HomeMy WebLinkAbout2024.08 NewsletterPage 1 of 24
FROM THE DESK OF THE SUPERVISOR
For the Town Board, the first half
of 2024 has been a time of new
experiences, challenges,
controversy, progress, and building
of relationships. With three new
members and a new supervisor,
Lansing is adapting to the new
composition and personality of its governing body.
With this changing of the guard comes curiosity,
doubt, and uncertainty, but also hope and excitement
for the future of our town as this bright and energetic
new team embraces the responsibilities of
safeguarding the financial future of the town,
ensuring that the character of the town is maintained
and enriched, and that decisions are made with only
the taxpayers’ and residents’ best interests in mind.
This quarterly newsletter is intended to share with
you the news from not only the Town Board but from
our staff, committees, and other resources around
town, to keep you informed. The goal is to highlight
accomplishments, provide updates on issues,
announce upcoming topics, inform you of events in
the community, and share community interest
stories.
We welcome any comments about this newsletter
so we may improve future issues, and we encourage
you to submit community interest stories that
highlight natural features in Lansing, or that shine
the spotlight on any Lansing resident who deserves
recognition for their accomplishments or dedication.
Town Supervisor
Town Offices:
Court
Judge John Howell
Judge Maura Kennedy-Smith
Melody Lombardo, Court Clerk
Hours: Monday-Thursday, 7:30am to 4:00pm
Highway Department
Mike Moseley, Highway Superintendent
Jamar Redmond, Deputy Highway Superintendent
Kevin May, Working Supervisor
Jenna Hoellerer, Highway Secretary
Hours: Monday-Thursday, 6:00am to 4:00pm
Parks & Recreation
Patrick Tyrrell, Director of Parks & Recreation
Tyler Todd, Parks & Rec. MEO/Coordinator
Meggie Conley, Parks & Rec. Secretary
Hours: Monday-Thursday, 7:00am to 3:30pm
Friday, 7:00am to noon
Planning & Code Enforcement
John Zepko, Director of Planning/Code
Mason Molesso, Town Planner
Scott Russell, Zoning/Code/Fire Enforcement Officer
Heather Dries, Code Enforcement Officer
Kelly Geiger, Code/Planning Information Aide
Hours: Monday-Thursday, 7:30am to 12:30pm
Friday, 7:30am to noon
or by appointment
Supervisor’s Office
Ruth Groff, Town Supervisor
Mary Ellen Albrecht, Bookkeeper
Jennifer Schenck, Accountant
Hours: Monday-Thursday, 7:30am to 4:00pm
Friday, 7:30am to noon
Town Clerk’s Office
Debbie Munson, Town Clerk
Jessie Hall, Deputy Town Clerk
Ashley Workman, Town Clerk Aide
Hours: Monday-Thursday, 7:30am to 4:00pm
Friday, 7:30am to noon
www.lansingtown.com
Newsletter for the Town of Lansing
SUMMER 2024
Issue 2
Page 2 of 24
IN THIS ISSUE:
ACCOMPLISHMENTS ................................................................................................................ 3
DEMOLITION OF HOUSE AT 2 AUBURN ROAD ........................................................................ 3
POWER PLANT CESSATION FUNDS TO BE AWARDED TO LANSING ...................................... 3
OPEN SPACE CONSERVATION PLAN ADOPTED ....................................................................... 3
DOG ENUMERATION COMPLETED ............................................................................................ 3
EMPLOYEE APPRECIATION DAY .............................................................................................. 4
COMPREHENSIVE PLAN AND ZONING CODES GAP ANALYSIS ............................................... 4
STATUS UPDATES ...................................................................................................................... 5
HIGHWAY FACILITY .................................................................................................................. 5
LUDLOWVILLE ROAD REPAIR .................................................................................................. 6
UPCOMING TOPICS ................................................................................................................... 7
SOLAR PROJECTS ....................................................................................................................... 7
ZONING UPDATES ....................................................................................................................... 7
CONSIDERING THE FUTURE OF THE RAILROAD RIGHT-OF-WAY ......................................... 8
PROCESS TO REPLACE TOWN JUSTICE .................................................................................... 8
NEW BEGINNINGS IN LANSING ................................................................................................ 9
TOMPKINS COUNTY’S RAPID MEDICAL RESPONSE PROGRAM ........................................... 9
TOMPKINS COUNTY RESOURCE HUB ..................................................................................... 9
INTRODUCING TOWN BOARD MEMBERS ............................................................................ 11
CHRISTINE MONTAGUE, MEMBER ........................................................................................ 11
JOSEPH WETMORE, MEMBER ................................................................................................ 11
FINANCIAL SNAPSHOTS .......................................................................................................... 12
SOURCES AND ALLOCATIONS OF REVENUES ........................................................................ 12
ASSESSMENTS IN LANSING ..................................................................................................... 13
TAX RATES IN TOMPKINS COUNTY ....................................................................................... 14
LANSING TOWN DEPARTMENTS ........................................................................................... 15
HIGHWAY DEPARTMENT ......................................................................................................... 15
SIGN UP FOR SIREN ........................................................................................................... 16
PARKS & RECREATION DEPARTMENT .................................................................................. 17
PLANNING & CODES DEPARTMENT – STORM WATER MANAGEMENT ............................ 18
COURT ....................................................................................................................................... 19
COMMITTEES AND COMMUNITY .......................................................................................... 20
PARKS, RECREATION, AND TRAILS C OMMITTEE ................................................................ 20
CONSERVATION ADVISORY COUNCIL ................................................................................... 21
TOWN HISTORIAN ................................................................................................................... 21
EVENTS COMMITTEE .............................................................................................................. 22
LANSING CENTER TRAIL ........................................................................................................ 23
Page 3 of 24
ACCOMPLISHMENTS
DEMOLITION OF HOUSE AT 2 AUBURN ROAD
This house had long been a point of concern for most residents of Lansing, but because of asbestos
issues it was a lengthy process to locate and engage a company to demolish the structure. Finally, we
were able to enlist Contentos to take on this task, and the house came down the last week of April, 2024.
POWER PLANT CESSATION FUNDS TO BE AWARDED TO LANSING
In 2019, the Cayuga Operating Co. ceased operations in Lansing. The Town suffered the loss of the
PILOT (Payment in Lieu of Taxes) payments from Cayuga Operating at that point. However, under New
York State’s Empire State Development division, there exists the Electric Generation Facility Cessation
Mitigation Program which will reimburse municipalities for a portion of the lost revenues for seven years
following the loss period. On May 15, the application was submitted for the first year, and the application
is expected to be approved by the state at their meeting in September. I am told that the funds will be
issued to the Town by December. Next year we will begin submitting for the subsequent years, bringing
some long overdue funds back to Lansing.
OPEN SPACE CONSERVATION PLAN ADOPTED
In 2021, the Town Board charged the Conservation Advisory Council with developing an Open Space
Conservation Plan. That council worked diligently and with focus on accomplishing that charge, and
their dedication was recognized on April 15 of this year when the Town Board approved and adopted
that plan.
o See the Conservation Advisory Council article on page 21
o The document can be found here: www.lansingtown.com/bc-cac
DOG ENUMERATION COMPLETED
2024 was the scheduled year for a dog enumeration, which is done every five years. This is the
process for counting the number of dogs in the town. Since dog licensing falls under the responsibility
of the Town Clerk’s office, she and her staff coordinated with the organization that was hired by the
Town to undertake this task. As of mid-July, Debbie Munson, Lansing’s Town Clerk, reported that they
have licensed 384 new dogs, with still more to come, bringing additional licensing fee revenue to the
Town.
Page 4 of 24
EMPLOYEE APPRECIATION DAY
On May 29, the Town Board showed its appreciation for the staff by hosting an Employee
Appreciation Day. The offices closed for the afternoon, allowing all the employees from all departments
to gather at the shelter by the ball fields. Each of the employees received a certificate of appreciation
for their years of service, lunch was catered from Wegmans (compliments of Town Board members),
lawn games were available, and each employee was given raffle tickets to bid on items donated by local
businesses. The employees enjoyed the afternoon getting to know their counterparts from other
departments, and being able to relax with good conversations and games.
• We wish to thank all the local businesses who showed their appreciation for the Town’s
employees by donating so generously to the raffle:
o Ace Hardware – reclining lawn chair
o Applebees – $30 gift card
o Cayuga Landscape – tray of flowers
o Dottie’s Ice Cream – $25 gift card
o Michaleen’s – hanging flower basket
o Pizza & Bones – 2 $20 gift cards
o Salt Point Brewing – $40 gift card
o Squeaky Clean – 2 books of coupons for Rain-X Complete car wash
o Thaler & Thaler – wine gift basket
COMPREHENSIVE PLAN AND ZONING CODES GAP ANALYSIS
The Town contracted with Colliers Engineering and Design to prepare a gap analysis between the
Town’s 2018 Comprehensive Plan and the current zoning codes. The purpose of this was to prepare for
a grant application to obtain funds to be used for contracting with a consulting group to assist the Town
in updating the zoning to align with the Comprehensive Plan. The gap analysis report was presented to
the Town Board at the July meeting, and the grant application was submitted on July 30.
Page 5 of 24
STATUS UPDATES
HIGHWAY FACILITY
At the January 2023 Town Board meeting, the Board passed Resolution 23-58, which authorized the
construction of a new Highway Department facility and authorizing the issuance of up to $15M in serial
bonds. Resolution 23-58 was effective 30 days after its passage, allowing for public petitioning. This
resolution was put forth only after a public open house was held at the existing Highway Department
building where all in attendance agreed that this project was necessary. The current facility was built in
1968, and has outgrown capacity and poses safety issues.
The Town owns a fleet of trucks and a host of equipment to maintain our highways, sewers, water
lines, and stormwater districts. These trucks and equipment represent over $5M of our assets. Trucks
and other equipment can cost anywhere from a quarter of a million to half a million dollars, and the lead
time on replacing any of them can be up to two years. So, should anything happen to the current barn,
damaging the majority of our inventory, it would be disasterous for Lansing, leaving us without the
ability to maintain sewers, water lines, and roads. Additionally, with the lack of space, some of the
equipment is being stored in the Parks’ facilities and in the old salt barn, which is in poor condition and
also poses safety issues.
The Town had been working with an engineering and design firm, Bergmann Engineering, receiving
estimates as early as 2021, which were the basis for the requested $15M. Although the Town has
continued to work with the consulting firm, now rebranded as Colliers Engineering & Design, the
pandemic delayed any forward movement. Fortunately, progress has resumed, and late last year the
Town engaged LeChase Construction as the construction management firm. The current timeline is
estimating that the project could go out to bid to construction companies as early as December of this
year.
It has been three years since the original estimates, and material and construction costs have increased
substantially due to the pandemic. Cost increases have been nearly universal across most industries, and
equipment and materials have not been immune to the supply chain issues. As a result, the estimates
from 2021 are no longer within a probable range. The Highway Superintendent, Mike Moseley, the
Town Engineer, David Herrick, the Town Supervisor, Ruth Groff, and the Town Counsel, Guy Krogh,
have been meeting weekly with teams from Colliers and from LeChase to review, line by line, the
increases of the estimate, in an effort to cut back in areas that are reasonable to do so, such as eliminating
certain features but building in a way that those features can be added in the future. These meetings have
involved a lot of creative thinking, and it is our goal to minimize the increase as much as possible without
sacrificing the function and quality of the new building. The reality of this situation is that the Town
may need to come back to the taxpayers to ask for permission to increase the authorization for a bond
issuance. Until we determine what the new site plan and building structure will be, we are not able to
provide an accurate estimate to the public, but we will keep you informed as the project takes shape. It
is the of the Town to keep this project moving forward so as not to incur any more increases due to
delays.
For more information on this project, please go to the Town’s website to find documents such as the Facility
Feasibility study; the Facility Conditions Assessment; a Town Board presentation that included target issues and
scope overview; and a document on Mandatory Shortterm Repairs. These can be found at:
www.lansingtown.com/highway/page/highway-department-building-renovation-project
Page 6 of 24
LUDLOWVILLE ROAD REPAIR
The section of Ludlowville Road that is closed has been a troubling issue for the residents of
Ludlowville as well as the Lansing schools since that slope failure in 2021. It was a favored route for
residents of the hamlet to exit in the winter months, and a means to ease the traffic flow for the schools.
This particular section has a discomforting history of slope failures as a result of the poor soil quality
that does not support ground cover growth and the severity of the slope. Both conditions contribute to
poor drainage that results in destruction of the roads supporting infrastructure. In 1971, it failed and was
reopened in 1973. From 1978 to 1993 the road experienced multiple temporary closures for minor
repairs. Again, in 1993, it was closed for this same problem, and reopened in 1994. This most recent
failure highlighted the fact that the drainage issue needs to be addressed in a more aggressive manner.
The Town Engineer, David Herrick, and his team, have proposed a solution that deflects the drainage
away from the portion of the road that is most affected by the poor conditions. With newer technologies
available and the proposed rerouting of the drainage, they believe that their solution will provide another
40-50 years of life for the road. During a working session of the the May Town Board meeting, the Board members came to a
consensus that they would like to pursue the repair of the road. However, the cost of the repair would
be in excess of $2M, which is more than the Highway Department’s annual roads maintenance budget.
This project is currently listed in the Town’s preliminary Capital Plan and under financial review.
Page 7 of 24
UPCOMING TOPICS
SOLAR PROJECTS
Solar projects have become a subject of much debate and concern, not only in Lansing, but all around
the great state of New York. Projects that are less than 25MW are subject to local land use regulation.
However, projects over 25MW are governed through the NYS Public Service Laws (Article 18), and are
under the purview of the NYS Office of Renewal Energy Siting (ORES). ORES is responsible for
approving applications and ensuring that the project follows protocol in terms of community engagement
and other requirements, as well as taking into consideration local laws, public health and safety, and
environmental, social and economic factors.
Lansing and Groton have one such large solar farm project, known as Yellow Barn, ready to file its
final application with the state. This project will be located near Van Ostrand Road, with the majority
of the project residing in the Town of Groton. The Towns of Lansing and Groton have been working
together to ensure that both municipalities receive fair remuneration from the project, that the
decommissioning plan is solid, that unique natural areas are protected, that neighboring residents are not
negatively affected, and that our fire departments are adequately trained and special equipment is
provided in order to appropriately deal with this unique situation should an event occur. Just recently another large project, known as Silverline, has made its presence known, although it is
in the very early stages of the permitting process. The reason Lansing is being inundated with solar projects is because of the vast amount of open land
near the power lines that run diagonally across the agricultural area of our town. These solar farms need
to be in close proximity to the power infrastructure, placing their substations near the power lines for
connectivity to the grid.
ZONING UPDATES
In 2018, the Town of Lansing adopted a Comprehensive Plan that defines the desired character of our
town and sets forth expectations for future considerations. The Plan charges the Town with a variety of
zoning preferences/changes. With that in mind, Lansing’s Planning & Codes Department has a staff that
is working at its maximum capacity right now, so the prospect of updating the current zoning code would
mean either diminishing their attention to the needs of the community while they are working on these
updates, which is not a desired option, or prolonging the time frame around which they can devote to
rewriting, amending, and updating our current code, which could take years with the department’s
limited time availability.
The Town Board’s answer to this dilemma was to hire a consulting firm to assist with this task. Earlier
this year we contracted with Colliers Engineering to prepare a gap analysis between the Comprehensive
Plan and Lansing’s current zoning. Having done that, we are now applying for a grant that is available
to provide funds for the purpose of paying for a consultant to assist with updating our zoning. The
desired outcome of this project is to rewrite the code to make it 1) easier to read, 2) conform to the
Comprehensive Plan, and 3) to minimize the length of time to accomplish this process. Having the
Comprehensive Plan and the gap analysis contribute to a strong, compelling argument when applying
for the grant.
Page 8 of 24
CONSIDERING THE FUTURE OF THE RAILROAD RIGHT-OF-WAY
2019 saw the closure of Cayuga Operating Company’s coal power plant at Milliken Station, leaving
a portion of the Norfolk Southern (NS) railroad line without purpose. That section of the railroad,
generally from Salt Point to Milliken Station, is expected by most to eventually fall into the “abandoned”
category. When it does, the presumption is that NS will put it out to bid. This eventuality has caused
members of the Conservation Advisory Council and members of the Town Board to take notice. One
Board member has concerns that if it goes out to bid to the public, then there is a strong possibility that
neighbor will be bidding against neighbor, and it would be conceivable that a neighbor could outbid a
landowner for the strip of land that crosses the landowner’s property. This very scenario has already
occurred in Lansing in another situation. It was noted that in other municipalities along the lake where
a railroad has been sold to the private sector, privacy fences pop up, obstructing the view of not only the
homeowners but diminishing the scenic view of the lake. Preliminary discussions within some
committees suggest that the ownership of that entire section of railroad would protect the landowners
and secure the future of that parcel. So far, the internal discussions about any proposal of a trail would
include merely the section from Salt Point to the new Sims-Jennings Preserve, connecting the two parks.
Anything north of that would be conserved and protected, and sections near residential property could
be turned into neighborhood parks for the benefit of the landowners directly abutting the parcel. These
conversations have all been anecdotal and not in any official capacity.
Town Board Member, Joseph Wetmore, has reminded us that one of the factors that allowed Bell
Station, now known as Cayuga Shores, to be kept off the auction block, was that the town and county
had multiple documents, including the Town’s Comprehensive Plan, stating the Town’s interest in the
property. The county expressed similar interests when it added the site to its Unique Natural Areas list.
With this history of Cayuga Shores in mind, the Town Board is planning to discuss the possibility of
making a statement for public record through resolution, stating that the Town of Lansing has an interest
in that parcel of land currently held by Norfolk Southern. At this time, there are no specific plans to do anything with the railroad parcel other than make it
known that the Town has an interest in it. The intent is merely to set the stage for something that may
or may not occur for another five to ten years.
PROCESS TO REPLACE TOWN JUSTICE
Earlier this year, one of Lansing’s Town Justices, Maura Kennedy-Smith,
announced her candidacy for County Judge. Her campaign is uncontested,
therefore after the election in November, there will be an official vacancy for
her position in Lansing’s court, with the term starting January 1, 2025.
Because she is running for County Judge in the middle of the term for which
she was elected here in Lansing, and because it is never assumed a candidate
will win the election, her vacated position will not be on the ballot this
November. It will be up to the Town Board to appoint her replacement for a
term of one year, until an election can be held. The position will then be on
the ballot in November of 2025, for a new four-year term, which will change
the election cycle for this current position.
Page 9 of 24
NEW BEGINNINGS IN LANSING
TOMPKINS COUNTY’S RAPID MEDICAL RESPONSE PROGRAM
The Rapid Medical Response (RMR) program, which went into effect on April 2, was established to
provide emergency services to the parts of Tompkins County that are most underserved by emergency
medical services. The program is intended to supplement current services by providing faster response
times to households that are farther away from those current services, and by lending a hand and
providing assessments to the ambulance teams when they arrive. One of those three base camps is in
Lansing, which greatly benefits all of Lansing, particularly the northern-most portions of our town.
These charts are for the month of June. Chart 1 shows the number of calls that RMR responded to,
and Chart 2 shows the average response times and time spent on the scene. The total number of calls,
county-wide, as of July 26, were 310.
TOMPKINS COUNTY RESOURCE HUB
The Community Justice Center (CJC) is a collaborative between the City of Ithaca and Tompkins
County to implement joint Reimagining Public Safety plans. The Resource Hubs in Tompkins County
are the result of this collaboration, and we are happy to announce that one of the hubs is now available
in Lansing. See the brochure on the next page for information on the types of services provided.
Location: Lansing Public Library
Days of operation: Every second and fourth Mondays of each month
Hours: 12:00pm to 2:00pm
Page 10 of 24
Page 11 of 24
INTRODUCING TOWN BOARD MEMBERS
CHRISTINE MONTAGUE , MEMBER
I grew up an army brat, and so when my husband Matt and I moved
here to his hometown 18 years ago, I knew the best way to meet people
was to get involved. As our three girls played soccer, and joined the
musicals or church groups, we cheered for and volunteered with the
impressive teens and their families of Lansing. Sporting events bring out
the true spirit of a community, and Lansing’s is always positive.
We also were introduced to the farming community through Matt’s
childhood rock-picking and chicken-pulling, and our own (mis)adventures with beef cattle. We will be
forever grateful to the farmers who came to help us dig out of literal and figurative ruts.
I started out as an engineer, working at Norfolk Naval Shipyard. After grad school and various
research jobs, I landed at a Cornell lab studying tuberculosis. I enjoy working with students and the
dynamic nature of research.
On the Town Board, I hope to address the diverse needs of Lansing residents. I will focus on growing
our locally owned businesses and finding state resources for walkable small-town development and
housing upgrades. Please let us know your ideas for making Lansing a vibrant community.
JOSEPH WETMORE, MEMBER
As a kid I spent most of my summers in the nearby woods. I loved to catch frogs,
snakes, turtles, crayfish. etc. and learn more about them. My family lived on a major
migration path for monarch butterflies, which gave me the privilege of being able to
take home dozens of caterpillars and watch them grow into beautiful orange
butterflies. Every fall there would be trees in town that were covered with them as
they got ready to fly south for the winter.
In the early 1990's I moved to Ithaca and opened a small used bookstore, Autumn
Leaves Used Books, on the Ithaca Commons. I'd never even worked in a bookstore before but had some
experience in business running a small t-shirt print shop and helping a friend expand his health food
store. After 8 years, Autumn Leaves was popular enough that it outgrew its original space, and I moved
it to a much larger space across the street.
I ran for the Lansing Town Board because I wanted to help preserve the rural character of the
town. My biggest surprise was how much my skills at running a small business came into use as a
member of the Town Board.
I have recently retired from being a full-time bookseller. Among the many things that retirement has
given me, is the time to spend more time out in the woods. I still find the occasional monarch caterpillar;
I get just as excited as I did as a kid, only now I only take a photo of it, and move on to experience the
next thing on my journey.
Page 12 of 24
FINANCIAL SNAPSHOTS
SOURCES AND ALLOCATIONS OF REVENUES
You can always find the Town of Lansing’s annual budget on the Town’s website, but to the untrained
eye it can be rather daunting with its 67 pages of numbers. To provide a snapshot of what those numbers
represent, here are a few charts that identify the budgeted sources of revenue and the budgeted allocations
of those revenues. The 2024 Adopted Budget can be found on the Town’s website at:
www.lansingtown.com/town-board/page/budgets-auds-audits
Page 13 of 24
ASSESSMENTS IN LANSING
The 2024 assessments were issued earlier this year, with 2,646 parcels in Lansing showing a decrease
in assessed value, 365 parcels remaining the same, and 1,929 parcels increasing in assessed value. This
graph identifies the number of parcels that fell into each range of valuation adjustments. The chart below
is based on information provided by the Tompkins County Department of Assessment.
Understanding how assessed values affect your property taxes is important. If your assessed value
goes up, that doesn’t necessarily mean your taxes will go up by that same percentage, and conversely, if
your assessed value decreases, that doesn't mean your taxes will go down by that same percentage. The
tax rate for each municipality is calculated by first determining the budget for the year for the portion
which is funded through property taxes. That portion of the budget is then divided by the overall tax
base, i.e. assessed values of parcels in the town to arrive at the tax rate for that year. So, in a nutshell,
your taxes will be increased or decreased based on the budget increase or decrease, not solely on the
assessment adjustment.
Below is an example of this calculation, assuming a budget increase of 10%, and a total assessed
values increase of 15%. Please note that this is simply an example to illustrate the calculation and is not
based on any actual numbers in Lansing.
For an explanation of how assessments are determined, view the video titled “How Do Assessments
Work in Tompkins County?” which is found on the Tompkins County Department of Assessment
website: www.tompkinscountyny.gov/assessment
Page 14 of 24
TAX RATES IN TOMPKINS COUNTY
Lansing continues to keep its tax rates among the lowest in Tompkins County, at $1.917300 per
$1,000, for 2024. As we are now heading into the budget season for 2025, the Town Board will make
every attempt to keep the tax rate increase to a minimum. However, the Town’s aging infrastructure is
going to require repairs and maintence, medical insurance rates are increasing by double digits, cost of
equipment and materials are and have been climbing upward. Necessary repairs will be required for the
roofs on both the community center and the old school since they are both leaking and must be replaced
to prevent damage and further, more expensive cash outlays. Perhaps more to the point, the costs of the
highway facility, as mentioned on page 5, will be ramping up as we head into 2025. It will be a challenge
for the Chief Budget Officer and the Town Board to keep the rate increase as low as possible, but we
vow to do everything within our power to do so.
*This chart shows only the town rates and does not include taxes from county, special districts, villages,
or school districts. Note that some town rates may vary within towns based on whether a parcel location
is within a village/city or outside a village/city. The full list of all rates within Tompkins County can be
found at: https://tompkinscountyny.gov/assessment/taxinfo
Page 15 of 24
LANSING TOWN DEPARTMENTS
HIGHWAY DEPARTMENT
Page 16 of 24
SIGN UP FOR SIREN
Page 17 of 24
PARKS & RECREATION DEPARTMENT
Page 18 of 24
PLANNING & CODES DEPARTMENT – STORM WATER MANAGEMENT
STORMWATER MANAGEMENT & LANSING’S MS4 PROGRAM
By Mason Molesso, Town Planner & Stormwater Management Officer
Water on planet Earth is constantly moving and
is quite literally “fluid” in more ways than one. This
complex process of water cycling between gas, liquid
and solid states is known as the hydrologic cycle,
which has far-reaching impacts on almost every
function on earth. As water vapor condenses in the
atmosphere, the precipitate falls to earth in either the
form of rain or snow. When that precipitation
contacts the solid earth surface, or melts in the case
of snow, it becomes “stormwater” or “stormwater
runoff”.
It is important to manage stormwater runoff in
urban areas, as if left unchecked the impacts can
become quite costly as millions of gallons of water
end up in potentially unwanted places. Water travels
to the lowest point in any given system, and here in
Lansing that happens to be Cayuga Lake. As
stormwater runoff makes its way down hill and gains
velocity, it becomes incredibly efficient at collecting
whatever is in its path. Trash, sediments, fertilizers and nutrients, oils and petroleum’s all end up
downstream, potentially turning your favorite swimming hole into a place you may think twice about
swimming in.
That’s why managing stormwater runoff is so important and something that shouldn’t be overlooked.
As we’ve grown as a nation and paved over larger portions of once permeable land, all that water now
needs somewhere to go. Techniques are needed to mitigate catastrophic damage.
One of the many ways
municipalities across the county
manage stormwater is by using a
Municipal Separate Storm Sewer
System (MS4). Differing from a
Combine Sewer System (CSS), the
MS4 is a system of storm pipes that
keeps storm water separate from
household sewage.
With both systems it is not
uncommon to see storm drains along
the roadway in many American
cities and urban
areas. When it rains, stormwater
that is collected on impervious surfaces makes its way to these storm drains
where it meets a conveyance of underground pipes. These pipes also transport waste from the city’s
occupants and functions, usually to a treatment plant for processing and discharge. In this type of shared
sewer system stormwater and sewage share the same pipes at the same times. During times of heavy
Continued on page 19
Stormwater Runoff Diagram, courtesy City of Syracuse
CSS vs MS4 Systems, courtesy USGS
Page 19 of 24
Continued from page 18
precipitation, which is becoming ever more frequent in a changing climate, these types of CSS systems
get quite literally overflowed and can create a harmful discharge of toxic waste mixed with stormwater
run-off. Because of this, it can often be more desirable and environmentally friendly to operate an MS4
system.
One of the most practical benefits of a functional
MS4 system is the prevention of untreated sewage from
overflowing into local waterways and important
ecosystems. MS4 systems are comprised of open
roadside ditches, catch basins, and man-made channels
that collect water and divert it to a desired location. A
challenge with these open ditch conveyance systems,
which drain into local streams and waterways, is keeping
pollutants out.
The Town of Lansing currently implements
several strategies which help keep our surface waters
clean. These include a stringent review process for all
new construction projects, routine compliance
inspections, and the development of a comprehensive
Stormwater Management Plan.
However, responsible stormwater management isn’t just the responsibility of the municipality
but rather a community engagement. If you see something, say something. We encourage the public to
report any illicit discharges, suspicious activity or general concerns regarding stormwater to the Town’s
Planning Department as we work together to promote a healthier future in the beautiful Finger Lakes!
COURT
The following is from Lansing Town Justice John Howell:
The Lansing Town Court has returned to our pre-covid busy times again. Most people realize that our
local court handles all the traffic tickets in the Town of Lansing, and we also do most of the DWI cases
(all felony DWI cases go to County Court). On the Criminal Law side of our court, we deal with all
Misdemeanors and Violations in our town, many of which are domestic violence cases that also require
issuing an Order of Protection.
Judge Kennedy-Smith and I routinely do intensive training to stay on top of new developments and to
find ways to improve the system. In my 33 years as Town Justice, the justice system of New York has
certainly evolved, and I strongly feel that we now have additional support avenues at the local level to
help defendants and victims. Over the next few newsletters, I plan to discuss some of the positive
resources we have available, especially in dealing with the increase in mental health problems and
drug/alcohol addiction.
On the Civil Law side of our court we have Small Claims, Summary proceeding eviction cases, and
Town code cases involving building code violations or dog owner violations.
Our weekly court sessions are Tuesday evenings and Thursday afternoons, and these often end up
being very busy times in our main courtroom.
If you have any questions feel free to reach out to either judge or our excellent Lansing Town Court
Clerk Melody Lombardo.
Page 20 of 24
COMMITTEES AND COMMUNITY
PARKS, RECREATION, AND TRAILS COMMITTEE
Lansing Greenway – multi-use trail project presented to the Town Board
The Town’s Parks Recreation and Trails Working Group has been hard at work on a project to create a multi-
use trail system now called the Lansing Greenway. This Greenway will connect the main hubs of the community
with a family friendly, accessible trail. The Greenway is for everyone: bikers, runners, walkers, cross-country
skiers and dog walkers (with a leash). All non-motorized uses are welcome.
The idea for this trail began back in 1999 when a survey of town residents for the Year 2000 Recreation
Master Plan showed strong interest in a trail system. This interest has only grown. In the survey for the 2022
Parks, Recreation, and Trails Master Plan, walking and biking trails ranked as the most important recreational
facility for their household.
The popularity of trails can be seen in all the nearby towns who have created multi-use trails and in the
popularity of Lansing’s Town Center and Salt Point trails. Trails are popular because they provide a place for
people of all ages and abilities to enjoy nature. They help connect us with family, friends and neighbors. They
also offer a much safer alternative to biking along busy roadways while also promoting physical activity.
While the exact location of the trial will be developed over time, the main destinations will be familiar to all
Lansing residents. Ideally, the proposed trail begins at the Town Barn Fields, runs to the Lansing Center Trail,
and continues to the Town Hall, Town Fields and Lansing Community Library. From the town center, the trail
will run to the Lansing Central Fire Station, then to the Lansing Central Schools campus, ending at Myers Park
and Salt Point. A second trail will connect the town center to The Rink and then to the Village of Lansing and
the YMCA. Trail spurs will create connections from the main trail into the many neighborhoods along the
Greenway’s path.
The first phase of the Greenway is slated for the Town Center. The Trails Working Group is currently seeking
grants for a feasibility study to develop a detailed cost estimate for this phase. The project will then be ready
for state or federal construction funds when they become available. They are also writing grants to fund a
Comprehensive Trails Plan to guide the development of the Greenway as it branches out from the Town Center.
The Trails Group is available to answer any questions and meet with anyone who has comments or concerns.
Please contact them through Pat in the Parks and Recreation Office.
-Steve Lauzun, RLA, CPSI, Chair of the Parks, Recreation, and Trails Committee
Page 21 of 24
CONSERVATION ADVISORY COUNCIL
The 2018 Comprehensive Plan for the Town of Lansing called for the creation of a Conservation
Advisory Committee (CAC) to perform certain functions for the Town and to act in an advisory capacity
under the NYS General Municipal Law § 239-x. By resolution in 2019, the Town Board created a
Conservation Advisory Council consisting of community volunteers appointed by the Town Board. As
an advisory entity, the actions of the CAC have no regulatory standing in the absence of approval by the
Town Board. A broad mandate for the CAC was to “advise in the development, management, and
protection of the Town’s natural resources”. As a first step in carrying out this mandate, the CAC worked
to develop a Natural Resources Inventory and a Scenic Resources Inventory for the Town. In the
acceptance of these inventories by the Town Board, the CAC in 2021 was charged with developing an
Open Space Conservation Plan (OSCP). With a generous grant from the Park Foundation, the Town was
able to engage with a consulting firm that had expertise in the area of assembling data that existed in
various public archives. In consultation with the CAC, a list of natural resources was developed along
with a ranking scheme that recognized that certain natural features were more important in a conservation
plan than others. With the resources available it was impractical to analyze the data for all undeveloped
properties in the Town. This being the case, 70 acres and above was chosen for the OSCP. Public input
was solicited using two open meetings and an online (or paper) questionnaire advertised with a postcard
mailed to all residents of the Town. A “story map” was posted on the Town website that outlined the
features of the plan. For the final plan, 119 properties were ranked for their value in investing in
conservation efforts.
The OSCP totally relies on the voluntary desire of the landowners to offer their property for a
conservation program. The OSCP is a guidance document for the Town as to whether the Town wishes
to make a financial commitment to assist in this effort. The ranking of the property as to their natural
resource value would be a key element in the Town’s decision. In addition, the OSCP can offer guidance
to the planning process for properties not in OSCP so that natural resources on the property might be
conserved with adjustments to the development plan.
The OSCP was adopted by the Town Board on April 15, 2024. The OSCP can be found under
Supporting Documents at: www.lansingtown.com/bc-cac
-Ed Dubovi, Chair of the Conservation Advisory Council
TOWN HISTORIAN
KINDERGARTEN IN THE FIELD SCHOOL
In April I received an email from the Librarians. They said they had invited the kindergarten classes
for a ‘Field Trip’ to the Lansing Library where the children would be introduced to the local library.
Because there was a total of 68, they would divide the class into three groups. They asked if I would
like to open the ‘Field School’ and plan a program there. The Community Center would also be open
and there would be a hands-on project.
When the school bus pulled up at 10am on June 7, 2024, I stood in the school doorway and rang a
bell. The kids had the same color t-shirt for each group. The first group headed for the school with their
teachers, and we began! Because we didn’t have enough desks, the kids shared. As they looked around,
I asked if they had their own desk, where do you hang your coat, do you have a bathroom in your room?
Do you have a computer at school? Where do you eat lunch? It was then that I opened my lunch box
with a peanut butter sandwich, apple and cookie. They said they eat in the cafeteria. Do you play games
in school? No, we have gym, archery.
In closing, I asked if they had any questions. Here are some: How did you get food? How do you
make pencils? How did they make houses? How do you make a museum?
-Fannie Welch, Town Historian
Page 22 of 24
EVENTS COMMITTEE
Lansing’s Fall Community Celebration is BACK!!
SAVE THE DATE!! September 5, 6, and 7!
Let's make this a great event. Please show your support for our town, the Lansing Events
Committee, Inc., and the Lansing Fire Department! Thanks to the generosity of several
donors, along with the community’s support through fundraising efforts, we are able to bring
Playland Amusements back for a great three-day event! Wrist band (pay-one-price) days
will be available and announced very soon!
We are still looking for volunteers to help with bingo, participation in the parade and booths,
and cake donations! Please see our Facebook page or email us at
lansingevents2018@gmail.com for more information or come see us at our canopy at Music
in the Park!
The Lansing Fire Department will be serving up their usual, hot sausage, burgers, dogs,
clams, salt potatoes, and sides! New items are added every year! Best burgers and dogs
around!
The LEC will have a 50/50 raffle each day. Buy your tickets, you could win big bucks!
Here is a brief line-up of some of the entertainment (subject to change) we have this year for
the Carnival:
THURSDAY, Sept. 5 at 6 pm
• Midway rides, games, food
• BINGO!!!!!!!!!! That’s right, folks – we have BINGO this year, so bring your “good
luck charms” and get those ink daubers ready! More details to come!
FRIDAY, Sept. 6 at 6 pm
• Midway rides, games, food
• BINGO (times to be announced later)
• Fireworks will begin around 9 pm. (weather permitting) Stick around for this fabulous
show! More entertainment to be announced, stay tuned!
SATURDAY Sept. 7 opens at 1 pm
• Midway rides, games and your favorite carnival food, such as fried dough, snow cones,
lemonade, and lots more!
• BINGO (times to be announced later)
• Crowd favorite, the cake wheel! Spin to win cakes, cookies, brownies, and maybe a few
special treats!
• Hilby the German Juggle Boy, Cayuga Twisters, Cayuga Lake Seido Karate, Lansing
Cheerleaders, and much more already lined up for entertainment, more to come!
• The parade will start at 6 pm sharp, so bring a chair and grab a spot! If you are
affiliated with Lansing Schools, sign up for the float contest, $500 prize for the winner.
This year’s theme is “Family Game Night.” More information and forms are available on
our website at https://lansingeventscommittee.com/
See you all very soon!
Page 23 of 24
LANSING CENTER TRAIL
Page 24 of 24
PUBLIC MEETINGS
Town Board – Town Hall, 3rd Wednesday, 6:30 PM – Aug. 21 – Sept. 18 – Oct. 16
Town Board Preliminary Budget Meeting – Town Hall, 4th Wednesday, 6:30 PM – Sept. 25
Town Board Budget Meeting – Town Hall, 1st Wednesday, 6:30 PM – Nov. 6
Planning Board – Town Hall, 4th Monday, 6:30 PM – Aug. 26 – Sept. 23 – Oct. 28
Zoning Board of Appeals – Town Hall, 2nd Wednesday, 6:30 PM – Aug. 14 – Sept. 11 – Oct. 9
Conservation Advisory Council – Town Hall, 1st Wednesday, 6:30 PM – Aug. 7 – Sept. 4 – Oct. 2
HOW DO YOU WANT TO RECEIVE ISSUES OF THE LANSING NEWSLETTER?
If by USPS mail – please fill out the form below and send it to:
o Attn: Town Supervisor, P.O. Box 186, Lansing, NY 14882
o Or, send your address via email to rgroff@lansingtown.com, with subject line “Newsletter”
If by Email – provide your email at https://www.lansingtown.com/stay-connected and check the box for
“Newsletter Updates”
Otherwise, if you choose neither, you will find the Lansing Newsletter on the town’s website, and hard copies at
Town Hall and other local establishments. Other options will be available for future publications. Tell your
friends!
Fill out this form to receive copies of the newsletter via USPS mail:
Name_____________________________________________________________________________________
Postal Address _____________________________________________________________________________
Street Address City State Zip Code
Mail this to P.O. Box 186, Lansing, NY 14882, or email your information to rgroff@lansingtown.com
In Memory of Scott T. “Weav” Weaver
1966-2024
A life-long Lansing resident, he was a
graduate of Lansing High School. Scott
was a loyal employee of the Lansing
Highway Department for 31 years before
starting a landscaping business.
In Memory of Gerald C. “Jerry” Caward, Jr.
1953-2024
Jerry was a life-long resident of Lansing, and in
his youth was a Lansing High School football
player. He served Lansing as a member of the
Planning Board and later as the chair of that
board.
