Yates County legislators will take up a wide-ranging slate of committee business this week, with agenda items touching nearly every major part of county government — from road work and airport projects to child care transportation, public health grants, public safety staffing and the county’s next five-year capital plan.
The meetings begin Monday with the Public Works and Human Services committees, followed Tuesday by Public Safety and Finance. Several items are routine monthly updates, but the agendas also include major infrastructure planning, federal and state grant funding, policy changes affecting local services, and continued work tied to a proposed public safety facility.
Public works committee to tackle infrastructure and capital projects
The Public Works Committee will meet at noon Monday in the legislative chambers.
The committee is expected to review updates from Buildings and Grounds, the Highway Department, the airport, Seneca Flight Operations, and the ad hoc committee overseeing plans for a new public safety facility.
Buildings and Grounds will report that work is beginning on a Public Health office reconfiguration while planning continues for the Public Defender’s Office. Capital projects also remain active, including a ventilation project that is roughly 80% complete and an air handling unit replacement expected to go out for bids later this month.
The department will also discuss a request from First Baptist Church asking the county to remove a pine tree near the church in the park after concerns raised by the church’s insurance carrier. Routine sprinkler inspections were recently completed at the County Office Building, courthouse and Benton Shared Services building.
The Highway Department will ask legislators to declare a 2020 Volvo rubber tire excavator as surplus equipment so it can be sold. Officials will also provide updates on several highway projects, including paving work on Dundee-Himrod Road and Havens Corners Road, chip sealing on Italy Valley Road, and the nearly completed Pre-emption Road bridge project.
The bridge is expected to reopen to traffic July 10 following completion of approach slabs, sidewalks, guiderail installation, paving and striping.
Highway officials will also brief lawmakers on new state greenhouse gas reporting requirements that could affect monitoring of the closed Torrey landfill.
Airport officials are seeking approval of a construction observation agreement tied to replacement of runway lighting equipment, while providing updates on runway rehabilitation, new T-hangars, perimeter fencing, taxiway improvements and other long-range projects. Seneca Flight Operations also reports aircraft activity continues to outpace last year’s levels.
Legislators will also receive another progress report on the proposed public safety facility. Design work continues, a construction management contract has been executed, and committee members recently toured Greene County’s public safety complex while also meeting with representatives from the New York State Commission of Correction.
Human services agenda centers on healthcare, transportation and family services
The Human Services Committee will meet at 1:15 p.m. Monday.
The Public Defender’s Office will seek approval of a legal research agreement while reporting steady criminal and family court caseloads.
The Office for the Aging will outline continued demand for transportation services, legal assistance, nutrition programs and senior support services. Officials report transportation remains challenging after the loss of the county’s previous taxi provider, leaving many rides unavailable because rideshare companies have little presence in Yates County.
Food assistance also remains in high demand. Hundreds of county residents continue relying on the Pop Up Pantry and Hope Center Food Pantry each month.
The Department of Social Services plans to brief legislators on several issues, including youth programming, homelessness, unemployment and recent changes to state child abuse reporting laws. Officials also expect roughly 1,449 county residents to lose health insurance coverage as New York scales back expanded eligibility under the Essential Plan.
Federal food assistance remains another concern. Department officials say proposed federal changes could eventually shift additional Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program costs to counties, potentially creating significant new local expenses if current proposals become law.
Public Health officials will ask legislators to approve agreements involving preschool transportation, vape detector reimbursements for Penn Yan and Dundee schools, inclusive playground equipment at Indian Pines Park and youth vaping mapping initiatives funded through settlement dollars and grants.
The Veterans Service Agency will ask legislators to proclaim Aug. 4 as U.S. Coast Guard Birthday in Yates County and Aug. 7 as National Purple Heart Day while reporting continued growth in services provided to local veterans.
Community Services will report that staffing has improved with a key mental health position now filled, while opioid settlement money has been placed into a reserve fund for future approved uses.
Public safety committee to review staffing, EMS planning and sheriff operations
The Public Safety Committee will meet Tuesday afternoon.
District Attorney Todd Casella’s office will report that an assistant district attorney position remains vacant after attracting no qualified applicants. The office will also highlight several public outreach efforts focused on bicycle safety and youth education.
Probation officials will update legislators on supervision caseloads while continuing to study whether probation officers should eventually carry firearms. The review includes training requirements, costs and comparisons with neighboring counties.
Emergency Services will provide updates on recent fire, EMS and emergency management responses while continuing work on a new countywide EMS coordination plan required under state law. The framework is expected to guide future ambulance coverage and emergency medical services throughout the county.
The Sheriff’s Office will report that road patrol and 911 dispatch are fully staffed, while the corrections division continues working to fill three vacant positions. Jail population numbers, animal control activity, court security operations and ongoing technology upgrades will also be discussed.
Sheriff Ron Spike’s office will also provide updates on plans for the proposed public safety facility, ongoing communications system improvements, public outreach efforts and technology upgrades throughout the department.
Finance committee to consider broadband, assessments and five-year capital plan
The Finance Committee will close out the committee meetings Tuesday afternoon with one of the busiest agendas of the month.
Real Property Tax Services will report that final assessment rolls have been completed following grievance hearings. Countywide assessed value increased by roughly 11% compared to last year, largely driven by full reassessments completed in Benton, Middlesex and Potter.
Property owners who challenged assessments but remain dissatisfied have until July 31 to file Small Claims or Article 7 petitions.
Planning officials will provide updates on the county’s broadband expansion project, public transportation planning, housing initiatives, solid waste planning and several grant programs.
Broadband construction continues to move forward, with Phase 2 expected to begin serving customers while Phase 3 advances toward construction. Officials acknowledge about three dozen homes may experience delays because specialized equipment is needed to complete service connections.
The department will also report continued progress toward expanded public transportation service through coordination with Rochester Genesee Regional Transportation Authority, with service targeted to begin in 2027.
Finance Director Leigh Battin will report that the county has more than $9.1 million invested through NYCLASS while continuing to evaluate occupancy tax administration policies as online booking platforms change how taxes are collected and remitted.
Lawmakers will also consider several budget amendments appropriating additional grant funding for Community Services, Public Health, Workforce Development and Highway operations.
One of the largest decisions before the committee will be consideration of the county’s proposed 2027-2031 Capital Improvement Plan.
The five-year proposal outlines approximately $39 million in capital spending across county government, including significant investments in highways, airport infrastructure, sheriff operations, emergency services, information technology, county facilities and heavy equipment. More than $22 million is expected to come from federal, state and reserve funding sources, leaving an estimated local tax levy impact of roughly $16.5 million over five years.
County Administrator Jessica Mullins will also update legislators on preparation of the 2027 county budget. Department budget requests are due later this month, budget workshops are scheduled for late October, and formal budget adoption is planned for November.
Finance officials will also discuss recent sales tax collections and warn legislators that statewide reconciliation work could temporarily create volatility in monthly sales tax distributions during the summer.
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