HomeMy WebLinkAbout2023-10-27-newsletterHello Ulysses,
See this week’s updates below and enjoy your weekend!
IN THIS WEEK’S ULYSSES NEWSLETTER:
Update from Supervisor Olson
Hunting Season Updates
Water Quality Data Jam
Community Forum on Israel/Palestine
International Bat Week
Election Information
Public Hearings & Special Meetings
East Shore Dr. Pedestrian & Bike Study
Facebook page
Dog Census
UPDATE FROM TOWN SUPERVISOR OLSON:
Greetings, Ulyssians!
This was a busy meeting week, and I'm pleased to share that the Town Board adopted its 2024
budget on Tuesday. We delivered a budget that lowered tax rates for both Village and Town-
Outside-Village residents, and remained under the tax cap.
A shout out to Budget Officer and Second Deputy Michelle E. Wright for developing a smooth
and fruitful process! Addition thanks to my fellow Town Board members, Michael Boggs, Mary
Bouchard, Rich Goldman, and Liz Weatherby for their time and thoughtful consideration of
making prudent financial decisions.
We continue to prepare for the special election on December 6 where Town residents can
determine whether or not to purchase recreation land. The public requested a special election,
and the Town Board scheduled one accordingly.
Out in the community, I've received a few common questions that I wanted to share here.
More questions (including some information shared here) are in the FAQs.
Q: How was the price of the land determined?
A: The price of the land was determined by a third-party appraiser based on comparable land
sales in the Town of Ulysses. You can read the appraisal report here. The Town is always
required not to spend more for a property than what is determined by an independent
appraisal in order to insure that the public is getting a fair, unbiased deal. This is a requirement
of our government, and not linked to the funds we'd use to purchase the land. The same
requirements were applied to New York State's acquisition of Camp Barton.
Q: What happens if the Town voters do not approve the land acquisition?
A: Currently the Town is under contract for the land on Krums Corners, and we will wait to
make any additional contracts until the voters have an opportunity to have their say at the
ballot box. If the voters determine that this purchase is not in the best interest of the Town,
the real estate contract would be cancelled because it was contingent on a permissive
referendum (being fulfilled by the special election).
Q: Would the Town consider using these other funds for different land?
A: Possibility, but it would be challenging because of the deadline to allocate the funds. The
process from start to finish (ending on December 6th with the special election) on the land deal
currently under consideration by the voters was about 9 months. To date, no property owners
have contacted the Town with an interest in selling between 20-30 acres to the Town at a price
that would be determined by an independent appraisal. All other land deals would also be
subject to a permissive referendum as well, so the Town would have to plan that any additional
purchase could/would trigger another special election.
And finally:
Q: I have 20-30 acres of land in the Town of Ulysses that I may be interested in selling for
recreational purposes. Who should I contact?
A: Please direct any letters of interest to the Town Board via the Town Clerk
(ulysses.clerk@gmail.com).
HUNTING SEASON UPDATES:
Leftover DMPs (doe permits) will be available again on Nov. 1 (while supplies last).
View map to see what hunting is currently allowed. (Ulysses is in the Northern Zone)
New requirements for the purchase and transfer of ownership of semi-automatic rifles
and the purchase, possession, storage, and transport of firearms and ammunition in
New York. View more information.
WATER QUALITY DATA JAM:
Community Science Institute (CSI) has been collecting water quality data in the Cayuga Lake
Watershed for many years through our volunteer stream and lake monitoring partnerships. We
invite you to come explore these data with us.
Attendees will work on teams to address their questions about water quality in the Cayuga Lake
Watershed and beyond! At the end of the event, teams will come together to share their
findings with the rest of the attendees. CSI staff will be close at hand to guide teams to find
critical information using our water quality database.
When: Friday, November 3rd, 10:00 AM – 12:00 PM
Where: At the BorgWarner Room in the Tompkins County Public Library building, 101 East
Green Street, Ithaca, NY
To sign up for this event, please register here: https://www.tcpl.org/event/data-jam-
community-science-institute-0
E-mail Grace (aghaynes@communityscience.org) with any questions.
For more information visit http://www.communityscience.org/events/2024-data-jam/
COMMUNITY FORUM:
Cornell University Professor Ross Brann will speak about “The Origins and Ramifications of the
Current Crisis in Israel/Palestine” on Tues., November 14 th at 7pm in the Fellowship Hall (69
East Main St.). Dr. Brann teaches a course on this topic and has won the highest teaching
award that Cornell offers. He will address the following questions: What conditions preceded
the current crisis? What prompted the current war at this time? What might things look like
when it is over? Is there any hope for the future of these two peoples? Come learn about this
important topic and have your questions answered. This event is free.
INTERNATIONAL BAT WEEK: OCTOBER 24 - OCTOBER 31, 2023
International Bat Week takes place from October 24th through Halloween, October 31st, to
promote bat awareness and conservation efforts. Tompkins County Whole Health (TCWH)
supports the NYS Department of Environmental Conversation (NYSDEC) in their efforts to
encourage outdoor enthusiasts to refrain from visiting caves and mines during the fall and
winter months. Bat health is particularly vulnerable to human visitation during their winter
hibernation in these sites, especially as these populations have recently been significantly
impacted by white-nose syndrome, a fungal disease that affects hibernating, insect-eating bats.
Tompkins County is fortunate to be home to multiple bat species, as bats provide an important
pest control role and are a vital part of the ecosystem. It is important that we protect the areas
where bats live while creating barriers to entry into our homes, as bats can carry the rabies
virus. TCWH has collaborated with several local organizations to protect the natural
environment of the bat while maintaining safety for our homes using a “One Health Model”,
which recognizes that we must address environmental, veterinary, and human health issues
together to optimize health for all.
Bats can enter buildings through holes or crevices as small as half an inch.
Keep doors and windows properly screened, chimneys capped, and keep exterior
basement and attic doors or windows closed and in good repair.
Close interior openings such as those around plumbing or gas pipes, electrical wiring, or
heating and air conditioning units found in utility closets, cabinets, behind appliances,
and under sinks. F
or additional information on how to keep bats out of your home, visit:
https://www.batcon.org/about-bats/bats-in-homes-buildings/.
A small number of rabid bats are confirmed in Tompkins County every year. It is important to
avoid the serious, potentially fatal, risk of rabies by safely capturing and submitting for
laboratory testing any bat found in a home that may have come in contact with humans or
pets. If the bat is found in a public area, if it is found near a pet, a child, a sleeping person, or
someone with a sensory impairment, or you are not sure if contact occurred, capture the bat
and contact TWCH’s Environmental Health Division, 24/7, at 607-274-6688.
ELECTION INFORMATION:
POLL WORKERS NEEDED:
For the Town’s Special Election on 12/6 but also for the 11/7 General Election, specifically at
the West Hill Community Church polling site. Call TC Board of Elections at (607)274-5522 or visit
https://tompkinscountyny.gov/boe/pollworker for more information.
GENERAL ELECTION 11/7/23:
Early voting information
Sample ballot
Deadline for new Voter Registration- Oct. 28
Absentee ballots:
o Nov 6- Last day to apply in person
o More information at https://tompkinscountyny.gov/boe/absentee
PUBLIC HEARINGS & SPECIAL MEETINGS:
(View details for all on Town’s calendar)
Thursday, Nov. 9 - Public Information Session on Recreation Land Acquisition, 6:30-8pm
Friday, Nov. 10 – Town offices closed for Veterans Day
EAST SHORE DRIVE PEDESTRIAN AND BIKE STUDY:
The Town of Ithaca Planning Department invites anyone interested to attend the East Shore
Drive pedestrian and bicycle safety corridor open house with engineering consultants Barton &
Loguidice at the Boynton Middle School cafeteria on Wed., November 15 th from 5:45-7:15
pm. The engineers will share information on and display schematic alternative plans for NYS
Route 34 between Boynton Middle School and the Ithaca Youth Bureau (James L. Gibbs Dr.).
This project is developing a feasibility study for a capital project to improve the safety for
pedestrians and bicyclists and develop designs to link existing multi-use trail infrastructure on
approximately 700’ of East Shore Drive (NYS-34) between Boynton Middle School (N. Cayuga
Street) and the Ithaca Youth Bureau (James L. Gibbs Dr.) This is a key corridor providing an
important link to Stewart Park and the Cayuga Waterfront Trail for walkers, joggers, and cyclists
of all ages and from various City of Ithaca neighborhoods, as well nearby Town of Ithaca and
Village of Cayuga Heights neighborhoods. The corridor is also an important and busy
transportation route for cars and trucks, including the location of on- and off-ramps for NYS-13
with access to NYS-34.
For more information, visit https://www.town.ithaca.ny.us/east-shore-drive-pedestrian-and-
bicyclist-safety-corridor-project/.
FACEBOOK PAGE:
Visit our Facebook page and share with your friends! The goal of the page is to share useful and
important information with a wider audience, but not to engage in dialogue on that platform.
As always, please stop in, call, or e-mail with any questions or concerns on municipal issues.
Follow our page at https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61550846207662
DOG CENSUS- STILL TIME TO LICENSE YOUR DOG:
The town is conducting a town-wide dog census and needs your help...
If you DO NOT have a dog, please respond at https://forms.gle/PmQ49SPsvESGZind9 so
that we can eliminate you from our mailing list.
If you DO have a dog that does not yet have a license, complete the form at
https://townofulyssesny.gov/__cms/docs/Dog-license-form-2022.pdf and return along
with rabies/spay information.
Any dogs found to be unlicensed after the census period will be assessed a $25 fee in addition
to the usual licensing fees. For information, contact the clerk’s office at
ulysses.clerk@gmail.com or call (607)387-5767 ext. 221.
Thanks for your help!
###
If you are receiving this as a forwarded message and would like to sign up to receive it directly,
visit https://groups.google.com/g/town-of-ulysses