Supervisors talk about snowmobilers, Amtrak station
By John Zornow

Snowmobilers who have no respect for private property were labeled 'rogues' by a couple of Wayne County Supervisors at Tuesday's meeting, when Supervisors were asked to vote on disbursement of Snowmobile Trails Funding to area snowmobile clubs.

'A few bad ones give the rest a bad rap,' said Wayne County Sheriff Dick Pisciotti, who stressed that the county has only two snowmobiles to patrol the entire county.

Supervisor Robert Plant of Walworth, citing complaints about snowmobile damage to lawns and fields, suggested that the funds would be better utilized if directed towards the Sheriff's Department for additional enforcement instead of the clubs.

While several Supervisors understood the problem, only Supervisor Plant voted 'no' to the expenditure item.

Ora Rothfuss, Agricultural Development Specialist for Wayne County Planning, was contacted and explained the County's role in distribution of trails funds to snowmobile clubs. The county acts as a go-between with the NYS Parks System and clubs to administer the Grant/Aid program of funds generated by registration fees.

Clubs provide labor to maintain trails, with the money used for materials for signs, bridges, and clearing and grooming of the trails.

In their resolution, Supervisors granted a total of $20,107.50 to Lakeshore Snow Devils, Old Erie Riders, Canaltown Snowmobilers, Webster Ridge Runners, and Williamson Drift Riders.

The Sheriff's office was given authorization to apply for a Federal Homeport Security Grant to purchase a boat, motor, electronic equipment and night vision equipment. The $124,121 grant, if received, will be combined with local funds and NYS Parks and Recreation reimbursements.

Amtrak extension - The agreement between Wayne County and the NYS Department of Transportation for the construction of a Amtrak Passenger station in Lyons expired in 2003, and the board acknowledged that a member item was secured for a $750,000 grant for this purpose. The board Chairman will execute a no-cost time extension to the Multi-Modal II agreement between Wayne County and the NYS Dept. of Transportation.

Contract ratified - Lucinda Collier, Supervisor of Rose, and Chair of the Government Operations Committee, presented a resolution authorizing the ratification of the 2008-2010 Collective Bargaining Agreement with IUE-CWA Professional Service Workers, Local 81382, representing 44 employees, all caseworkers in the Wayne County Department of Social Services. The new agreement calls for a 4% increase each year and increases in standby and on-call pay. A reduction of six days in annual leave was eliminated , whereby the county will eventually see savings of the equivalent cost over time, of one full time employee.

Other business:

• Board acknowledged letter from NYS Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation regarding property located at Dipper Dredge #3 Drydock Rd. in Lyons, indicating that it has been listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
• Set a date for a public hearing on Local Law providing changes in salaries of certain county officers during their 2008 term of office. The hearing will take place on April 15, 9:30 a.m. in the Supervisor's Chambers.
• Opposed a state plan to shift of the total cost of Juvenile Detention facilities to the counties.
• Went on record urging the NYS Legislature to oppose the proposed shift of the state's share of public assistance to counties. (Since 1938, counties and the State of New York have equally shared the cost of public assistance on a 50/50 basis.

The next meeting of the Wayne County Board of Supervisors is Tuesday, April 15, at 9 a.m. in Lyons.

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