Photo by Tom Rivers: A K9 team from the Niagara County Sheriff’s Office tries to pick up the scent on Sunday morning of Robert Arnett, 71, of Barre. He was reported missing on Friday. He was found deceased in a pond behind his home.

Press Release, Orleans County Sheriff Randy Bower

ALBION – On behalf of the Orleans County Sheriff’s Office, we would like to extend a sincere thank you to all local and multi-county agencies, law enforcement personnel, special rescue teams, first responders and volunteers who worked so diligently Dec. 28-30 in the three-day search for Mr. Robert Arnett of Barre, Orleans County.

It is with deepest appreciation that the Orleans County Sheriff’s Office acknowledges the tireless efforts to include the following responders, for their assistance with manpower and emergency apparatus:

• New York State Police

• Niagara County Sheriff’s Office

• New York State Department of Environmental Conservation

• New York State Division of Forest Rangers

• Orleans County Emergency Management Office

• Genesee County Emergency Management Office

• 21 Volunteer Fire Departments from Orleans, Genesee and Monroe Counties

• New York State Search and Rescue

• New York State Federation of Search and Rescue

• Massasauga Niagara Frontier Search and Rescue

• Office of Fire Prevention and Control

• Orleans County Coroners

Special thanks to the Barre Fire Company for the use of their facility and to those who prepared the meals for over 200 personnel.

We can’t thank you enough for your dedication when serving others.  The outpouring of love was evident. God bless you all and have a Happy New Year.

Sincerely,

Sheriff Randall Bower

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ALBION – The Orleans County Legislature approved 2 percent raises for some elected and appointed officials following a public hearing last week.

Some of those employees also will be receiving longevity bonuses.

The Legislature every year needs to have a public hearing and vote if it will raise the salaries for some of the elected and appointed officials.

The positions affected in the resolution from the Legislature include the following:

• County attorney, $84,596

• County clerk $82,275, plus $1,750 longevity bonus for 25-29 years of service

• County treasurer, $71,593, plus $1,250 longevity bonus for 20-24 years of service

• Director of personnel, $89,431, plus $500 for 15-19 years of service

• Public defender, $84,596

• Real property tax director, $75,687, plus $200 for 10 years of service

• Sheriff, $82,275, plus $1,750 for 25-29 years of service

• Social services commissioner, $97,208

• Coroners, $2,008, plus $100 per case and $50 per Hospice case

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Rate has been under 4 percent past three months

ALBION – Orleans County’s unemployment rate was 3.7 percent in November, the third straight month it has been under 4 percent.

That 3.7 percent was slightly up from the 3.5 percent in October, which was the lowest rate in the county in at least 29 years. The state Department of Labor has employment data available for each month in Orleans County since 1990.

Only a few times since then has the rate fallen below 4 percent, and never did it do so for three consecutive months, according to the data since 1990.

The other under-4 percent months include 3.9 percent in September 2000 and 3.7 percent in October 2000; 3.8 percent in September 1999 and 3.9 percent in October 1999; and 3.9 percent in October 1996.

The labor force last month at 18,300 was the largest of the year in Orleans County, with 18,100 in January the second most. It’s also the most in Orleans since the 18,300 in March 2014.

The data from the state Department of Labor shows there were 17,600 working in Orleans in November, up from 16,900 the same time in 2017. It was also more than the 17,300 in October when the unemployment rate fell to 3.5 percent.

Although the number of people working in the county increased from October to November, the unemployment rate was up because the number of unemployed also increased from 600 to 700, according to the state DOL. That pushed the unemployment rate for November to 3.7 percent.

Nationally and state-wide the unemployment rate was 3.5 percent in November. The rate for counties near Orleans include: Genesee, 3.5 percent; Wyoming, 3.4 percent; Livingston, 3.3 percent; Monroe, 3.5 percent; Erie, 3.5 percent; and Niagara, 4.1 percent.

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Photos courtesy of Joette McHugh: These photos show the three animals currently available for adoption at the Orleans County Animal Shelter, which is located at the intersection of routes 98 and 31A in the Town of Barre. These animals include, from left: Carmello, an 8-month-old cat; Gallie, a year-old boxer; and Maleea, a year-old female mixed breed.

There are a lot of toys and treats left under the tree at the Animal Shelter.

BARRE – For the past 11 Christmases, Joette McHugh and her husband Bill have been going to the Orleans County Animal Shelter to give treats to cats and dogs and make sure they aren’t alone on Christmas.

Mrs. McHugh is president of the Friends of the Orleans County Animal Shelter. She has welcomed the public to stop by the shelter on Christmas. The number of visitors has been on the increase, but Tuesday was a pleasant shock for the McHughs. They were joined by about 150 other people, some making special trips from Buffalo, Rochester and Batavia to stop by the shelter.

“We just ask that people give 10 minutes of their time to the pets to give them some Christmas loving,” McHugh said today.

The shelter was scheduled to be open from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Christmas. The McHughs stayed until 3:30 to accommodate the visitors, who lined Route 98 near the shelter.

Right now there are only two dogs and one cat available for adoption. McHugh said the Friends of the Orleans County Animal Shelter has developed an effective adoption program where the animals don’t stay for very long before they are adopted out.

Many lost pets are also reunited with their owners through social media or through microchips. Those chips are about the size of a grain of rice and are imbedded near the shoulder blade of a dog or cat. A lost pet is scanned and the microchip reveals a unique number that identifies the pet’s owner.

The county shelter adopted out about 100 animals this past year, McHugh said.

She appreciates the community’s support of the animals, especially on Christmas when they donated toys, treats, food and money.

“They will be eating good for a while,” McHugh said. “The donations were unbelievable.”

That donations give the shelter a nice stockpile of supplies. The money also will go towards veterinary care for animals in 2019.

Maria Slomczewski of Buffalo wears a Santa hat while visiting with Gallie, a dog up for adoption at the Orleans County Animal Shelter.

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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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Provided photos

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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