File photo by Tom Rivers: An “open” flag is outside the Main Street Liquor and Wine Discount Store in downtown Albion. The local downtown business districts generate lots of sales tax for Orleans County.

ALBION – The Orleans County Legislature has approved the sales tax apportionment for towns and villages for 2019.

The county receives about $17 million in sales tax annually, and shares $1,366,671 with the four villages and 10 towns. They have been frozen at that level since 2001.

Once a decade that the town and village amounts are set based on local population. However, each year after that the share is modified based on the assessed values of towns with villages. If a town with a village grows its tax base faster than the rate in a village, that town will get more sales tax – by getting more of the village’s.

That is what has been happening almost every year since 2001. Most of the new development is just outside the village borders.

The villages saw their share take a hit by about $27,000 from 2013 to 2019, falling from $404,661 in 2013 to $377,019 for 2019.

In 2018 the four villages – Albion, Holley, Lyndonville and Medina – saw a boost of about $3,000 and collectively received $382,240. That was an unusual year with the villages collectively seeing an increase in sales tax.

That won’t continue in 2019. The villages are taking a hit again. They are down to $377,019, a $5,221 drop. Medina is absorbing most of the decline, with a $4,998 hit. The Village of Medina is in parts of Ridgeway and Shelby. The village’s loss in sales tax is the two towns’ gain. Ridgeway will get $1,404 more, while Shelby’s amount grows by $3,593.

Here is what the four villages will get in sales tax in 2019, compared to 2018 in parenthesis.

Villages – $377,019 ($382,240 in 2018)

Albion – $167,181 ($167,203 in 2018)

Holley – $45,751 ($45,878 in 2018)

Lyndonville – $15,275 ($15,349 in 2018)

Medina – $148,813 ($153,811 in 2018)

Here are the town shares for 2019:

Towns – $989,651 ($984,431 in 2018)

Albion – $122,414 ($122,468 in 2018)

Barre – $64,536 (no change because no village)

Carlton – $95,418 (no change because no village)

Clarendon – $116,261 (no change because no village)

Gaines – $87,933 ($87,858 in 2018)

Kendall – $86,813 (no change because no village)

Murray – $113,215 ($113,089 in 2018)

Ridgeway – $130,272 ($128,868 in 2018)

Shelby – $106,506 ($102,913 in 2018)

Yates – $66,279 ($66,206 in 2018)

The villages received more back in 2001, when the amount was frozen collectively to the 10 towns and four villages. The village share peaked at $211,669 for Albion in 2004 (down $44,488 to $167,181 in 2019). Medina dropped $24,779 from $173,592 in 2002 to $148,813 in 2019.

Holley hit a high of $62,549 in 2002 – 17 years later it’s down by $16,798 to $45,751. Lyndonville was at $18,592 in 2002 and has slid to $15,275 in 2019.

Sales tax has actually been growing at a healthy rate for the county in recent years.

Sales tax revenues jumped by $1 million for Orleans County in 2017, up 6.45 percent from $15,287,529 to $16,273,192. The county budgeted for a $610,000 increase in 2018, and next year is planning on additional growth of $560,000. The sales tax increases have helped the county pay for infrastructure projects and also stay under the state-imposed tax cap, which is usually about 2 percent a year.

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ALBION – The Orleans County Tourism Department is boosting its attendance trade and travel shows in 2019.

County Legislator Ken DeRoller said the increased presence shows the county is determined to bring more visitors to Orleans.

The County Legislature last week approved the Tourism Department attending the following shows:

• AAA Travel 2018 Pittsburgh Travel Showcase, Pittsburgh, PA, Jan. 10-15 to be attended by Tourism Director Dawn Borchert. Total cost to be paid by New York State Tourism Industry Association.

• Great American Outdoor Show, Harrisburg Pennsylvania, Feb. 4-6 to be attended by Dawn Borchert. Total cost to be paid by Lake Ontario Sportfishing Council.

• AAA Great Vacation Travel Expo, Columbus, OH, Feb. 7-12 to be attended by Dawn Borchert. Total cost to be paid by New York State Tourism Industry Association.

• AAA Reading Berks – Travel Show, Reading, PA, Feb. 17 to be attended by Dawn Borchert. Total cost to be paid by New York State Tourism Industry Association.

• The Outdoor Adventure Show, Mississauga, Ontario, Canada, Feb. 21-25 to be attended by Dawn Borchert. Total cost to be paid by New York State Tourism Industry Association.

• AAA Southern New England, Foxborough, MA, Feb. 28-March 4 to be attended by Dawn Borchert. Total cost to be paid by New York State Tourism Industry Association.

• AAA Vacation Expo, Cleveland, OH, October 27, 2019 to be attended by Dawn Borchert. Total cost to be paid by New York State Tourism Industry Association.

The Legislature last week also approved an agreement to retain Lynne Menz Designs of Kent to provide Tourism Coordinator Services to Orleans County in 2019 at a cost not to exceed $18,720. Menz will be paid in equal monthly installments.

Lynne Menz Designs also was hired to provide design services to Orleans County in 2019 at a cost not to exceed $21,760. This agreement includes costs associated with advertising design, publication design, social media, photography and video production.

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Photo by Tom Rivers

ALBION – Jerry Gray, center, receives a “Special Recognition Award” from the Orleans County Legislature on Wednesday for his 40-year career with the Orleans County Highway Department, including the past eight years as highway superintendent. He accepts the award from county legislators Bill Eick, left, and Fred Miller.

“Your dedication and expertise has benefitted our county tremendously,” legislators said.

Gray, a Medina resident, started with the Highway Department as a laborer. He worked his way through the ranks as a motor equipment operator, motor equipment operator lead, deputy highway superintendent and then was appointed highway superintendent in October 2010.

He led the merging of the Highway Department with the Buildings and Grounds Department and has been the leader of 40 employees.

He also has led the county efforts to replace several culverts and bridges, while upgrading roads and other county infrastructure.

The Highway Department this year started making the concrete pieces for culverts, which has cut the cost of those projects in half.

“That has been a crowning achievement, but I’m just one guy,” Gray said. “We couldn’t do it without a good staff and the support of the county legislators and Chuck Nesbitt (the county’s chief administrative officer).”

Gray praised the county legislators and Nesbitt for backing the purchase of a new paver about five years ago that the county loans out to towns and villages, helping them to upgrade their roads.

The county also approved two new pole barns allowing the Highway Department to store equipment.

Orleans has an inventory of its roads and bridges, and a rating of their condition, as well as a plan to upgrade them. That new approach has earned the county recognition in the region.

Peter Houseknecht, the current deputy highway superintendent, on Wednesday was named the interim highway superintendent following Gray’s retirement next week. Houseknecht previously worked as the superintendent of the Department of Public Works in Medina. His father, Ed Houseknecht, was the county highway superintendent before Gray took the job in 2010.

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MURRAY – A bridge that has been reduced to one-lane traffic the past two years will be replaced with construction expected to start in the spring.

The Orleans County Legislature on Wednesday accepted a bid for $820,175 from the CATCO Corp. in Alden to replace the Monroe-Orleans Countyline Road bridge in Murray.

The project is 95 percent funded by the state through the BridgeNY program.

In other action by the Legislature on Wednesday:

• Authorized the county treasurer to set up new money in the highway budget due to a $546,977 increase in CHIPS (Consolidated Local Street and Highway Improvement Program). Those state funds will be used for road materials.

• Approved the following four-year appointments to the Orleans County Planning Board: Paul Hendel of Holley as an at-large east member, Tibbs Ahlberg of Gaines as at-large central, Darryl Sanford of Albion as at-large central alternate, Brian Napoli of Medina as at-large west, Tom Keeler of Barre as Barre representative, Wes Miller of Barre as Barre’s alternate, Gary Daum of Lyndonville as Yates representative, and Ed Urbanik of Lyndonville as the Yates alternate.

• Authorized filling a vacant full-time deputy election commissioner position with the retirement of Dorothy Morgan in the Board of Elections.

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State Legislature needs to approve measure before it’s law

ALBION – The Orleans County Legislature voted today to make rifles allowable for big game hunting, including deer and bears.

The County Legislature on Feb. 22, 2017 passed a resolution which was later supported by the State Legislature to allow rifles for big game hunting. That authorization will expire on Oct. 1, 2019.

The Legislature is asking the state to make rifles permanent for hunters.

“It has been a very clean and prosperous year for those of us with rifle hunting,” Terry Wiliams of Carlton told the legislators this afternoon. “It’s one shot and it’s over with. It’s very clean and neat.”

Williams said hunters have discovered fewer wounded animals since rifles were allowed. He said shotguns often take multiple shots, and sometimes don’t take down an animal, leaving them hurt.

Neil Newton of the Orleans County Sportsmen Federation thanked the legislators for backing the proposal to make rifles permanent. He said he is hopeful it will easily pass the State Legislature.

One county legislator, Fred Miller, cast the lone no vote. Miller also opposed it in February 2017. Miller thanked the sportsmen for advocating for the issue. He said he was pleased to see no one has been hurt in the county since rifles were allowed for big game hunting.

Miller said some local residents share their concerns with him about allowing rifles in a county with such flat terrain.

Miller also said he was hit by another hunter’s stray shot about 40 years ago when he was out with his dog on Allen Road, near the end of Clinton Street. Miller said he was hit by pellets from pheasant hunters. Miller said he was hit in the face and leg, and his dog also was hurt.

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ALBION – Boy Scouts from Troop 94 in Kendall presented gifts for local veterans on Monday at the Orleans County Veterans Service Agency.

Senior Patrol Leader Noah Rath and troop members dropped off 25 bags filled with hand warmers, socks, gloves, hat, mouth wash soap, hand sanitizer, tooth brush, toothpaste wash cloth, hot chocolate mix, cookies and water in each bag to be handed out to veterans in need during this holiday.

Earl Schmidt (center), director of the Veterans Service Agency, is pictured with the Boy Scouts.

“I am very happy to see our youth in the community with such dedication and loving hearts to put together these great gifts for our veterans of Orleans County,” Schmidt said. “The bags will be distributed through our office and the Orleans County Joint Veterans Council van service to our local veterans.”

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Four projects in Orleans County have received state funding as part of the $763 million in economic development grants announced today by Gov. Andrew Cuomo.

The grants in Orleans include:

• Village of Medina – $1 million

The Village of Medina will install an ultraviolet disinfection system at its wastewater treatment facility. Additional improvements include relocating onsite stormwater and sludge piping and installing new catch basins. This project will provide additional treatment of wastewater before it discharges to Glenwood Lake.

• Village of Albion – $600,000

The Village of Albion will install an ultraviolet disinfection system at its water pollution control plant on Densmore Street. The outcome will be to fully treat the effluent, which reduces environmental contamination.

• Village of Lyndonville – $30,000

The Village of Lyndonville will create an engineering report to evaluate disinfection alternatives at the village wastewater treatment plant.

• Orleans Economic Development Agency – $20,000

The Orleans County Economic Development Agency will prepare a feasibility study to assess expansion and development of the Medina Business Park from 170 acres to approximately 350 acres. The study will identify infrastructure and permitting needs as well as costs to establish the site as one of the largest Shovel Ready sites in New York State that will benefit a distressed area in Orleans County.

Established in 2011, Cuomo and the state created 10 the regional councils to replace a top-down approach to economic development with one that is community-based and performance-driven.

“Over the last eight years, we have implemented a vision to move New York State’s economy forward by allowing communities to make strategic investments to help grow their local economies and reenergize and develop their unique regions,” Governor Cuomo said. “Regional-based economic development is vital for maintaining New York’s thriving, prosperous economy. I congratulate all of the winners of this year’s REDC awards and look forward to working together to build a stronger New York for generations to come.”

Orleans County is part of the Finger Lakes Regional Economic Development Council, which was named a “top performer” and approved for $86.5 million to support 141 projects.

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Photo by Ginny Kropf

ALBION – The United Way of Orleans County got a boost to their 2018-19 campaign goal with a $1,000 donation from the New York State Correctional Officers and Police Benevolent Association. Joe Miano, right, Western Region vice president, presented the check to (from left) board member Chris Cappetta, board president Jackie Gardner and executive director Kaitlyn Delamarter.

The local United Way is striving to reach its goal of $185,000 and welcomes donations of any amount. Donations may be sent to P.O. Box 468, Albion, 14411. All money stays to help 18 agencies and programs in Orleans County.

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Provided photo

ALBION – Earl M. Schmidt, director of the Orleans County Veterans Service Agency, received a surprise this morning. He was presented with a flag that flew on Veterans Day, Nov. 11, on the USS Shoup (DDG 86), a Navy destroyer named for Medal of Honor recipient General David M. Shoup.

Schmidt, left, is joined by Marcia Bowles, wife of William Bowles, an Orleans County resident who served in the Vietnam War. Next to Bowles, second from left, is her daughter, Kristine Junot. Mary Fran Manfredi, right, is a family friend and U.S. Navy quartermaster, third class.

Manfredi presented the Veteran Service Agency  with a flag that flew on the ship when it was in the waters of the Pacific Ocean.

The family told Schmidt they appreciated his service in helping them to obtain veterans’ benefits that they were unaware of and that William Bowles earned.

“I accepted the flag in honor of the Orleans County Veteran Service Agency with the promise that it will be visible in the office for others to see and follow the examples of hard work and dedication to our veterans and their families,” Schmidt said.

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Photo by Ginny Kropf: The schooner Lois McClure is accompanied by the Orleans County Sheriff’s marine patrol in August 2017. They are rounding the bend under the State Street bridge in Medina.

ALBION – The State Canal Corporation is increasing the funding it gives the Orleans County Sheriff’s Office for marine patrol services in the Erie Canal.

The county will be paid $12,500 for marine patrols on the canal in 2018-2019. That is up from $10,000 the previous year. The county first received $8,000 for patrols by boat in 2016.

The agreement also includes patrol services on canal trailways.

The County Legislature approved the agreement between the Canal Corp. and Sheriff Randy Bower. The agreement is retroactive and covers the time period from April 1, 2018 to March 31, 2019.

In addition to patrolling the canal, Bower said the funds allow the Sheriff’s Office to bring in deputies for special events along the canal, including the recent Parade of Lights in Medina, which was preceded by fireworks from the canal.

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Photos by Tom Rivers

ALBION – The 23,000-square-foot addition to the County Administration Building is shown in late November. The county broke ground on the $10 million project in April.

The construction work is expected to be complete in May with employees likely to be moved in the following month.

Holdsworth Klimowski Construction of Victor is the general contractor for the project.

The addition will be used by 50 county employees from the Health Department, Board of Elections, information technology department and the Legislative office and staff. The building will be connected to the current Administration Building with the addition on the south side.

The new space will include a meeting room for the Legislature with about 60 seats. The current Legislative chambers has about 30 seats and is one of the smallest municipal meeting rooms in the county.

There are currently about 125 people working out of the building for the Department of Social Services, Job Development, Tourism, Planning and Development, Office for the Aging, Department of Motor Vehicles, and Personnel.

The County Legislature approved a maximum bond of $10,063,881 for the addition to the building on Route 31, behind the nursing home. The bond is expected to be about $6.5 million due to grants for the project. The county has already been approved for a $3,682,748 state grant towards the project and State Sen. Robert Ortt also secured a $200,000 state grant.

The larger state grant includes funds to create space at the neighboring Mental Health Building for a primary doctor from Oak Orchard Health.

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LYNDONVILLE – Leadership Orleans on Friday graduated the first class of the program with a celebration at the White Birch Golf Course in Lyndonville. Pictured in front, from left, include: Kelly Kiebala, chairwoman of the steering committee; Kaitlyn Delamarter, executive director of United Way of Orleans County; Lisa Tombari, executive assistant for Talis Equity: Kathy Hodgins, director of treatment services for GCASA; Nadine Hanlon, clerk of Orleans County Legislature; and Jackie Gilbert, owner/vice president of Darrell’s Place.

Second and back row, from left: James DeFilipps, deputy for Orleans County Sheriff’s Office; Doug Farley, director of Cobblestone Society & Museum; Patrick Weissend, vice president and branch manager of Tompkins Bank of Castile; Nick Nesbitt, owner/manager for Nesbitt Fruit Farms & Nesbitt Bros. LLC; Steve Hicks, financial advisor with Brighton Securities; RJ Linder, credit representative for Farm Credit East; Brett Kast, orchard manager for Kast Farms; Robert Batt, executive director of Cornell Cooperative Extension in Orleans County; Eddie Moss, director of computer services for Orleans County; Ed Fancher, executive director of Community Action of Orleans & Genesee; Josh Mitchell, funeral director with Christopher Mitchell Funeral Homes; Mike Ryan, manager of operations for RTS Orleans; Tim Hollenbaugh, service manager/sales for Bentley Brothers, Inc.; Eric Watson, president of Watson Enterprises; Jessica Root-Olinger, manager for Dale S. Root Trucking LLC; Heidi Truschel, community relations manager for the Arc of Genesee Orleans; and Skip Helfrich, Leadership Orleans director.

Eddie Moss, director of computer services for Orleans County, speaks on behalf of the class and thanked supporters of the program.

The debut class comes from a cross section of the community, including law enforcement, government department heads, farm owners, agency directors and other business leaders. The program picked residents who have demonstrated leadership abilities, interest in community affairs, and a commitment to Orleans County’s future.

Each month the group learned about a different sector of the community, including government, arts and culture, volunteerism and non-profit organizations, community health, tourism and recreation, agribusiness, economic & workforce development, and education.

The class met Thursday for a retreat to recap the year. This brainstorming session includes Marlee Diehl, front left, and Nadine Hanlon, and Nick Nesbitt, back left, and RJ Linder.

Charlie Nesbitt, left, and Skip Helfrich, Leadership Orleans director, welcome people to the graduation program. They acknowledged sponsors and supporters of the program.

Nesbitt also received a special recognition for helping with recruitment and fundraising for the first class. Peggy Marone, director of Leadership Genesee, also received a special recognition award for helping to develop the curriculum and build the organizational structure for the program in Orleans County.

The second class of 25 participants will start next month.

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Photos by Tom Rivers: Marsha Cook, left, receives an award as an outstanding 4-H leader from Kristina Gabalski, 4-H program leader. The meeting was held at the new Lures Restaurant & Bar at the Bald Eagle Marina on South Lakeland Beach Road.

KENDALL – The Cornell Cooperative Extension of Orleans County held its annual meeting on Tuesday night and honored many supporters of the agency.

John Curtin was named “Friend of the Extension” for donating 4.5 acres of woodlots by the fairgrounds near Wood Road. The Extension may use the wooded area for a nature trail, outdoor camping and perhaps other uses,” said Robert Batt, the Extension executive director.

Having the land creates many possibilities for the agency, Batt said.

The Extension also named Brett Ross a “Friend of the Master gardeners.” Ross grows thousands of day lilies on East Shelby Road near the Millville hamlet in Shelby. He donates many varieties of day lilies to the Master Gardeners’ plant sale in September, said Katie Oakes, the Master Gardener coordinator. Ross and Curtin were unable to attend the annual meeting on Tuesday.

There are 15 master gardeners who led about 300 people in classes and workshops the past year. The master gardeners were also at numerous community events.

The 4-H program named an outstanding 4-H leader. Marsha Cook of Albion has been the leader of the Super Kids Club the past five years. She has been helping in 4-H for more than decade. Her son Brandon, 18, is aging out of 4-H but daughter Hollee, 7, will be involved for several more years.

“It’s good the kids,” Cook said about 4-H. “There’s more to life than textbook learning.”

She likes the hands-on projects through 4-H. Cook is an active fair volunteer, including in the weeks leading up to the fair helping to make sure the grounds are in tip-top shape, said Kristina Gabalski, the 4-H program coordinator.

“Marsha is always ready to step up and help wherever she might be needed in the 4-H program, including help with the annual holiday workshops in advance of the Holiday Fair,” Gabalski said.

Robert Batt, executive director of the Cornell Cooperative Extension, thanks supporters of the agency. He also led a trivia contest at the annual meeting.

Several 4-H leaders marked milestone anniversaries of service this year, including: Kayla Sucy and Marsha Cook for five years; Merri Mathes for 10 years; Barb Kurzowski for 20 years; and Sara Johnson for 30 years.

“Their guidance, care and dedication have helped shape so many young lives,” Gabalski said about the 4-H leaders. “There would be no way to provide 4-H programming to the youth of Orleans County without them.”

There are 454 youth, ages 5 to 19, enrolled in the 4-H program, with 89 leaders and volunteers.

The 4-H’ers had more than 3,000 exhibits at the Orleans County 4-H Fair, which was attended by over 24,500 people during the fourth week of July.

There are now three schools – Kendall, Medina and Lyndonville – with afterschool 4-H clubs.

The Extension also elected five people as members of the board of directors.

• Ben Flansburg is president and co-owner of BCA Ag Technologies, a precision farming company that specializes in GPS and precision control of agriculture equipment. He also is active with the Barre Volunteer Fire Company.

• Jose Iniguez is a fruit grower and co-owner of Fish Creek Orchards in Waterport.

• Christopher Oakes of Medina is the production manager for LynOaken Farms in Lyndonville.

• Joseph Sidonio of Holley is a Marine veteran and self-employed n the mining and quarrying industry. His daughter Amelia is active in the 4-H Rabbit Raisers and the Senior Council.

• Zach Welker of Medina breeds, shows and markets registered Holstein genetics in addition to helping as Sk Herefords, where his wife Alana is a partner. Welker is a co-leader and barn superintendent of the beef/dairy club, and a board member for the Animal Welfare/Market Auction Committee as well as the Fair Committee.

Three board members who are finishing their terms and leaving the board were commended for their service. They include Kathy Harling, Patrick Woolworth and Tim Kirby.

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Agency pushes to get out final loans before March 31 deadline

New York State is closing the revolving loan funds administered by local development corporations, including one through the Orleans Economic Development Agency.

The economic development agencies throughout the state have until March 31 to approve funding through the accounts.

The Orleans EDA has approved many loans for small businesses the past 17 years since the fund was created. The state first approved $320,000 for the Orleans EDA to loan to small businesses in 2001.

Jim Whipple, the EDA chief executive officer, said the agency has a great record of repayment. The loans are offered at 75 percent of the lowest prime rate. They go to new small businesses that would typically have a hard time getting financing from a bank.

“We’re hoping the state comes up with another of doing these,” Whipple said today. “Ours has been very successful. It is very helpful to start-up businesses.”

The EDA would only makes loans available to business owners who completed a Microenterprise Assistance Program that offers advice and expertise for running a small business. About 500 people have completed MAP the past 20 years.

Three recent graduates have the local OK for loans through the revolving loan fund. That includes $35,000 for Heather Collella, who operates DC hauling; $40,000 to Richard T. Gallo Sr., who operates Gallo’s Hauling; and $15,000 for Bonnie Heck, owner of Herbalty Cottage in Medina.

Those loans were approved by the County Legislature last week and need state approval for a final OK.

The County Legislature last week agreed to have the county administer the fund’s repayments and income in the future.

Whipple said additional loans may be approved before March 31.

He is optimistic the program will return through the Orleans EDA.

“We’re going to be out of the loan business, but we will be back,” Whipple said. “I guarantee it.”

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Photos by Tom Rivers: Barre has a water tank that serves water users in Barre and Albion.

ALBION – Orleans County and many of the local municipalities will work together with a consultant on a study of the water infrastructure in the county and the possibility of creating a regional water system.

The County Legislature last week approved spending $125,000 for the Wendel firm to complete a water efficiency study. The county expects to receive about $75,000 in state funding for the project, with the county paying $30,000 and other municipalities kicking in $20,000.

“The county wants to maximize the water resources in the county,” Chuck Nesbitt, the county chief administrative officer, told local municipal leaders during a recent meeting about the study.

The study will take an inventory of all the water infrastructure in the county, as well as the personnel devoted to maintaining water lines and running water plants.

The study may show the need for new transmission lines to move water to spots in the county that would be ideal for economic development.

County and municipal officials expect the study will show potential cost savings and efficiencies that will reduce costs and increase capacity. There may be opportunities for sharing services with water meter reading, water billing, and potentially water distribution system repairs.

During meetings with village and town officials, county leaders said this isn’t a precursor to a takeover of the village and town water systems. They would each keep their own infrastructure. One scenario could have a water superintendent overseeing the systems in more than one jurisdiction and a water department focused on fixing leaks and maintaining the system.

Currently each town has a highway superintendent who also functions as the water superintendent. Many of those superintendents are nearing retirement and may not be easy to replace, especially with the licenses needed to serve as water chief.

Gerald Summe, executive vice president of Wendel, met with the Albion Village Board on Oct. 10 and urged the board to participate in the study. The board approved contributing $2,000 to the cost.

“Manpower and skill sets is probably one of the biggest challenges you’re seeing,” Gerald Summe, executive vice president of Wendel, told local officials during a recent meeting.

Creating a regional water system in the county would improve the chances for state and federal funding to maintain and upgrade water treatment plants, and also the transmission lines, Summe told the local officials.

“If you work together you put yourself in a better position to get grants,” he said.

The Village of Albion is currently the main water provider in central Orleans with its water plant in Carlton, using water from Lake Ontario. Albion provides about 1.7 million gallons of water daily for 15,000 customers.

The Village of Lyndonville has a smaller water plant with about 2,200 customers and 400,000 gallons daily. Holley uses water from a well, and is supplemented by the Monroe County Water Authority. The MCWA is the primary supplier in eastern Orleans, with Albion serving a portion of Murray.

The Niagara County Water District is the water supplier for the Village of Medina and most of Shelby and Ridgeway.

The 10 towns have a series of water districts all with varying debt service rates. If the municipalities went to regional system, the debt would stay with each district. There could, however, be more customers to spread out the costs for upgrades to a local water treatment plant and for running new transmission lines to get water where it needs to go.

One scenario could have a single administrator of the water system, while the towns and villages share staff for maintaining the water systems.

Summe said there are significant grants available to help upgrade the water systems in Orleans County. But the first step is doing a study to provide an “economic justification” for the funding.

The Albion Village Board voted to contribute $2,000 to the study. Board members said they would welcome more grants to help upgrade its water plant.

Wendel said it’s likely the state will contribute about $47,500 in a grant through the Local Government Efficiency Program and $25,000 through the New York State Energy and Research Development Authority (NYSERDA).

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