A World War II veteran’s 100th birthday, a multimillion-dollar public safety facility plan, and cybersecurity coordination with New York State all took center stage at the Yates County Legislature’s meeting on June 9.
Lawmakers voted unanimously to honor U.S. Army veteran Archer N. Martin, who will turn 100 on June 12. Martin, a Technician 5th Grade, landed in Normandy on D-Day, fought across Europe, and was wounded in France, earning the Purple Heart. “We solemnly commemorate the 100th anniversary of his birth and reflect on its significance,” the resolution read. The Legislature stood and applauded in tribute.
Also passed was a $2.9 million contract with SMRT Architects & Engineers to support a new public safety facility. The decision followed a month of deliberation by an ad hoc committee, which reviewed eight bids and conducted site visits. The resolution passed by roll call, with only Legislators Jesse Jayne and Terry Button voting against it.
Public comment included concerns from Roger Hayes, who urged the Legislature to draft a resolution banning fracking, and from Pat Lloyd, a contractor seeking final payment for work on the Benton Shared Services Building. Legislators discussed the plumbing issue but took no action.
Several resolutions aimed at strengthening county operations also passed unanimously. These included new service contracts for probation programming, tower site maintenance with Motorola, and legal research subscriptions for the District Attorney’s Office.
Yates County deepened its cybersecurity partnership with the state by authorizing a three-year Intergovernmental Agreement with the Joint Security Operations Center. The pact will allow for information sharing between local and state agencies to detect and respond to cyber threats.
County veterans services also received attention, with officials urging veterans to file their DD214 forms to access benefits, including free state park passes.
In public safety, lawmakers amended a labor contract with dispatchers to permit limited part-time coverage and ratified a four-year collective bargaining agreement with Council 82 Law Enforcement. The Legislature also extended an intermunicipal agreement with Oswego County for temporary inmate housing.
Resolutions related to public health included a new five-year emergency response aid agreement with eight nearby counties and approval for speech therapy services in the preschool program.
Several financial moves adjusted the county budget to account for new grants and revenue. These included over $1 million in aid for roads through CHIPS, Pave-NY, and Extreme Winter Recovery, as well as funding for sheriff dispatch, youth employment, and opioid settlement programs.
Two public hearings were scheduled for July 14. One will consider extending the youth deer hunting pilot program to 2028. The other will address the renewal of Yates County’s occupancy tax law, originally enacted in 2007.
Legislators also approved a resolution supporting a state bill to reform New York’s mental competency restoration process and backed the Town of Jerusalem’s grant application to update its comprehensive plan, last revised in 2006.
The meeting concluded with appointments to several boards, including Sarah Beverly’s placement on both the Behavioral Health Subcommittee and Community Services Board.
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