Yates County lawmakers spent two days working through a wide range of issues this month, including potentially costly federal changes to SNAP and Medicaid, growing demand for housing assistance, the next phase of the county’s broadband buildout, rising 2027 budget pressures and continued planning for a new public safety facility.
Five legislative committees met Aug. 3 and 4, with department heads also reporting on road and bridge projects, public health concerns, emergency services, elections, cybersecurity and county finances. Several items will move on to the full Legislature, while others offered an early look at issues likely to shape county spending and policy decisions over the coming months.
Federal changes raise concerns over SNAP, Medicaid and housing
Some of the most consequential discussion came during the Human Services Committee meeting, where Social Services Director Amy Miller outlined changes stemming from the federal H.R. 1 legislation.
The committee advanced a resolution calling for a two-year delay in federal SNAP administrative and benefit cost shifts and asking New York state to protect counties financially if the federal government does not act. Miller said Yates County’s share could amount to roughly $55,000 per month if it becomes responsible for a 15% portion of the cost.
Medicaid changes could also make enrollment more complicated.
Under the previous process, residents applying for public assistance could also apply for Medicaid through the Department of Social Services. Miller said applicants needing health insurance will instead have to apply separately through an assister, rather than completing the process directly through the county office.
She warned that the additional step could result in some eligible residents going without coverage because the process will be harder to navigate. County officials also raised concerns about lengthy waits to reach assisters and whether people connected with representatives elsewhere in the state will receive guidance tailored to local doctors and providers.
Another change will shorten Medicaid retroactive coverage from 90 days to 30 days. Miller said that could create problems for health care providers because the longer retroactive window has helped cover bills incurred before an application was completed.
Housing demand remains another pressure point.
As of July 28, the county was handling 14 homeless housing cases, all involving single adults. Six were staying locally through the Keuka Housing Council, while the remaining individuals were placed outside the area.
Meanwhile, the county’s $100,000 allocation through the Rental Supplement Program was fully committed in less than two months. The program has helped 16 households — nine single adults or couples and seven families — by subsidizing rent above 30% of household income.
The county is also monitoring 21 individuals or families who have applied for housing at six different complexes, in some cases waiting as long as a year for an opening.
Public Health officials also reported a positive measles wastewater detection in Yates County, although no human cases had been confirmed as of July 29. The department is monitoring a growing outbreak in Pennsylvania and local preparedness efforts.
The county investigated two Campylobacter cases and one E. coli foodborne illness case, distributed 560 tick prevention kits and completed its Community Health Improvement Plan. Over the next five years, officials said the county will focus on housing stability and affordability, anxiety and stress, and preventive services for chronic disease.
Community Services Director Lisa Principio also discussed possible expansion of problem-solving courts. She said a hybrid approach that broadens the existing drug treatment court to include people with co-occurring mental health conditions would likely make the most sense for Yates County before creating a standalone mental health court.
Broadband expansion moves toward Phase 3 as budget pressures build
The county’s ReConnect broadband project is moving into its next major construction stage.
Officials told the Finance Committee that Phase 2, covering Italy and northeastern Penn Yan, is fully live and customer connections are underway. Phase 3, covering southeastern Penn Yan and Dundee, has an official start date of Aug. 25.
A preconstruction meeting was held July 22, the federal Rural Utilities Service approved the Phase 3 contract, and Eustis Cable was preparing to set up operations in the lower Guyanoga lot. The county reported 71 connected customers or active revenue lines at the time of the meeting.
The entire ReConnect project is valued at about $17.16 million, including a $3.63 million county match. Roughly $9.2 million in federal advances had been approved to date, according to financial records presented to the committee. Lawmakers supported sending a resolution to the full Legislature seeking an extension of the project timeline.
County Administrator Jessica Mullins also offered an early warning about the 2027 budget.
Department heads have submitted their spending requests, and county officials have begun building workers’ compensation, election costs and other expenses into the budget framework. Mullins said preliminary indications suggest health insurance costs could rise 10% to 15%, while retirement expenses are also expected to increase.
She said officials will review expenses line by line in an effort to find reductions and keep spending as flat as possible.
The county’s ongoing state comptroller audit is also taking longer than initially expected. Auditors originally anticipated spending three to four weeks in Yates County, but were in their sixth week by the Aug. 4 meeting and were expected to remain through August.
The Finance Committee separately agreed to make a school district whole after discovering it had been shorted $1,062.19 in payments associated with taxes on state-owned lands. Treasurer Patricia Christensen said county records were incomplete, but a review determined the state should have paid the omitted amount. The committee, with Doug Paddock dissenting, agreed the county should pay the district and then seek reimbursement from the state.
Roads, public safety facility and emergency services remain active
Public Works officials reported progress on several highway and building projects.
Work at the Public Health facility is underway, with walls and drywall installed and electrical work progressing. The county also hopes to bid work on Air Handler 12 this month, with a possible contract award in September or October.
A Public Defender office project is moving forward as staff are relocated in preparation for construction.
Buildings and Grounds is also looking for alternatives to a nearly $40,000 quote for new directional signs in county buildings. The signs need to meet accessibility requirements, including braille, but the quoted price significantly exceeded the project’s capital allocation.
On county roads, the Havens Corners project is complete, while the Pre-emption Road Bridge project has finished construction and is moving through final paperwork and payment.
The Ferguson Corners Road Bridge remains under review with state officials and engineers. The county has confirmed that 2029 block grant funding can be used for the project, but officials are still considering design questions involving temporary bridge configuration and whether expanded work limits could trigger an archaeological study.
DOT is also discussing replacement versus rehabilitation for structures at Milo Street and Ridge Road.
The Bellona drainage and culvert replacement project is nearly complete, although a liner specification created a delay when designers called for a thickness manufacturers could not produce. A contractor is working with an engineer on an alternative design expected to meet strength and performance standards.
The proposed public safety facility remains in the design process. Officials said a no-cost change order for construction management services had been reviewed and approved locally and sent to Pike for signature. As of July 22, the parties were described as being “on the same page,” with no additional schematic design meetings held since then.
During the Public Safety Committee meeting, emergency services officials said they are also in the final stages of laying out a training facility.
They reported that a recent house fire at Crystal Beach was caused by a lithium battery. Yates County EMS, meanwhile, continues to reevaluate its plans and data. The county reported 47 EMS calls in June within the categories presented to the committee: 27 in Dundee, 17 in Keuka Park and three involving Medic 62 or the Public Safety Building.
The Sheriff’s Office reported only three corrections vacancies. The committee also supported moving forward with a licensing agreement between the sheriff, Legislature and FLX Local Media.
Probation officials said participants completed 189.5 hours of community service during the second quarter, while restitution collections increased substantially as several older, larger restitution orders were paid in full.
Elections, cybersecurity and environmental projects move ahead
Government Operations offered updates on several administrative and environmental initiatives.
Democratic Election Commissioner Robert Brechko announced he will retire after 19 years in the position. The committee later advanced the appointment of John Christensen as Democratic election commissioner.
The Elections Office is also preparing for implementation of the Dr. John L. Flateau Voting and Elections Database Act, or VEDA. Officials said the system will standardize how elections are reported statewide, including school, library and village elections, and could make it easier to compare voter registration information across states.
Soil and Water officials reported that grant applications have been submitted for the Seneca Mills site and the Town of Benton salt storage project.
County Highway workers also encountered milk house waste draining into roadside ditches twice this year. In both cases, officials worked with farm owners to redirect the waste back into manure storage systems.
Materials are arriving for a large gully stabilization project on Finger Lakes Land Trust property, and officials plan to walk landowners through the work and explain the stream science behind the project before construction moves forward.
Information technology staff reported handling 344 help desk tickets in July, about 100 fewer than the previous month.
The county has completed its migration to Microsoft Office 365, while work continues on standard operating procedures, project management and a website redesign. A cybersecurity incident response plan had not yet been started as of the meeting.
The committee supported advancing a contract with ePlus Group for Varonis data lifecycle automation software.
One resident also renewed questions about transparency surrounding an older study of the county jail. During Public Works public comment, Jack Ossent said he had been unable to obtain an unredacted copy of the Bergmann Associates report prepared around 2018 or 2019 examining potential repairs and improvements to the existing jail.
Ossent questioned why most of the report was apparently redacted in response to a Freedom of Information Law request and asked how many legislators had read it.
The committee meetings also included a lighter piece of county history. Torrey resident Grant Downs discussed the town’s 175th anniversary time capsule, which will include historical objects as well as items documenting life in 2026. A public reception and display is scheduled for Aug. 25 before the capsule is buried in September and eventually reopened 25 years from now.
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