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 construction of the county's backbone fiber will begin this next month. Yates is using the USDA Rural Utilities Services awarded grant funds to provide internet service to 1,635 premises that are unserved or underserved. The next phase to actually connect customers to the service will be in spring 2023. This will be a public/private partnership with the internet service provider Empire Access.
The county is also applying for another round of funding from the USDA for the remaining unserved or underserved premises with access of less than 100 megabits per second download speed and 20 megabits per second upload speed. This will cover 681 premises and is for $8.3 million, with no county match required.
The New York State Comptroller's Office released the fiscal stress scores for municipalities based on 2021 audited financials. This list was developed as an early warning mechanism to identify municipalities that are experiencing signs of budgetary strain. Yates County received a fiscal score of 0.0 percent, which gives the county a classification of "no designation," for type of stress. This is the fifth year in a row that the county has received the 0.0 percent score.
Budget Officer Flynn will be presenting the 2023 budget to the legislature at the budget workshop on Oct. 25 at 9 a.m. in the county office building. The public hearing on the budget is tentatively set for Nov. 17 at 6 p.m.
The county real estate tax foreclosure auction will be held in the county office building on Oct. 27 at 6 p.m. There are currently sixteen parcels with 2018, 2019 and 2020 delinquent taxes owed. The list of properties can be found on the Yates County website: www.yatescounty.org under treasurer.
Government Operations:
The historian's office has been working with the history center at their road shows in various towns throughout the county whereby individuals can bring in their articles or photos to have them digitized for free. The next road show will be Oct. 25 at the Rushville History Room in Potter.
Because the county is facing unprecedented challenges regarding recruitment and retention of employees, the legislature authorized employee retention bonus payments to employees for the purpose of improving employee retention to ensure the proper and timely delivery of essential government services. Full-time permanent employees will receive $1,200 and part-time permanent employees will receive $600.
Human Services:
The Public Health Department is offering a Moderna Bi-Valent COVID-19 booster clinic on Oct. 26 at the Dundee American Legion. Appointments are required by registering on the website at www.yatescounty.org or calling the office at 315-536-5160.
Free masks and COVID-19 test kits are available through the public health office.
The legislature declared Yates County a "Green Light for Military Service County" from Oct. 11 through Veterans Day on Nov. 11. The county will display a green light in the courtyard to recognize the importance of honoring all those who made immeasurable sacrifices to help preserve freedom.
The legislature also extends its gratitude to all Marines, past and present, their families and loved ones, who continue to sacrifice for our liberty and freedoms, by proclaiming Nov. 10 as U.S. Marine Corps birthday in Yates County.
Public Safety:
Two new towers have been erected, one in Dundee and one in Italy Hill. 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.
The legislature passed a resolution opposing the state legislation that restricts Second Amendment rights, regulates legally authorized concealed carry gun permits and bans concealed carry in public places. The resolution states that these restrictions are unconstitutional and violate the holding of NYS Rifle and Pistol Association, Inc. v. Bruen.
Public Works:
There will be a bid opening for a new fuel island at the highway building on Nov. 1. The county is still waiting on final design drawings that are being completed by C & S Engineers, before having a more accurate construction cost estimate for a new highway/emergency services/public health building.
The county authorized repairs to the embankment on the property and adjacent properties near 1861 West Lake Road in Penn Yan after there was an embankment slide last spring.
The NYS Department of Transportation is in the process of executing a contract with an engineering firm to collect data and do an investigation to make the roads safer for slow-moving vehicles. At this time, the duration of the study is unknown.