Yates County legislators approved a wide-ranging package of resolutions Monday that included the purchase of a new ambulance, creation of several specialized emergency response teams, the establishment of an opioid settlement reserve fund, and funding for transportation, tourism and workforce development programs.
Among the most significant actions, lawmakers authorized the purchase of a new 2027 Crestline ambulance for the Office of Emergency Services at a cost not to exceed $169,650. The vehicle was selected from four proposals submitted to the county and came in below the $175,000 capital project budget approved for 2026.
The legislature also authorized the Office of Emergency Services to establish four new specialty teams, including a Surface, Flood and Swift Water Rescue Team, a Hazardous Materials Decontamination Team, a Fire Investigation Team, and a group of Deputy Fire Coordinators. County officials said the additions will improve emergency response capabilities and enhance public safety for residents and visitors.
Staffing remained a major focus of the meeting. Legislators approved requests to fill vacant positions across several departments, including EMTs, paramedics, correction officers, emergency dispatchers, an assistant public defender and a social services caseworker. Several of the resolutions cited ongoing recruitment challenges and the continued need to maintain essential county services.
In another notable move, lawmakers created an Opioid Settlement Reserve Fund to hold excess opioid settlement revenues received from manufacturers, distributors and state sources. The reserve will allow the county to save unspent funds at the end of each fiscal year and dedicate them to future opioid remediation efforts.
The legislature also approved a plan to use a temporary double-lane bridge during the Ferguson Corners Road Bridge rehabilitation project if alternative construction schedules cannot reduce disruptions. The decision came after lawmakers previously expressed concerns about the impact of a full bridge closure during construction.
Several funding and grant-related resolutions were adopted as well. The county accepted more than $154,000 in workforce development funding through the Finger Lakes Workforce Investment Board, approved nearly $48,300 in lead hazard reduction grant participation with Ontario County, authorized a $4,597 immunization grant through the New York State Association of County Health Officials, and appropriated additional state aid for daycare services and highway projects. Highway appropriations included more than $131,000 in CHIPS funding and nearly $400,000 in PAVE-NY funding for road work and materials.
Tourism and community development initiatives also received support. Legislators approved $8,000 in second-round tourism funding recommendations, allocating $3,000 to the Keuka Lake Wine Trail and $5,000 to Wager’s Cider Mill. They also authorized a contract for transportation services for preschool children with disabilities, awarding the bid to NYSARC Inc., doing business as Mozaic.
Other actions included renewing the county’s Nixle emergency notification service, adding a new online Freedom of Information Law request management platform to the county website, authorizing a Veterans Day dinner gala tied to the nation’s 250th anniversary celebration, appointing Seneca County Manager Melissa Taylor to the Finger Lakes Workforce Investment Board, and issuing proclamations recognizing both Pretrial, Probation and Parole Supervision Week and the U.S. Army’s 251st birthday.
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