Steuben County lawmakers will consider authorizing license plate reader equipment, accepting three public safety grants and adding positions in the Public Safety Department and Sheriff’s Office when they meet next Monday.
The County Legislature’s regular session is scheduled for 10 in the morning in the Legislative Chambers on the third floor of the Annex Building, 20 East Morris St. in Bath.
The 22-item agenda also includes proposed road-safety funding, a guardrail replacement project, two local laws and the start of a review of Agricultural District No. 3. The agenda lists the proposals but does not include grant amounts, equipment locations or other supporting details.
License plate readers and emergency grants
Legislators are scheduled to consider authorizing the Steuben County sheriff to install license plate reader equipment within the county. The agenda does not identify the number of readers, proposed locations, cost or policies governing their use.
Three other resolutions would authorize the county’s public safety director to accept grants. Those include the state fiscal year 2025-26 Statewide Interoperable Communications Grant, the federal fiscal year 2025 Emergency Management Performance Grant and the State Homeland Security Grant.
Lawmakers also will consider creating a deputy director of public safety position and two deputy positions in the Sheriff’s Office. A separate proposal would change one currently filled part-time assistant district attorney trainee position to a full-time position in the District Attorney’s Office.
Roads, guardrails and local efficiency
The Public Works Department is seeking authorization to accept a state Department of Transportation Roadway Departure Safety Action Plan grant. A related resolution would allow the county finance commissioner to create and appropriate funding for a guardrail replacement capital project.
Another proposal would authorize acceptance of a state Local Government Efficiency Grant and a contract with the Southern Tier Central Regional Planning and Development Board to administer it.
The legislature also is scheduled to consider approving the county’s 2027 workers’ compensation budget and table of apportionment, setting a delinquent real property tax auction date and ratifying the county’s 2026 notice to bidders and terms of sale.
Charter hearing and other county actions
The meeting will include a public hearing on tentative Local Law No. 8 of 2026, which would amend the county charter. The same proposal appears on the agenda for possible adoption following the hearing.
Lawmakers also will receive tentative Local Law No. 9, which would repeal a 1998 local law and modify publication dates for a public hearing required before money is transferred from reserve accounts. Additional resolutions call for revisions to the county Administrative Code, an agreement between the Planning Department and Village of Bath, the designation of an official tourism promotion agency and the start of the review period for Agricultural District No. 3.
The agenda begins with time for public comments. Any urgent matter added at the meeting would require at least 15 affirmative votes, or unanimous approval if fewer than 15 legislators are present.
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