Cayuga County lawmakers reviewed a wide range of government operations, planning and public works issues this week, including energy costs, tourism programming, 911 upgrades, building repairs and highway infrastructure.
The Government Operations Committee, chaired by Legislator Brian Muldrow, opened with updates from the Board of Elections. Ken Warner said staff are preparing for the state comptroller primary, while the committee noted appointments of Stephanie Hutchinson and Jeffrey Pirozzolo to the Cayuga Community College Board of Trustees.
Amanda Morgan, clerk of the Legislature, reported that the United Way Day of Caring will be held Aug. 6 and that county summer hours will run from July 1 through Aug. 31. The committee also advanced a pension reporting resolution for County Clerk Kristine Lytle.
Information Technology Director Tom Bunn updated lawmakers on several 911 and technology projects. He said Motorola was working on equipment for the temporary E911 backup site at the Auburn Fire Department, while the county continues reviewing power backup systems at public safety tower sites. Bunn also discussed Next Generation 911 planning, cybersecurity updates, AI training for county employees and ongoing work tied to county network infrastructure.
The committee approved renewals for DataWorks Plus maintenance and support for the county’s livescan and mugshot system, as well as a one-year Microsoft Office 365 licensing agreement.
In Planning and Public Works, chaired by Legislator Robert Shea, Tourism Director Courtney Kasper previewed the county’s annual tourism luncheon at Emerson Park. She said the event will include discussion of statewide tourism trends and the proposed Harriet Tubman Underground Railroad Byway. Kasper also said Tour Cayuga received about $50,000 in requests for its tourism program support grants, with $30,000 available.
Karl Rindfleisch, director of Water and Sewer, updated lawmakers on the Cayuga Lake Protection Plan and said the Environmental Facilities Corporation extended key funding tied to the project. The funding includes a $16.5 million grant and a $16.5 million zero-interest loan.
Lawmakers also heard a detailed presentation from Siemens about potential energy improvements at county buildings. The review focused on major energy users, including the Public Safety Building, Mental Health building, County Courthouse, Historic Post Office and Highway Garage. Siemens representatives identified aging equipment, failed HVAC components, outdated controls, lighting needs and building envelope issues, estimating possible annual energy savings of about $105,000 if improvements move forward.
Buildings and Grounds Superintendent Kevin VanBeveren brought forward resolutions to replace boilers at the County Courthouse and Historic Post Office. Committee members amended the language to clarify that bids would cover furnishing and installing the equipment.
Highway Superintendent Brian Soper said the county is evaluating future repairs or replacement options for the Turnpike Road bridge. He said the bridge remains usable but may need weight restrictions to extend its lifespan. The committee also advanced a three-year snow and ice agreement with towns and villages.
Doug Kierst of the Soil and Water Conservation District reported that the annual tire roundup collected roughly 3,500 to 4,000 tires for recycling.
Kari Terwilliger, director of Planning and Economic Development, said the county continues work on several planning initiatives, including the countywide strategic plan, Brownfield Opportunity Area pre-planning project, housing study, water quality projects and broadband work. She said a public meeting tied to the Brownfield Opportunity Area project has been pushed back to late summer to allow consultants more time to prepare recommendations.
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