MADISON CO - to vote on plastic bag ban this fall

In Madison County, lawmakers will be voting this fall on whether or not to ban plastic bags commonly used for groceries and retail. Following a third public hearing in three months where people on both sides of the aisle spoke, it would seem that more people are for the ban than against it.

Elise Allen is a local business owner in the city of Oneida. She was one of the few at the most recent meeting who believe plastic bags should stay in stores. "Small business, we have a small budget,” Allen said. “I'd rather be looking at, how can I spend that money on advertising and bringing people here, rather than on a bag."

See full article at:
http://www.wktv.com/story/35977235/madison-county-to-vote-on-plastic-bag-ban-this-fall

ROBBERY: Bridgewater VALERO

BRIDGEWATER – The Oneida County Sheriff’s Office is investigating an overnight gas station robbery in the town of Bridgewater. Sheriff Rob Maciol says the robbery at Valero gas station, located at 336 Rt. 8 in Bridgewater, occurred at around 1:30 a.m. Wednesday. Anybody who might have information regarding the robbery is asked to call the Sheriff’s Office at 315-765-2236.
Maciol says more details will be released.

Very Sad News...Doug & Theresa Woolsey.

Very sad news.  Theresa is Tom & Weasel Pedersen's daughter.  Doug is Assistant Town Clerk Sharon Woolsey's son.  Keep them in your prayers.  The accident occurred Sunday afternoon, July 16. This article appeared in today's Syracuse Post Standard.

2 Madison County residents die after motorcycle crashes into van, which hits Jeep

HERKIMER, N.Y. -- Two Madison County residents died Sunday after their motorcycle crashed into the back of a van, which then struck a Jeep in Herkimer County, state police said.

Theresa A. Woolsey, 46, and Douglas A. Woolsey, 50, both of Brookfield, were ejected from the 2003 Honda motorcycle in the three-vehicle crash on U.S. Route 20 in the town of Warren, troopers said in a news release.

Douglas Woolsey was taken to Bassett Medical Center in Cooperstown, where he was pronounced dead, police said. Theresa Woolsey was pronounced dead at the scene, police said.

Douglas Woolsey was operating the motorcycle, which was towing a trailer, at 12:15 p.m. Sunday when he failed to see a 1996 Dodge van was stopped on U.S. Route 20, police said. The van was trying to make a left turn into the driveway of the Glimmerglass Festival rehearsal building at 4152 U.S. Route 20, police said.

The motorcycle hit the back of the van and came to rest on its left side in the westbound lane, the release said.  "The force of the crash forced the van into the eastbound lane," troopers said in the release.

The van, driven by Jonathan A. Neitzey, 23, of Bowie, Md., then struck a 2004 Jeep, driven by Bruce H. Vanbrink, 56, of Cooperstown. Vanbrink's Jeep then exited the shoulder of the road and overturned onto its roof, state police said.  


Neitzey and Vanbrink were taken to Bassett Medical Center in Cooperstown with non-life threatening injuries.

State police say they are continuing to investigate the crash.

http://www.syracuse.com/news/index.ssf/2017/07/2_madison_county_residents_killed_after_motorcycle_crashes_into_van_which_hits_j.html

MAGEE...Gets things done!

Assemblyman Magee’s legislation helping small businesses passes Assembly
June 23, 2017

Assemblyman Bill Magee (D-Nelson) announced that legislation he authored to eliminate unnecessary licensing and fees for milk and farm product small businesses passed the Assembly A.8492.

“Subjecting small-scale milk and farm product dealers to a drawn-out licensing process wastes time and money for both the businesses and the state,” said Magee. “By getting rid of this requirement, we can take a major burden off of small businesses while making the process easier for everyone else. It’s a win-win.”

Magee’s legislation raises the minimum sales threshold for licensing and financial security requirements from $10,000 to $20,000 for milk and farm product dealers. Current law requires farm product dealers with a sales threshold of $10,000 to take part in an extensive and detailed licensing process. This creates more administrative hurdles and overhead costs for both participating dealers and state Department of Agriculture, noted Magee. The sales threshold was last raised in 1997, from $3,000 to $10,000. Since 2010, there has not been a single claim filed against a dealer within the $10,000 to $20,000 threshold. In the unlikely event of a claim, the bill allows the state Department of Agriculture to seek restitution from defaulting dealers.

Additionally, the measure removes licensing fees of $2 and $5 from both milk testing and milk receiver’s licenses. The cost of collecting and processing these fees exceeds the fees themselves, making them little more than a nuisance for small businesses.

TOWN BOARD MEETING - "We are Not Alone...!"

TOWN BOARD – Regular Meeting (July 10, 2017 /Town Hall)

Sometimes it’s just worth going to the Board meetings to watch Salka during the “Public Comment” session.  Just loses it and turns hostile usually when anyone questions his lack of action on a subject that has dragged on for years without resolution.  Like so many other subjects such as “the well”, this time the DELTA ROAD AGREEMENT set him off. 

As you may recall, back in the “No Frickin’Frackin’” days, the Board contracted with DELTA  ($7,900) to provide the Town  with a road survey and,  more important, a ROAD USE AGREEMENT to protect the Town from road damage expenses caused by heavy industrial vehicles (such as windmill-parts trucks, logging trucks, etc.).    Monday night, under questioning during public comment, Salka admitted it was “decided” to stop paying Delta; their services were no longer needed; the town had stopped paying their bill. …..So, how much did we already spend and get nothing for it?   

WE ARE NOT ALONE…. Having problems with the INTERNATIONAL TRUCKS.   Hwy Super Paul Owens reported that the problems have been attributed to the manufacturers' engine modifications to meet Federal regulations.  The Board noted that other Towns in the program have also experienced mechanical problems with their INTERNATIONAL trucks.  Fortunately, Brookfield now has five trucks back on the road for the first time since March, according to Owens.  Dewitt Head noted the same experience with the newer generation of school buses. 

HIGHWAY & OTHER matters: A two page ROAD MAINTENANCE SCHEDULE was handed out; tractor brakes are being fixed.  Waiting for the County to take down the tree on Gorton Lake Rd.; Weed Harvester is on Gorton Lake for the next few days.

PARKS:  Dewitt Head reported vandalism on the basketball court necessitating a $9,000 fence around the court. Otherwise, a busy summer with PARTY IN THE PARK (North Brookfield) scheduled for July 29. 

FAIR – AG GRANT: Jeff Mayne announced the Madison Co. Fair has received a grant which must be spent on an agricultural expense only, ex:  upgrade/rewiring the barns!?? No indication of amount. They are deciding where to spend it.

HISTORICAL:  Perk Stalter update on the Society’s activities and presentation by Mary Murray, widow of noted local artist Ralph Murray. 

DAVE MAINE – was wished well.  He was scheduled for a heart operation the following day, Tuesday. Hope all went well, Dave!

WELL Mystery – UPDATE: The Board acknowledged that a survey does exist. The ISSUE: is the Town Hall’s water supply on FLICK’s property? According to Mayne, the well head was cut off and buried.  They need the surveyor to come back and locate the well on the survey map. Eyeballing the location, it appears to be right on the property line.  Jeff Mayne said he has called the surveyor numerous times with no response.  You would think there would be an easement on the deed.. or this “issue” has been addressed in the past.

ATTENDANCE: Very small turnout – 3 residents.  Full Board: Salka, Mayne, Head, Walker & Abrams; Sherri Peretta - Clerk and Paul Owens - Highway

16 foot anaconda spotted in Stony Pond Campsite in Upstate NY in the county of Madison

June 28th 2017 campers sited a 16ft anaconda in the camping area of Stony Pond in Upstate NY in Madison County. Authorities banned all swimming and boating activities in the pond until further notice.

http://channel23news.com/2017/06/16-foot-anaconda-spotted-in-stony-pond-campsite-in-upstate-ny-in-the-county-of-madison/