Administrator provides county update

Administrator provides county update

YATES COUNTY--Yates County Administrator Nonie Flynn provided the following update on several programs currently in development or underway in the county.
Finance:
The United States Department of Agriculture Rural Utilities Services agency recently reviewed and gave their approval for Yates County to begin construction on the broadband project. This is a $14 million project using grant funds to provide internet service to 1,635 premises that are unserved or underserved in the county.
The finance office purchased a software package that searches over eighty online vacation rental sites to verify whether the owners of these vacation rentals are registered with the county. This software also compares the dates of rentals and lengths of stays with what occupancy tax has been paid. The purpose of this is to check compliance with our occupancy tax law. So far, 299 are compliant and 138 are non-compliant. 40 are still being researched. The director of finance will send letters to the non-compliant owners making them aware of our occupancy tax law and requesting remittance of the occupancy tax.
The real estate tax foreclosure auction will be held in the county office building Oct. 27 at 6 p.m. There are currently sixteen properties with 2018, 2019 and 2020 delinquent taxes owed. The owners of these properties have until Oct. 12 to pay the taxes and all associated fees to redeem their property. The list of properties can be found on the Yates County website: www.yatescounty.org under Treasurer.
Government Operations:
Yates County will be taking advantage of the New York state endpoint detection and response services at no cost to the county. These services are being provided by NYS Joint Security Operations Center to guard against cyber attacks and unauthorized access to our systems that may compromise the security and integrity of data, disrupt operations and services or damage critical infrastructure.
Human Services:
The Veterans' Services Agency provides a service to veterans to drive them to their medical appointments, however, they need volunteer drivers. County-owned vehicles are available for this service. Call VSA at 315-536-5196 if you are willing to volunteer.
The Public Health Department is offering the following clinics:
• Flu Clinic in the county office building auditorium from 10 - 11:30 a.m. and 1 - 2:30 p.m. on 9/27, 10/12 and 10/17.
• Rabies clinic at the Starkey Highway Barn on 9/28 from 6 - 7 p.m.
• A COVID clinic will be offered in October at the county office building by appointment only at a date to be determined. Check the Public Health website at www.yatescounty.org or call the office at 315-536-5160 for an appointment.
Public Safety:
Sept. 18 to 24 is Sheriff's week in Yates County. The county is celebrating the historical contributions of the office and recognizes the significant role that the Sheriff plays in our criminal justice system. In Yates, the office goes beyond the traditional role of "Conservator of the Peace." The Office serves the public by providing security in the courts, dispatching 911 emergency services, public safety communications, animal control, administration of coroners, maintaining the jail and executing civil process for the courts.
A new monopole tower has been erected at the public safety building. This is part of the county's communication project to replace end-of-life equipment and leased towers with new equipment and county-owned towers, as well to improve overall countywide communications.

Public Works:
Since the county partnered with the Penn Yan Public Library in 2019 to use New York State Energy Research and Development Authority grant funding to install an electric vehicle charging station, it has seen steady growth over the years, not only in the hours of usage but also in the number of different vehicles using the charging station.
Yates County hired Watchdog Building Partners for construction management services on the Highway/Office of Emergency Services/Public Health proposed building project. The county currently has 60 percent of the design drawings completed by C & S Engineers, which will be reviewed by Watchdog to prepare a construction cost estimate.