Yates officials researching bio-digester in focus on facts, not ‘stirring the pot’

Editor:

I have read Mr. Lauricella’s and Mr. Colon’s latest missive about what the current Town Board of Yates is doing wrong and found it quite amusing.

They seem to provide documented examples of bio-digester project failures, but have not referenced any of this information on failures in any way that someone could follow up to determine the accuracy of their assertions.

Frankly, I’m curious as to why Mr. Lauricella and Mr. Colon did not work with the Board on these “research” results. It would have been easy enough during privilege of the floor opportunities at any town board meeting. We would have been happy to accept this information and research further.

Instead, Mr. Lauricella and Mr. Colon decided to “stir the pot” in the Hub.  “Stirring the pot” just to “Stir the pot” is not becoming of persons running to represent the constituency.

Interestingly, they did not provide any examples of successful bio-digester projects globally.

In any case, yes, the Board is investigating the possibility of a bio-digester project for the Town (along with the Town of Somerset).  Mr. Lauricella and Mr. Colon would know, if they were more than just spotty attendants at Town Board meetings (only 8 appearances over the last 20 months) that we have made no decision and in fact are only researching the possibility right now.

I’m sure it will disappoint Mr. Lauricella and Mr. Colon to know that we are only interested in generating renewable energy with the bio-digester project. Clearly, anyone moving to a rural area understands that our neighbors, as a part of their operations, generate the smell of manure.

Having grown up in a farming community and worked on farms as a young man, I consider those smells to be fresh country air. It’s about renewable energy Mr. Lauricella and Mr. Colon, and as we’ve stated many times, if there is not a benefit to every constituent then we will not move forward with the project.

Which brings up another point: The Board has been very clear that the project cost estimate is approximately $20 million. In 2022, Mr. Lauricella heard this number at one of the few board meetings he attended and promptly posted another “stir the pot” editorial that stated the project would cost $200 million!!! I was the person who contacted the Hub to have the number corrected. Mr. Lauricella did not correct his own “mistake.”

Which brings up the final point regarding the bio-digester project: There has been no stated opposition from our dairy farmers regarding the bio-digester project. In fact, they have all been very cooperative in supporting our research work.

The farmers, the Board and in fact all constituents should have a “let’s wait and see what the data tells us”-view of the project.  As far as I know, this is where we all stand on this project so far… except for Mr. Lauricella and Mr. Colon.

This “pot-stirring” by Mr. Lauricella and Mr. Colon was exposed for all to see at the April 2023 Town Board Meeting (Mr. Lauricella and Mr. Colon in attendance) where they finally said it out-loud (Reference:  Town Board Meeting Minutes, Privilege of the Floor, April 13, 2023) and I quote from the minutes:

“Paul Lauricella, Town of Yates”…”He doesn’t believe that he said anything wrong at the last meeting to lead up to what happened; especially over campaign rhetoric from 2 years ago. Not everything that is said is true, it may be believed to be true, but after the election you move on and forget about it.”..

I restate:

“Not everything that is said is true, it may be believed to be true, but after the election you move on and forget about it.”…

In this statement, Mr. Lauricella and Mr. Colon finally stated their truth. I, for one, have not forgotten.

I can tell you this with certainty: the Yates Town Board has striven, at every juncture, to be honest and transparent with the constituency and we will continue this tradition into the future.

You have a choice on Tuesday, November 7th.  Jim Simon, Susan Hrovat and myself respectfully ask for your vote so that we can continue the good work we have begun.

Thank you.

John Riggi

Councilman/Deputy Supervisor for Town of Yates