Month: February 2023

DEPARTMENT OF PLANNING
COUNTY OF STEUBEN, NEW YORK
MARIE MYERS SHEARING DANIEL E. KAHABKA
Planning Director GIS Coordinator
Steuben County Office Building: 3 East Pulteney Square, Bath NY 14810
Phone: (607) 664-2268 | Fax: (607) 664-2282
www.steubencony.org/planning
NEWS RELEASE
Contact: Marie Myers Shearing
607-664-2266
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
February 8, 2023
NOTICE OF ANNUAL 30-DAY PERIOD TO REQUEST INCLUSION OF
AGRICULTURAL LAND WITHIN AN EXISTING AGRICULTURAL
DISTRICT IN STEUBEN COUNTY
Agriculture and Markets Law Section 303-b was enacted to provide for the designation of an
annual 30-day period during which landowners may submit requests for inclusion of
predominately viable agricultural land into an existing certified agricultural district. Steuben
County has designated February 15 through March 17, 2023 as this 30-day period. The
Steuben County Planning Department encourages farmers to enroll their land in an Agricultural
District by March 17, 2023
Agricultural property owners may request inclusion of viable agricultural land not already
included in a certified NYS Agricultural District. The property owner must demonstrate that the
agricultural land is viable or actively farmed. The property owner must also supply the owner
name and tax map number of the property. Only whole parcels are eligible for inclusion. Owner
name, tax map number, and agricultural status of the property may be emailed to
Planning@SteubenCountyNY.gov or, preferably, this form may be obtained here:
www.steubencountyny.gov/DocumentCenter/View/810/Agricultural-District-303b-Addition-
Request-Form-PDF?bidId= and sent to the address on the form.
Requests will be reviewed by the Steuben County Agriculture & Farmland Protection Board,
after which time, the Board will request a public hearing and approval by the Steuben County
Legislature. Once approved by the County Legislature, the proposal is forwarded to New York
State Agriculture and Markets for certification.
The purpose of agricultural districting is to encourage the continued use of farmland for
agricultural production. Detailed information about Agricultural Districts may be found here:

www.steubencountyny.gov/DocumentCenter/View/811/Agricultural-Districts-FAQ-PDF?bidId

If you have any questions about enrolling in an agricultural district contact the Steuben County
Planning Department, 3 East Pulteney Square, Bath, NY 14810, (607) 664-2268, or email
Planning@SteubenCountyNY.gov

February 14, 2023

Hornell City Hall Attorney Joe Pelych is retiring after 37 years. He began in that job, in January of 1986. Mayor John Buckley gave Pelych a plaque and the Key to the City. Joe Pelych’s term is officially ending in January of 2024, so on Monday night, Hornell’s Common Council voted to appoint Attorney Tim Rosell, for the remainder of the term.

In other Hornell news, the Common Council accepted a $376,000 grant from the state, for the Union Square Park project.

February 13, 2023

HORNELL, NY – Hornell Police Chief Ted Murray tells Wlea News, that there have been several cases of cooking oil containerse, being stolen from some Hornell restaurant’s storage facilities. “We’ve had people are breaking into their (the restaurants) storage facilities and stealing the oil,” Murray stated.

The Hornell Police Chief also says, the motive here is, there is a way of converting cooking oil into deisel used for trucks and equipment.

The investigations into the thefts, continue.

February 13,

Last week, Mayor John Buckley, Water Treatment Plant Operator Leonard Fucci and Labella Consultant, Matthew Higgins attended the Western New York chapter of the American Public Works Association award ceremony in Niagara Falls.

Buckley, Fucci, and Higgins went there, to receive the Association’s 2022 Environment Award for the $7.8 million project at the Water Treatment Plant.

The project was awarded related to its excellence in management and administration of the project with the consultants and contractors.

February 13, 2023

From Rep. Nick Langworthy: Upstate New York Congressmen Nick Langworthy (NY-23) and Marc Molinaro (NY-19) are leading the charge against Governor Kathy Hochul’s 2024 state budget proposal to raid the Enhanced Federal Medical Assistance Percentage (eFMAP) funds designated for counties and local governments and saddle taxpayers with up to $1 billion in new Medicaid costs. The diversion of these funds will force municipalities to raise property taxes and drastically cut services. Together, with other members of the New York delegation, they sent a letter imploring the governor to reverse her decision that will have grave consequences for communities across the state.

Langworthy and Molinaro write, “Your decision to divert the necessary local support from eFMAP will force our state’s local governments to shoulder the shortfall. This will lead to a reduction in access for the very services that eFMAP is intended to support, leading to harm for the most vulnerable.. Other localities could be forced to raise property taxes. It is ironic that—following a State of the State Address where you pledged to make New York state more affordable—you are now pursuing a policy that could ultimately leave New Yorkers with higher taxes, higher costs, and fewer services.”

According to the New York Association of Counties, the following funding would be cut from counties inside New York’s 23rd congressional district:
• Allegany County: $1.97 million
• Cattaraugus County: $3.35 million
• Chautauqua County: $6.24 million
• Chemung County: $4 million
• Erie County: $41.66 million
• Schuyler County: $746 thousand
• Steuben County: $3.87 million

Langworthy and Molinaro also had the support from the delegation with Congresswoman Elise Stefanik (NY-21), Congresswoman Claudia Tenney (NY-24), Congressman Mike Lawler (NY-17), Congressman Brandon Williams (NY-22), Congressman Nick LaLota (NY-01), Congressman Anthony D’Esposito, Congressman Andrew Garbarino, and Congresswoman Nicole Malliotakis signing on to the letter for the governor.

FMAP is vital federal resource that supports New York State’s Medicaid program. New York has received enhanced federal funding under eFMAP which provides almost $300 million in federal funding to the state’s counties and almost $700 million to New York City. Governor Hochul’s decision to divert all $1 billion of eFMAP money directly into the state’s coffers is wrong and goes against the purpose of the program.

February 13, 2023

Hornell City Hall will be closed on Monday, February 20, 2023 for Presidents’ Day. City Hall reopens on Tuesday February 21, 2023. There will be NO delay in garbage pickup during the week of February 19th. Garbage will be picked up in the City of Hornell and North Hornell on schedule. Residents should put their garbage out on their normal mornings and nights. It is, also, recycling week. The Hornell Area Transit System will be running its normal service on February 20, 2023

February 12, 2023

From Congressman Langworthy: For the next two weeks, I’ll be in district. Listening and meeting with taxpayers of Western New York and the Southern Tier is the most important part of my job. I am fighting for our jobs, farms and industries across the district and look forward to a productive district work period.

February 12, 2023

ALLEGANY COUNTY, NY – It may not be what you think. “One of our current candidates told me he thought you had to already have Olympic level ski skills to join Ski Patrol. Another joined thinking it would help him loose weight.” Swain Ski Patrol Membership Chairman Steve Walker explains, “As it turns out, Patrol is a great way to learn to be a better skier, but you can begin with intermediate level skills. On Patrol you will get a lot of exercise, but there is so much good stuff to eat in the Patrol Room, that might cancel out the potential for weight loss.”

Walker is organizing the annual recruiting event for Swain Ski Patrol. On Sunday February 19 people who are interested in joining Swain Ski Patrol will have a chance to spend a few hours with the Patrol, both on the slopes and in the Patrol Room. Ski Patrol is a volunteer first aid and safety organization that provides first-reponder help for the skiing and snowboarding public. Training includes a thorough course in Outdoor Emergency Care. The course starts in August and meets two evenings a week until November. Patrol candidates are taught how to deal with medical problems, from cuts and bruises to more serious traumas such as broken bones, concussions and cardiac emergencies. Beginning in January candidates are given a rigorous course in skiing and sled handling. Snowboard riders are welcome on Ski Patrol as well.

There are approximately seventy members of Swain Ski Patrol. Patrollers come from many walks of life from carpenters to business executives, from nurses and engineers to machinists and students. Many patrollers join as “YAPs”, Young Adult Patrollers, who can begin training as young as fifteen years old. Other join later in life and many continue to volunteer on Ski Patrol beyond their retirement from their primary vocations. About 25% of Swain Ski Patrollers are of retirement age. Each member works an average of one shift a week during the season. Benefits include a season lift pass, a family pass or buddy pass, use of the Patrol Room for socialization, storage of equipment, kitchen and dining facilities, discounts at Swain Resort for equipment and restaurant purchases as well as Pro-Deals from many major suppliers of winter sports clothing and equipment.

Space is limited for participation in the Open House. To reserve a spot contact Steve Walker by emailing membership@swainskipatrol.org or calling 607-382-3195.

February 11, 2023

NYSP Wall of Honor – Today we remember Trooper Lawrence P. Gleason

Trooper Gleason was shot and killed on February 11, 2002, while responding to a complaint by a 36-year-old Crown Point (Essex County) woman. The woman called SP Westport to report her former boyfriend had menaced her with a knife at her home, then left the scene.

An investigation determined Trooper Gleason was taking a deposition from the woman in the living room of her home when the ex-boyfriend drove into the driveway, took a .30-30 rifle from his trunk and fired three shots into the building. One struck Trooper Gleason in the back, penetrating his body armor and mortally wounding him. The shooter then entered the house, shot and killed the woman, and turned the rifle on himself.

Trooper Gleason, 28, entered Division service as a member of the 184th Academy Basic School session, graduating May 15, 2001