competitive strength.”

General, electrical and mechanical contractors and those who perform site work, masonry, roofing, paving, excavating, survey, engineering and landscaping services can review the criteria and registration form at Only in Orleans.

Vendors that also supply equipment or materials for HVAC, plumbing, electrical, roofing or excavation projects or have lumber, computers, fixtures, furniture or greenhouses in Orleans County are also encouraged to register on the website.

The Only in Orleans database is a resource for companies doing construction in the county that are looking to hire locally for the work.

The Orleans Economic Development Agency cannot advocate for one business over another. There are no guarantees or incentives tied to anything related to registration or listing in the local database, the EDA said.

The “Register” page of “Only in Orleans” contains a link to the registration form which is submitted to the portal upon completion. The database is simply a way for the agency to maintain active contractor and vendor information.

ALBION — Orleans County Sheriff Chris Bourke was authorized by the County Legislature to pursue leasing five new patrol vehicles and have them up-fitted, at a cost not to exceed $86,000.

There is currently a state-wide shortage of patrol vehicles as well as multiple microchip shortages due manufacturing shutdowns from Covid-19, county legislators said on Wednesday.

In other action, the Legislature:

• Approved an agreement between the Sheriff’s Office and the Department of Public Works where one full-time DPW employee will be assigned to do maintenance at the county jail at a rate not to exceed $84,679 during 2022.

• Authorized the Sheriff’s Office to spend $39,168 for new handguns, $5,247 for ammunition, and $17,244 for the less-than-lethal Tasers.

• Authorized the treasurer to use $188,268 of American Rescue Plan Act funds for payroll in the Public Safety Communication System, Sheriff’s Office and Jail.

• Approved a $12,500 stipend for full-time attorneys in the District Attorney’s Office to bring the pay on par with attorneys in the Public Defender’s Office. A state grant has increased the pay for full-time attorneys for the Public Defender’s Office. The disparity in pay between the two offices was making it difficult to hire full-time attorneys in the District Attorney’s Office, legislators said.

The county will offer the $12,500 stipend in the DA’s Office for as long as the Public Defender’s Office receives the grant from the NYS Office of Indigent Legal Services.

• Appointed County Legislator Fred miller of Albion to the Orleans County Jury Board for a two-year term.

• Appointed County Legislator Skip Draper of Medina for a two-year term as a trustee representing Orleans County on the 8th Judicial District Law Library Board of Trustees.

• Authorized the Health Department to spend up to $100,000 for an anti-rabies vaccine for post-exposure treatment for Orleans County residents.

• Appointed County Legislature Chairwoman Lynne Johnson to a two-year term on the Genesee Transportation Council Board and John Papponetti, the County DPW superintendent, to serve as an alternative. Papponetti also was appointed to serve on the GTC Planning Committee.

• The following were appointed to three-year terms on the Orleans County Planning Board: Bruce Kirby representing Gaines, Chris Watt as alternate for Gaines, Mylynda Kuba representing Holley, and Monica Seeler as Holley alternate.

• Reappointed the following to the Oak Orchard Watershed Board: County Legislator Ed Morgan who is chairman of the Soil and Water Conservation District Board, Guy Smith of Albion, Peter Smith of Albion and Jon Peglow of Barre.

• Reappointed the following to the Orleans County Board of Ethics: Julie Christensen, retired Kendall school district superintendent; Russ Martino, retired Yates town supervisor and Lyndonville principal, and John DeFilipps, retired county legislator.

• Appointed county legislators Bill Eick of Shelby and Fred Miller of Albion to two-year terms on the Local Development Corporation Board.

• Authorized the Health Department to spend $130,880 to make an emergency purchase of KN95 masks and iHealth OTC test kits from Vizocom in El Cajon, Calif. The department will coordinate with local school districts on their reopening plans and will include Covid-19 testing. There is no county cost in the purchase.

• Approved spending $17,182 for 26 Panasonic cameras and mounting junction boxes, 10 Ubiquiti POE switches and two level 4 Ubiquiti Enterprise switches. The equipment is needed “to protect Orleans County assets from external threats to safety and security and provide robust connectivity throughout the county,” legislators stated in a resolution.

The unemployment rate was at 3.1 percent in Orleans County in December, which is the lowest rate in at least 30 years.

The county has only dipped below 4 percent a few times in the past three decades:

• During 1990s, Orleans was below 4 percent twice – 3.8 percent in September 1999 and 3.9 percent in October 1999.
• From 2000 to 2009, the rate dipped below 4 percent twice – 3.8 percent in September 2000 and 3.6 percent in October 2000.
• From 2010 to 2019, the unemployment rate was below 4 percent five times – 3.5 percent in September and October 2018, 3.7 percent in November 2018, 3.7 percent in September 2019, and 3.8 percent in October 2019.
• Since 2020, the rate only dropped below 4 percent the past two months – 3.8 percent in November and then 3.1 percent in December.

The state Department of Labor reports about 500 people in the county are on unemployment, the lowest since at least 1990. (Click here to see a database on the labor force in Orleans County since 1990.) There were 1,100 unemployed in December 2020.

The labor force currently totals 16,900 in Orleans County, which is down from 17,200 in December 2020, 17,500 in December 2019, and a drop of 2,000 from the 18,900 in December 2012. Going back to December 2005, the labor force was over 20,000 at 20,100.

During the pandemic, the unemployment rate hit a high of 16.8 percent in April 2020. In 2021, the rate peaked at 7.6 percent in February and has steadily declined from 5.7 percent in July, 5.6 percent in August, 4.2 percent in September, 4.1 percent in October, 3.8 percent in November and 3.1 percent in December.

State-wide the unemployment rate is at 5.0 percent in December, down from 8.5 percent in December 2020. The US unemployment rate is at 3.7 percent in December, down from 6.5 percent in December 2020.

The unemployment rate among the GLOW counties in December includes 2.7 percent in Genesee, 2.6 percent in Livingston, 3.1 percent in Orleans and 3.1 percent in Wyoming.

Among New York counties, the rate is highest in the Bronx at 11.1 percent and lowest at 2.2 percent at Columbia, Saratoga and Tompkins.

Press Release, Orleans County Emergency Management Office

The Orleans County Emergency Management Office is asking the public not to call for an ambulance in a non-emergency situation so ambulances and EMS crews can focus on those with medical emergencies.

There has been a large increase in ambulances being requested for non-emergency situations causing a burden on the limited number of ambulances available in our region, the EMO said in a news release.

An ambulance should only be requested when a true emergency exists. Many ambulances, hospitals and urgent cares are overwhelmed right now by patients who are not experiencing medical emergencies.

When should you call 911 for an ambulance?

• If someone is experiencing a true medical emergency, call 911.
• Some examples of true medical emergencies include the following: cardiac arrest, choking, chest pains, difficulty breathing, sudden confusion, altered mental status, if moving a patient could cause further injury, too weak to move or unsteady, seizures, allergic reaction, unconsciousness, falls with injuries and uncontrolled bleeding are a few examples but not all.
• If you have any doubts about whether a condition may be a true medical emergency call 911
• An ambulance will not get you seen in the ER faster. Going by private car, using a taxi or ride-sharing service are often cheaper than an ambulance and will get you seen just as fast based on the hospital’s triage system.
• Common colds, low grade fevers, stubbed toes, tooth aches, chronic pain, etc. are all conditions that are not life threatening and do not warrant the need for an ambulance.
• Seek treatments from urgent cares and your primary care doctor for conditions that are not emergencies.

“The ambulance you call for something that isn’t an emergency could take an ambulance away from someone who truly needs it, delaying their care and potentially causing them greater injury or even death,” the Orleans County Emergency Management Office said.

Municipalities develop ‘comprehensive strategy to transform the waterfront communities’

Photo by Tom Rivers: Ed Flynn, director of planning at LaBella Associates, goes over a Canal Corridor Local Waterfront Revitalization Plan for the villages of Albion and Holley, and the towns of Albion, Murray, Gaines, Ridgeway and Shelby. He is speaking at a recent County Legislature meeting. The Village of Medina has developed its own waterfront plan.

ALBION – A group of local officials that studied how to better utilize the Erie Canal has completed its plan and submitted it to the state for a final review.

A steering committee developed a Canal Corridor Local Waterfront Revitalization Plan for the villages of Albion and Holley, and the towns of Albion, Murray, Gaines, Ridgeway and Shelby. The Village of Medina decided to work on its own waterfront plan and has submitted it to the state for a final OK.

The plan outside of Medina along the canal includes upgrading downtown buildings, developing a new marina in Albion, installing kayak launches and signage.

The county received a state grant for $62,000 to develop the plan and hired LaBella Associates as a consultant on the project. Ed Flynn, director of planning at LaBella, presented the final plan to the County Legislature recently.

He called the plan “a comprehensive strategy to transform the waterfront communities.” It is the first plan in the county that is focused on better utilizing the Erie Canal. The plan, which identifies many priority projects, will be an asset in helping the municipalities pursue state grants for the initiatives and also setting a clear course for the future, Flynn said.

Courtesy of Labella Associates: A committee looking at ways to better utilize the Erie Canal has suggested a privately owned marina that offers gas and other services would draw more boating traffic to the Albion area.

The steering committee set four goals with the plan:

1. Leverage the Canal’s Recreational Resources – capitalize on the canal’s wealth of land and water-based recreational sources.

2. Stimulate Tourism along the Canal – attract local, regional and national visitors to promote the long-term sustainability of the Erie Canal.

3. Accelerate Revitalization of Corridor Communities – investments in villages, downtowns, and anchors along the corridor will improve the economy and quality of life for Orleans County residents and benefit businesses and tourists.

4. Promote the Corridor’s Identity, Sense of Place, and History – protect, promote and leverage the canal corridor’s unique character and culture to advance the revitalization of Orleans County and the corridor communities.

The steering committee identified eight priority projects that provide access to the waterfront, increase recreational opportunities and advance economic development opportunities.

Some of the proposed priority projects include:

• Canal Corridor Building Assistance Program: would provide grant funding of up to $600,000 to assist multiple buildings or an anchor building with interior and exterior improvements. Albion and Holley have both received New York Main Street grants for building improvements in the downtown.
• Small Business Assistance Program: A countywide program with grant and loan funding to assist new and existing businesses with growth, with restaurants and culinary operations getting the priority.
• Activate the Canal Waterfront: Repurpose underutilized spaces, including parking lots, which could be turned into performance space and improved aesthetically with landscaping and lighting. The initiative would include rear facade upgrades and enhanced water recreation opportunities. The committee used the Village of Albion’s parking lot by the canal near Platt Street as an example of space that could be improved. The committee suggested Albion redesign and resurface a parking lot by the canal, adding lighting and landscaping and making the space available to be used for concerts and events.
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  The committee suggested Albion redesign and resurface a parking lot by the canal, adding lighting and landscaping and making the space available to be used for concerts and events.

  Increase Water-Based Recreation Facilities: Add kayak and boat launches, piers and tie-ups in the villages of Albion and Holley. The area needs private entities to offer kayak rentals.

• Construct a marina in Albion: A private marina is needed that offers gas services, tie-ups and other services.
• Install signage along the Canal: There needs to be signs with distances to the next ports and nearby canal communities. There should also be signs directing people to businesses and services.
• Winter Recreation Program: This could include “pop-up” temporary ice skating rinks, cross country skiing and winter festivals.
• Siphon for agriculture: Siphoning water from the canal reduces agriculture costs and also can be used to provide water for creeks and fishing.

Some other projects identified by the steering committee include: Arts along the canal with statues and public art relevant to the canal and county; Trail connections to natural areas (Groth Road in Murray and Presbyterian Road in Knowlesville area); Celebrate the Holley canal loop with pavement, lighting and signage; Attract a rental business offering bikes and kayaks; Promote tugboats; Upgrade the towpath trail surface for bikes, increase the number of events and redevelop the Murray quarry ponds for recreation.

The plan has been submitted to the Department of State for a final review.

Press Release, Orleans County Clerk Nadine Hanlon

ALBION – The Pistol Permit “Recertification” Process, also recently referred to in the news as “renewal” of your pistol permit, has been a topic of much discussion and also has caused many inquiries through the Orleans County Pistol Permit Office.

Nadine Hanlon, Orleans County Clerk, would like to provide the following information to make the recertification process easy.

The “New York State Pistol/Revolver License Recertification” is a process handled entirely by the New York State Police Pistol Permit Bureau in Albany. The Orleans County Pistol Permit Office cannot accept these forms for filing.

The recertification process is in addition to the usual local processing of activity on your Orleans County Pistol Permit – it is a summary of your current pistol permit status to Albany, which is mandatory every 5 years.

The Orleans County Pistol Permit Office does not have information on your current recertification status.

If you do not have internet access, please call the NYS Troopers in Albany at: 1-855-lawguns (1-855-529-4867) to determine your recertification status with them, and for further inquiries.

For those with internet access, you can access the New York State Police Pistol Permit website through the Orleans County Pistol Permit website, by clicking here, or search “Orleans County, NY – Pistol Permits.”

From our website, you can then access the following links on the NYS Police Pistol Permit website, as follows:

• Recertification – New York State Pistol/Revolver License Holder: New York State firearms laws require pistol/revolver license holders to recertify their status every five years.  Click here for more information.

The status of submitted recertification forms can be conveniently checked by clicking here. You will need to have your New York State Driver License or Non-Driver Identification Card in order to check or complete your recertification status.

Orleans County is joining 10 other counties in the Finger Lakes in asking Gov. Kathy Hochul to reconsider a vaccine booster requirement for healthcare workers.

Gov. Kathy Hochul

Hochul announced on Jan. 7 that healthcare workers would be required to get the booster within two weeks of being eligible.

County leaders wrote in a Jan. 12 letter to Hochul that their healthcare systems are already short-staffed and overwhelmed, and the booster mandate will further strain the hospital workforce.

“Our hospital systems are facing severe staffing shortages coupled with increasing patient loads caused by the Omicron surge,” according to the letter from county officials in Orleans, Genesee, Wyoming, Steuben, Livingston, Schuyler, Yates, Seneca, Ontario, Wayne and Monroe. “We have significant concerns that if even a handful of healthcare workers are dismissed for their refusal to receive the booster within the designated timeframe, it could exacerbate an already tenuous situation.”

The counties tell Hochul that each county “fully supports the value of vaccinations and has worked tirelessly to administer vaccinations to our citizens.”

The coalition of counties asked Hochul to offer a test-out option on a temporary basis for vaccinated healthcare workers who don’t have the booster in the timeframe put forth by the governor. That option could just be “until the Omicron wave subsides and the hospital capacity crisis abates,” according to the letter from the counties.

“Our concerns are the potential negative impacts to an already beleaguered healthcare workforce at a time when our communities can least afford it,” the letter concludes.