The Buck stopped here ~ Opinion

"Somewhere, local officials got it into their heads that a town post was a good path to take for personal enrichment. And I have to admit, the sudden proliferation of proposed wind farms has brought this out in spades."

The Buck stopped here

Watertown Daily Times
First published: October 31, 2009 at 10:11 am

 There was a time, not so long ago, when town officials both elected and appointed felt a necessity to comport themselves with dignity, to try to uphold their oaths of office, to set an example through word and deed for their constituents. It was sort of what we expected from the people we put in office, and the people that they appointed to unpaid, volunteer posts.

But somewhere along the line, all that stopped. Somewhere, local officials got it into their heads that a town post was a good path to take for personal enrichment. And I have to admit, the sudden proliferation of proposed wind farms has brought this out in spades.

In October, Oswegatchie Councilman Kenneth Wilson let people know he is unashamed of using his vote to cash in on the, er, windfall...

Link here to continue reading original article

Downstate wind farm is providing tax relief ~ letter

Downstate wind farm is providing tax relief
FRIDAY, OCTOBER 30, 2009

For people who think wind farms do not benefit their host communities:

The High Sheldon Wind project is located in the Finger Lakes region in Wyoming County. Sheldon Energy, a subsidiary of Invenergy, was the developer for that wind project. The project's Final Environmental Impact Statement is available online. From the 139-page document, these details emerge about the project's payment in lieu of taxes:

"Property taxes will be paid to the fire districts from day one of the project. At the conclusion of the payment in lieu of taxes (PILOT) agreement, taxes will also be paid to the town, county and school districts. Under the Host Community Agreement, payments will be made to the town, county and school districts. As Sheldon Energy has repeatedly stated, these revenues from Sheldon Energy could be used by the town to pay for its normal expenditures, reducing the amount of money that must be collected in property taxes to meet the annual town budget. The final determination on how to use these new revenues is in the hands of the elected officials, not Sheldon Energy."

Paterson to visit Cape Vincent farm Tuesday

Paterson to visit Cape Vincent farm Tuesday
TIMES STAFF REPORT
MONDAY, OCTOBER 26, 2009


Gov. David A. Paterson will visit the Woods Farm, 9065 County Routy 9, Cape Vincent, at 1 p.m. Tuesday to make an "economic recovery announcement."

Mr. Paterson is expected to announce that the New York Power Authority's north country stimulus program is finalized, and it's been expanded to include dairy farmers, according to a source familiar with the event.

Iberdrola discloses municipal officers it is paying

Watertown Daily Times | Iberdrola discloses municipal officers it is paying

JOHNSON NEWSPAPERS
FRIDAY, OCTOBER 23, 2009


HAMMOND — Iberdrola Renewables Inc., the wind company developing the Stone Church Wind Farm Project, has released a list of municipal officers and their relatives the company is paying to use their property.

The four people named in the public notice are Hammond Town Councilman James C. Pitcher; John Mitchell, whose wife, Ann, was Hammond town clerk from 1988 to 2005; Hammond Planning Board member Steven S. Demick; and town of Oswegatchie Councilman Kenneth A. Wilson.

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Galloo wind farm approvals pursued

Watertown Daily Times | Galloo wind farm approvals pursued

By NANCY MADSEN
TIMES STAFF WRITER
FRIDAY, OCTOBER 23, 2009


The drive for approvals on several fronts has begun for the proposed Galloo Island Wind Farm.

This week, developer Upstate NY Power Corp. submitted the site plan application for the wind farm to the town of Hounsfield Planning Board. Before the site plan can be approved, the state environmental quality review process must be completed by the state Department of Environmental Conservation.

Earlier this month, Upstate NY Power Corp. received approval from the Jefferson County Industrial Development Agency for a payment-in-lieu-of-taxes agreement separate from the uniform tax-exempt policy in development for wind projects across the county.

Consider wind issues when you vote Nov. 3 ~ Letter

Consider wind issues when you vote Nov. 3

MONDAY, OCTOBER 19, 2009

For the past 10-plus years, our county and school taxes have gone up year after year. For the past three to four years, there has been an increasing threat of industrial-type wind complexes moving into the town of Lyme and many other towns in Jefferson County.

All over this country, these so-called wind farms are built on farmland, which in many cases receives farm subsidies paid by the taxpayer. Then taxpayer money is used to subsidize wind turbines built on their land. As their land value goes up, the property values around these wind-overlay zones go down. There are many cases where people could not sell their property, and some have had to abandon their homes due to turbine noise and additional health factors. When local groups sue the towns for allowing this to happen, the taxpayer pays for their lawyer and the town's lawyer. The people in this state most know industrial wind farms are a lose-lose situation for the taxpaying public.

It is obvious that many towns in Jefferson County are lining up for wind turbine complexes around the eastern shores of Lake Ontario and the St. Lawrence River. The Jefferson County Industrial Development Agency ( JCIDA) is also encouraging these foreign wind companies to move faster and cut off the debate on the concerns for health and property value impacts that these turbines and power lines have on the local population. It is also obvious to me that little care for these concerns exists among many in our town, county and state political leadership.

We should all be asking for a minimum 30 percent reduction in our county and school taxes under the threat of wind turbines coming here. This is in line with other towns here in New York and towns in other parts of the country.

In a recent wind turbine impact study (September 2009) of Dodge and Fon DuLac counties, Wisconsin, property values went down 30 percent to 70 percent. Think about this when you go to the polls Nov. 3 to select people who represent you or some wind company from Spain where wind has proven an economic disaster for that country.

Diane Rutigliano

Three Mile Bay

Consider wind issues when you vote Nov. 3

MONDAY, OCTOBER 19, 2009

For the past 10-plus years, our county and school taxes have gone up year after year. For the past three to four years, there has been an increasing threat of industrial-type wind complexes moving into the town of Lyme and many other towns in Jefferson County.

All over this country, these so-called wind farms are built on farmland, which in many cases receives farm subsidies paid by the taxpayer. Then taxpayer money is used to subsidize wind turbines built on their land. As their land value goes up, the property values around these wind-overlay zones go down. There are many cases where people could not sell their property, and some have had to abandon their homes due to turbine noise and additional health factors. When local groups sue the towns for allowing this to happen, the taxpayer pays for their lawyer and the town's lawyer. The people in this state most know industrial wind farms are a lose-lose situation for the taxpaying public.

It is obvious that many towns in Jefferson County are lining up for wind turbine complexes around the eastern shores of Lake Ontario and the St. Lawrence River. The Jefferson County Industrial Development Agency ( JCIDA) is also encouraging these foreign wind companies to move faster and cut off the debate on the concerns for health and property value impacts that these turbines and power lines have on the local population. It is also obvious to me that little care for these concerns exists among many in our town, county and state political leadership.

We should all be asking for a minimum 30 percent reduction in our county and school taxes under the threat of wind turbines coming here. This is in line with other towns here in New York and towns in other parts of the country.

In a recent wind turbine impact study (September 2009) of Dodge and Fon DuLac counties, Wisconsin, property values went down 30 percent to 70 percent. Think about this when you go to the polls Nov. 3 to select people who represent you or some wind company from Spain where wind has proven an economic disaster for that country.

Diane Rutigliano

Three Mile Bay

link to original

Cape Dem decides to stay in race for council

Watertown Daily Times | Cape Dem decides to stay in race for council

By JAEGUN LEE
TIMES STAFF WRITER
FRIDAY, OCTOBER 16, 2009


CAPE VINCENT — Richard H. Macsherry, a Democratic candidate for a Town Council seat, is back in the race.

Mr. Macsherry, Tibbetts Point, said he notified the town supervisor, Thomas K. Rienbeck, that he was dropping out, but recently changed his mind.

"After having a number of very positive feedback from people and upon further reflection on my life, I decided to reinstate my candidacy," he said.

Mr. Macsherry, who is the Wind Power Ethics Group's representative on the town's wind zoning law committee, said his position on wind development in Cape Vincent is neutral.

"I'm not taking sides on the wind issue. But I'd like to be a part of what's happening in Cape Vincent," he said.

A Watertown native, Mr. Macsherry holds master's degrees in social work and public administration.

He said that he left the area for 30 years to work in administration at several hospitals in New York and Mississippi. Mr. Macsherry said he often came back to the region to visit his parents and moved to Cape Vincent with his wife, Deborah M., 21/2 years ago.

His parents, Richard R. and Mary H., are the founders of the Macsherry Library in Alexandria Bay.

"My family has always been civic-minded. But I'm the first one to consider running for public office," Mr. Macsherry said.

Because of a reporter's error, a story in Wednesday's Times incorrectly identified Mr. Macsherry as a Republican candidate for Town Council.

Cape GOP not backing candidates ~ Oct 2009

BACK TO ARCHIVE SEARCH

15 October 2009

Page: A1

Edition: Both

Section: Jefferson

Copyright, 2009, Johnson Newspaper Corporation

Cape GOP not backing candidates

HIRSCHEY ABANDONED: Committee members, as individuals, believe Democrat Rienbeck is better choice

By Jaegun LEE
TIMES STAFF WRITER

CAPE VINCENT — The town's Republican committee has dropped its support for Republican candidates for town office because several members say they feel the Democratic contenders are more qualified.

Urban C. Hirschey, the Republican candidate for town supervisor, said the committee turned its back on him to support his Democratic opponent and current supervisor, Thomas K. Rienbeck, whom the committee members are more familiar with.

"They basically said they are not going to support us. We're basically on our own," Mr. Hirschey said. "In a small town like this, there are strong bonds that are formed."

Mr. Hirschey is a leader of Wind Power Ethics Group, which has opposed the two proposed wind farms in the town. Mr. Rienbeck has supported them.

Raymond R. Benjamin, a Republican candidate for a Town Council seat, said he is dropping out of the race partly because of the issues with town's Republican committee. However, Mr. Benjamin said, he also determined that John L. Byrne III, who will appear on the Cape Vincent Citizens Party line, would be able to put more time and effort towards the town's businesses.

"I don't have the time and John does," Mr. Benjamin said

The Times was unable Wednesday to reach Richard H. Macsherry, Tibbetts Point, the Republican candidate for the other council seat. Mr. Macsherry replaced Mr. Hirschey as the Wind Power Ethics Group's representative on the town's wind zoning law committee.

Marty T. Mason and Robert H. Chapman, co-chairmen of the town Republican Committee, both said the committee is neither supporting the Republican candidates for town office nor openly supporting Mr. Rienbeck

"We're not openly supporting Mr. Rienbeck. But individually, our allegiance has always been with Mr. Rienbeck," Mr. Chapman said. "I really feel that he has done a fantastic job and, personally, I think he's the right person for the job."

Mr. Chapman said he also believed that the Democratic candidates for town council had "better ideals."

Mr. Mason, who is also a town councilman, said the committee members agreed to "sit back and see how things unfold."

Donald G.M. Coon III, chairman of the Jefferson County Republican Committee, said the party's bylaws prohibit local committees from supporting Democratic candidates.

"A Republican committee has the option not to support a candidate, and do nothing, but they don't have the right to work against that candidate as a whole," Mr. Coon said.

He said the county committee has the authority to remove local committee members if they act contrary to its bylaws.

"It's just too bad these issues are tearing apart these small communities," Mr. Coon said.

Link here to article

Cape Vincent ~ Man asks judge to reverse ZBA ruling

 Man asks judge to reverse ZBA ruling

By BRIAN KELLY
TIMES STAFF WRITER
THURSDAY, OCTOBER 15, 2009

state Supreme Court judge likely will decide whether a town of Cape Vincent man can keep a personal wind turbine on his property.

Roger D. Alexander, of 35157 County Route 7, filed an Article 78 action Tuesday at the Jefferson County Clerk's office against the town's Zoning Board of Appeals, asking that a judge reverse and annul a Sept. 14 decision by the board revoking a permit for the construction of a 92-foot turbine.

 Link to original
Man asks judge to reverse ZBA ruling

Wind farm substation is damaged by blaze

By STEVE VIRKLER

TIMES STAFF WRITER

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 14, 2009

The Columbus Day fire was the second transformer fire at the site, with a similar incident occurring July 4, 2007. In that case, 491 gallons of mineral oil leaked from the damaged transformer and temporarily contaminated a nearby residential well. About 15 other wells also were tested, but none was affected.

Some oil also leaked into the soil Monday, although the amount hasn't been determined yet, said state Department of Environmental Conservation Region 6 spokesman Stephen W. Litwhiler. The transformer had a capacity of 550 gallons, but some of the oil burned, remained inside the unit or was recovered before it seeped into the soil.

The wind farm retained a firm Monday night to immediately begin excavation of contaminated soil, and DEC will continue to investigate and monitor the situation, Mr. Litwhiler said.

DEC officials on Tuesday were attempting to contact the homeowner whose well had been contaminated in 2007 to notify him of the incident, he said.

Attempts to reach wind farm officials for comment Tuesday afternoon were unsuccessful.

WEST MARTINSBURG — A transformer at the Maple Ridge Wind Farm's substation off Rector Road was destroyed by fire late Monday afternoon.

Martinsburg firefighters were dispatched to the substation about 5 p.m. but had to wait until the facility was shut down before extinguishing the blaze, said Lewis County Fire Coordinator James M. Martin.

The fire was contained to the damaged part, located outside the control building, Mr. Martin said.

"It didn't get inside, and it didn't get into the other transformers," he said.

link here to WDT article

Cape challengers not qualified to lead town~ Letter

Watertown Daily Times Cape challengers not qualified to lead town

Cape challengers not qualified to lead town
SUNDAY, OCTOBER 11, 2009


The voters of Cape Vincent need to stop, take a deep breath and look at the bigger picture.

There are three candidates in the town election who are trying to make the upcoming election a one-issue election because they are not qualified to take on multiple town government issues.

Also up for re-election are two incumbents, lifelong residents Tom Rienbeck and Mickey Orvis, who have proven they are capable of taking on multiple issues in town government. Tom, along with Mickey and the other current town board members, have given us the lowest tax rate in almost 30 years, plus the town's fund balance has increased by 300 percent.

Because of the current town board, Cape residents now have affordable potable water. Cape residents requested affordable potable water, and the town board answered this request with construction of three water districts.

People have criticized our town board for not having a referendum on wind. Don't these people know that people cannot vote to determine whether landowners have a right to lease their land? As a private landowner in America, you have the right to lease your land to whomever you want, and you don't need to wait for people to cast their vote on that choice.

People need to look at the bigger picture. The three one-issue candidates belong to the group that dragged Cape residents into a costly lawsuit, a lawsuit that the group lost. This group is always pushing misinformation and criticizing people who don't swallow their misinformation.

The National Association of Realtors did research that proved wind turbines will not affect real estate values (www.realtor.org). Tell this to the one-issue candidates, and they'll tell you personal stories that distort the facts. These stories can't trump a national organization's expert analysis. This group always confuses opinion with facts.

Tell the candidates from this group that residents are already used to Wolfe Island's turbines, where most residents' houses are facing, and they'll be confused. Tell them people think the turbines are majestic, and they'll call you a "rotten human being," like one member of this group called a Cape town official.

Cory White

Cape Vincent

Turbine owner given reprieve

Turbine owner given reprieve

CAPE CONTROVERSY: Alexander to be given chance to appeal ruling to town's ZBA
By JAEGUN LEE
TIMES STAFF WRITER
FRIDAY, OCTOBER 9, 2009

CAPE VINCENT — Roger D. Alexander can keep his 92-foot wind turbine, for now.

Alan N. Wood, the town's zoning enforcement officer, said Mr. Alexander will be given another chance to appeal his case to the town's Zoning Board of Appeals.

Mr. Wood said that he notified Mr. Alexander of his violation by mail last month and that a written response from Mr. Alexander's attorney, David B. Guertsen, arrived last week.

Link to original
Turbine owner given reprieve

Orleans council cancels wind session

Watertown Daily Times | Orleans council cancels wind session

LAFARGEVILLE — The Orleans Town Council canceled a wind power comment meeting that had been set for Oct. 21.

By NANCY MADSEN

TIMES STAFF WRITER

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 9, 2009

The council had agreed to host the meeting after Horse Creek Wind Farm proponents balked at the recommendations from the town's Wind Committee for more restrictive zoning for commercial wind farms in the town.

The council and committee discussed the recommendations at a meeting Sept. 17.

During that time, the wind project proponents, led by Jay M. Burrows, submitted a petition to leave the zoning law as it is and asked for an opportunity to speak their mind. That forum, set for Oct. 21, was canceled in a divided vote at the council's regular meeting Thursday night.

"This isn't a new topic that they got blindsided with," Councilman Dean T. Morrow said. "They could've for two years come to any board meeting at any time and opened a dialog with us. It's a mistake to hold this session to have them come to us to have a bitch session about the town."

Mr. Morrow, Councilmen Thomas A. Johnston and Peter R. Davis voted to cancel the meeting. Supervisor Donna J. Chatterton and Councilman Kevin C. Rarick voted against the measure.

Ms. Chatterton wanted to stick with the plan they had agreed on Sept. 17.

"The board should've stepped in that night and said, 'No,'" she said.

She said there were restrictions, such as signing in and comments of only three minutes, to help keep civility.

But Mr. Morrow didn't think they would be enough.

"I think it will turn into a circus," Mr. Morrow said.

Members of the town's Wind Committee also distrusted the additional meeting.

"I have a real question on you turning this around," member Darryl Hyde said. "We held all these meetings and they were all open to the public. We went through numbers of references and documents and where in the hell were all these people then?"

Judy E. Tubolino, vice-chairwoman of the wind committee and a member of the Environmentally Concerned Citizens Organization, said it seemed to be a double-standard.

"When ECCO started, we did all the educational meetings," she said. "For the town to be hosting something that is for the pro-wind group, that's not being fair."

The council members agreed the wind project proponents should hold their own informational forum, if they so choose.

"The people who were anti-wind had informational sessions for the public," Mr. Morrow said. "The pro-wind people should follow the same format."

Before the meeting, the Wind Committee also turned in its second part of recommendations on health and safety issues.

"Do we have a consensus of the board to move forward?" Mr. Morrow asked.

Ms. Chatterton said, "I think we need to read through the report before we do anything else."

Aubertine will participate in discussion on energy

MONDAY, OCTOBER 5, 2009

The state's top Democratic legislative leaders in energy will host a discussion Tuesday in Oswego to get feedback about the state's energy incentive programs, such as Power for Jobs.
The group includes state Sens. Darrel J. Aubertine, Cape Vincent, chairman of the Energy and Telecommunications Committee; and William T. Stachowski, Buffalo, chairman of the Commerce, Economic Development and Small Business Committee; and Assemblymen Kevin A. Cahill, Kingston, chairman of the Energy Committee; Robin Schimminger, Tonawanda, chairman of the Economic Development, Job Creation, Commerce and Industry Committee; and Richard L. Brodsky, Westchester, chairman of the Corporations, Authorities and Commissions Committee.
The event will be at 10 a.m. in Room 118 of Rich Hall on the campus of SUNY Oswego.

IDA speeds up Galloo wind farm deal

DEADLINE: Agency limits PILOT request to Hounsfield portion for now so developer can get U.S. aid
By NANCY MADSEN
TIMES STAFF WRITER

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 2, 2009

To meet a developer's request for speed, the Jefferson County Industrial Development Agency will begin laying out a property tax relief program for the proposed Galloo Island Wind Farm.

While the payment-in-lieu-of-taxes agreement will follow the formula developed for a uniform tax-exempt policy, JCIDA will not seek approval of the uniform policy now. That would require all affected taxing jurisdictions from the four proposed wind projects to sign on, which officials believe would take too long.

The time pressure comes from the Galloo Island developer, Upstate NY Power Corp., which wants to tap into a Treasury Department program. Wind power developers stand to get a check for 30 percent of the development costs upfront from the Treasury Department if some of the turbines are constructed by the end of 2010.

"We've got a good private investment opportunity here because of the 30 percent buy-in of the federal government," said JCIDA board member W. Edward Waldroff at the board meeting Thursday morning.


Upstate NY Power representative Robert W. Burgdorf said the federal rebates take the place of the Production Tax Credit program. That program hasn't been viable because large corporations haven't needed tax credits in the current economy, as many aren't making large amounts of money.

Upstate NY Power expects to have the environmental review process done in the next few months, with zoning approval following from the town of Hounsfield, said Mr. Burgdorf, attorney with Nixon Peabody, Rochester.

"We've had a lot of great support locally and at the state," he said. "There's real urgency to some of this."

The county Board of Legislators charged JCIDA with creating a uniform policy over a year ago.

"This is not really part of the uniform tax policy," JCIDA CEO Donald C. Alexander said. "It might be considered a model for how the policy would work."

The requested payment-in-lieu-of-taxes agreement would apply only to the portion of the project in the town of Hounsfield. That limits the number of taxing jurisdictions which need to approve the PILOT to three. At least eight jurisdictions would need to sign off on the uniform policy.

Under the resolution passed Thursday, JCIDA will begin presenting the PILOT plan to Jefferson County, the town of Hounsfield and Sackets Harbor Central School District. Those jurisdictions must also agree on a division of the PILOT payments.

JCIDA will seek agreements on both those items by its December meeting, which Mr. Alexander called a "very compressed time frame."

Upstate NY Power will seek mortgage and sales tax abatements through JCIDA, too, for the rest of the transmission facilities in Jefferson County. The portion of the underwater cable in the town of Henderson and the 230-kilovolt transmission line in Henderson and Ellisburg would be included.

Mr. Burgdorf told JCIDA board members the developer will keep ownership of the line, selling capacity to other power producers. The line will have four times the capacity needed for the Galloo Island project.

"This will help resolve some of the problems we have up here with the grid," Mr. Burgdorf said. "This will open up other possibilities for other electric project needs."

In other JCIDA business, the board approved:

■ A loan modification for the Watertown Family YMCA to reduce fees and allow the YMCA to keep the property after four years even if fundraising for the proposed child-care center is not complete.

■ A $5,000 working capital loan for Jessica L. Rabetoy, owner of Jessie's Pet Spa, Route 283, for five years at 4 percent.

Ms. Rabetoy told the loan review committee she opened her business Sept. 1 and has been very busy since.

"Even though there are quite a few grooming shops in the area, pet owners are usually waiting two to three weeks," she said.

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