Other Legislators and County Staff Present: Angie Wyatt, Secretary to County Administrator; Sandy Price, County Legislator; Dan Dineen, Director-Planning Department; Mark Suben, County Attorney
Others Present: Syd McEvoy, Director-Cornell Cooperative Extension of Cortland County; Heather Birdsall, Livestock Specialist-Cornell Cooperative Extension of Cortland County; Eric Mulvihill, News Director-WXHC Radio; Aimee Milks, Reporter-Cortland Standard
The meeting was called to order at 9:05a.m. by Chairman, Danny Ross
MOTION BY MS. TYTLER – 2ND BY MR. MCKEE TO APPROVE THE MINUTES OF THE JANUARY 17, 2008 MEETING – ALL PRESENT VOTING IN FAVOR – MINUTES APPROVED
RESOLUTIONS:
NONE
DISCUSSION/REPORT
Universal Broadband Access Grant Program – Mr. Dineen advised the Committee that the grant application was due on January 31, 2008 but the grant required a 1 to 1 match. He is working with service providers and Southern Tier East has made Broadband Access a priority. Mr. Dineen indicated that someone from the Southern Tier East would be available to come to a Committee meeting to discuss this. Ms. Price commented that she received a call from Harford resident, Olivia Hersey that Ms. Hersey was glad that the County was doing something about broadband access. Ms. Price further commented that there is a great interest throughout the County. It was decided that a Sub-Committee be formed to explore this issue further. The Committee will consist of Ag/Planning/Environ Committee, Danny Ross, Carol Tytler, and Kathie Arnold; Legislator, Sandy Price, Dan Dineen, Director of the Planning Department. It was also agreed that the following people be asked to serve on the Sub-Committee: Karl Kline, from Onondaga Community College; Olivia Hersey, from TC3 and Terry Fitzgerald from SUNY-Cortland. Ms. Tytler suggested that Information Technology Director, Rob Corpora also be invited to serve on the Sub-Committee. Everyone present agreed that Mr. Corpora should serve on the Sub-Committee. Mr. McKee asked what the difference was between DSL and Broadband. As no one present knew the answer, it was suggested that Mr. Corpora could answer the question. Mr. Mulvihill commented that Frontier enacted a program in the Norwich area. Mr. McEvoy indicated that he uses Frontier in the Marathon area where he lives.
Wind Power – Mr. Dineen indicated that he is working with a company in Canada that wants to put wind mills at the northeast corner of the County and at County Landfill. Mr. Dineen said that the license and option agreement is tailored for private landowners and that the agreement was for 30 years and would prefer that the term be for 2 or 3 years so he sent them back to have them re-done. The first step would be to have a Meteorological Tower. Other Comments/Questions:
· Mr. Dineen: Would like to see the results from the Meteorological Tower
· Mr. Dineen: The language of the agreement may be a conflict and may give the appearance that we are losing our objectivity.
· Mr. Dineen: There is a consulting firm in Rochester that would review the agreement at no cost.
· Mr. McEvoy: Cornell Cooperative Extension has been contacted for possibly putting a wind tower at Camp Owahta. Not only would it be good for a source of electricity, but it would also serve as a learning tool for the summer camp program.
· Mr. Ross: Would like to see the towns and schools to benefit from this also.
· Mr. McKee: Is there anything negative about this? Mr. Dineen: Visual and bird flight patterns.
· Mr. Dineen: There would be 30 towers with 4 of those towers at the Landfill. There would need to be 50 acres of separation of the wind towers. It would involve the 3 towns of Truxton, Solon and Cuyler. The condition of the roads leading to the wind tower sites would be a factor in determining the feasibility of where the wind towers would be placed.
· Mr. Dafoe: The power could be sold to National Grid and New York State Electric and Gas. Mr. Dineen: The Landfill gases could also be used.
· Mr.Waldbauer: Would this involve private property or just public? Mr. Dineen: It would involve private property too. Ms. Arnold: There would be a lot of interest from private property owners.
· Mr. McKee: How many watts do the wind towers produce? Mr. Dineen: 1 tower = 10,000 homes. Mr. McKee: Is there extra demand for green power? Mr. Dineen: Yes……by the year 2013 we will be required to have 25% of green power.
Cooperative Extension Regional Ag Team- Heather Birdsall – Cornell
Cooperative Extension Director, Mr. McEvoy introduced Ms. Birdsall.
Ms. Birdsall is the Livestock Specialist for Cooperative Extension of
Cortland County and is part of an Agriculture Team that also assists farmers
in Tompkins, Tioga and Schuyler counties.
Ms. Birdsall specializes in non-dairy livestock such as beef cattle,
hogs, sheep, lambs and goats. She
helps farmers through phone calls, email and personal consultation by visiting
the farms. She also takes soil
and hay samples to be tested. The
“Livestock Ledger” is a monthly newsletter that is sent out to farmers
that produce non-dairy livestock. Workshops
are held from time to time also. Ms.
Birdsall is qualified to perform ultrasound testing on beef cattle carcasses.
There are kids that participate in the raising and marketing of
non-dairy livestock.
They have a market program at the Cortland County Fair.
On Friday night of the Fair, they auction off the market animals.
They sponsor other Ag educational programs such as Ag in the Classroom
in conjunction with the Farm Bureau and hold an Ag Stravaganza at the
Fairgrounds for all Cortland County 4th graders.
Ms. Tytler asked if Cortland County has organic meats.
Ms. Birdsall answered that they have organic meats in Cortland County
but the standards are tougher for organic meats.
Veterinarians are not aware of the appropriate treatment for organic
animals. Ms. Tytler commented
that it would be a great opportunity for the County to become organic.
Soil & Water Update- Amanda Barber – Ms. Barber was unable to attend the meeting to provide an update.
Sub Committee Report (Flooding) - Carol Tytler – Ms. Tytler advised the Committee that a study had been done in conjunction with the City of Cortland regarding the feasibility of constructing detention ponds in Cortlandville. C & S Engineers conducted the study, which was finished in December, and since the City of Cortland acted as the lead agency, the final report was sent to the City. Ms. Tytler has requested the report but has not seen it yet. Once she receives the report, she will call a meeting of the Planning Sub-Committee (Flooding) and ask staff from C & S Engineers to attend to provide a presentation regarding the final report.
Farmland Protection
– Mr. Suben and Mr. Dineen attended a conference in Geneva,
New York regarding farmland protection of which appropriate protocol was
explained.
Bus Services – Ms. Arnold asked if they are going to have bus service to Cuyler. Mr. Dineen indicated that they are presently conducting a needs assessment for rural transportation. The needs assessment was made possible through a $50,000 grant. They are also conducting a regional transport effort with Tompkins County. Ms. Tytler asked that if Office of the Aging was to move to the South Main Street property, would bus routes be able to accommodate for that. Mr. Dineen answered that it could be handled.
The meeting was adjourned at 8:55a.m.
Minutes taken and prepared by Angie Wyatt, Secretary to Scott Schrader.