Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutNovember 2024 Town of Ithaca Newsletter TOWN OF ITHACA NEWSLETTER - NOVEMBER 2024 The Town was lit up green for our Veterans once again this year as a visible symbol of support and a way to help them feel seen by our community. You can get a green light bulb for free here at Town Hall for next year. Tompkins County Veterans Services Agency Town of Ithaca 2025 Budget Adopted The Town Board passed the 2025 budget at their meeting on 11/4/24 after the public hearing. There had been numerous opportunities for board members to review the budget as it was tweaked during the months of September and October. The Town strives to provide responsible services while being fiscally responsive and maintaining beneficial intermunicipal partnerships. The budget is available via our Laserfische Portal: • 2025 Town Budget Highlights - The Budget increased from $29.7 million in 2024 to $32.2 million in 2025 - 2025 Property Tax totals $8.9 million representing a 2.2% increase from 2024 - The 2025 Property tax levy (including water and sewer benefit assessment fees) is $11.3 million, a 2.8% increase - The budget is under our tax cap limit - The property tax bill for a typical property in the Town will increase to $2003 in 2025 from $1876 in 2024 an increase of $127 (using median assessed value of a single family residence as $385,000 in 2025 – in 2024, $322,000 was used). It’s Coming…. SNOW/ICE A major issue during snow removal operations is trash and recycling bins being placed in the rights-of-way (ROW) during and immediately after snow events. Road crews work hard to clear our roads as quickly as possible and follow up after the event. Please help them by delaying putting trash and/or recycling bins out during snow events and directly after, and if you must, please put them in your driveway, in far enough not to hamper road clearing efforts. These containers become a hazard for our drivers when they are placed in the ROW and blow into the street or are pushed into the culverts by snow clearing operations. Thank you in advance! Town Crews Brush and Leaf Fall 2024 is (almost) complete. A LOT of leaves fell! Crews are finishing up a few areas in Forest Home, Eastern Heights and South Hill. If they have been by once, they are not coming back, but they will continue to pick up BAGGED leaves through November or you can bring biodegradable bagged leaves in to the Public Works Facility weekdays between 7:00-2:30 (please check in at the office first) *Leaf drop off is for residential customers only, lawn care or landscaping companies are not permitted to drop off bagged leaves. The Town provides this service in an effort to keep our culverts and ROW’s clear. Leaf pick-up is scheduled around the first full week in November every year. We realize sometimes they are not all down by then, but we have to work with the uncertainty of mother nature and the need to transition to the machinery used for snow and ice removal as sometimes we do have snow/ice events in November. Stay Warm! HEAP is a federal grant program that helps eligible households pay for energy costs and weatherization. Eligibility requirements have been expanded and enrollment began November 1st. Stay Informed! Tompkins County SIREN is the official mass notification system used by Tompkins County, the City of Ithaca, and local towns and villages to communicate with community residents during emergencies. Sign up now to receive alerts from SIREN via text message, email, and/or voice message. If you are a town resident, we encourage you to sign up for 'Town of Ithaca - Emergency Alerts' and 'Town of Ithaca - Community News,' in addition to any other lists from which you might like to receive notifications. HUNTING AND HIKING REMINDERS Hunting season has begun with bow hunting season started on October 1st and firearm season begins November 16th and runs through December 8th. Information and maps are available HERE. NYS DEC continues to have a Deer Management Focus Area (DMFA) in Tompkins County, including all of the Town of Ithaca. This allows licensed hunters with a valid DMFA registration to shoot two antlerless deer per day during the bow hunting, firearm and late muzzleloader seasons. In addition, a special season has been added from January 11th -31st when hunters with a valid DMFA permit can take two antlerless deer per day in the DMFA with any lawful hunting implement. Hunters must still comply with all state trespassing laws, as well as all applicable local ordinances governing the discharge of firearms. A map of the DMFA along with additional information is available at www.dec.ny.gov/outdoor/82382.html. If you are out hiking or walking your dog during hunting season, please remember to take some simple steps to help ensure your safety – wear bright clothing, know the rules and when hunting seasons are, make yourself heard, be aware, and respect other outdoor enthusiasts. Whether you are a hunter or hiker, please remember to respect private property and always ask permission to hike or hunt on private land, regardless of whether or not it is posted. Landowners who post are more likely to say "yes" to people who show respect for their private property by asking first. Trespassing could put you in legal trouble and will make it harder for others to get permission from the owner. Additional information regarding respecting private property can be found at www.respectedaccess.org/ A new way to see the Town’s Hills! Drone videos of South Hill, East Hill and West Hill are now posted to our website. A beautiful “birds eye” perspective off our area. Videos The Town recently held an Open House for the Culver Road Preserve Project. Local resident Tony Ingraham produced a short documentary on the preserve. “Ithaca’s Wilds on West Hill” In this episode of the Ithaca public access television series, Walk in the Park (266), we take a close look at the Town of Ithaca’s Culver Road Preserve on West Hil, composed of four preserves totaling 155 acres. Annual Town Tour for Board Members Each year Town Board members take a guided tour highlighting Town projects or agricultural sites. Eldridge Circle – Pressure Reducing Station Der Rosenmeister Nursery – Seven Mile Drive Recruiting for a Town of Ithaca Town Historian The Town Historian answers questions from the public, staff and board members regarding our history and locations of historical significance. The Town Historian highlights our history through the newsletter, website, displays and an occasional talk. The Historian should be a resident of Tompkins County and have an interest in the Town’s history and the ability to assist with all types of historical information requests. They may be asked about burial information associated with cemeteries located in the Town by members of the public, or to research a particular site in support of a special event or activity. An annual stipend of $1,000 is provided. There are no set hours, but it is expected that inquiries from the public will be acknowledged within a few days and an estimated response time for information requested given. The historian will meet with the Town Supervisor as needed. To apply, please send a letter of interest and resume to Town Clerk, Paulette Rosa, at Clerks@townithacany.gov or mail to 215 N Tioga St., Ithaca. Upcoming Holiday Schedule - Town Offices Closed: Thursday, November 28th and Friday November 29th (Thanksgiving Day and Day After) Noon Tuesday, Dec. 24th, through Wednesday, Dec. 25th (Half Day Christmas Eve and Christmas Day) Noon Tuesday, December 31st through Wednesday, January 1st (Half Day New Years Eve and New Years Day) Safe Streets Tompkins Safe Streets Tompkins will hold a public meeting at Town Hall on Wednesday, December 11th from 4-6 pm to discuss and get feedback on the recent countywide network analysis which identified priority locations for potential safety improvements and particularly vulnerable road user high risk areas. Consultants Cambridge Systematics will present preliminary recommendations for development of Tompkins County's Joint Safety Action Plan in spring of 2025. Since fall 2023, the Town has actively participated in the Safe Streets and Roads For All (SS4A) data-driven initiative with the City, Tompkins County, and NYS Department of Transportation – as well as the towns of Caroline, Danby, Dryden, Lansing and Newfield and the Villages of Cayuga Heights, Dryden and Lansing – to prepare the Joint Safety Action Plan. The Plan will help determine policy and process changes and prioritize strategies and projects to address safety concerns. More information at https://safestreetstompkins.com/ or contact Director of Planning C.J. Randall at cjrandall@townithacany.gov or 607-273-1721 x120. A little Halloween Fun at Town Hall Around the County and Supported Entities Early Voting and General Election polling was held at Town Hall once again this year. Dominick Recckio, Tompkins County Communications Director, just put out this timeline report of Election Day, which illustrates the hard work put in by Board of Election staff and Poll Workers. I thought it would be nice to share and show the “behind the scenes” work involved in an election day. Multiple Drives happening in the area – This Saturday there is one in the Town at Trinity Lutheran Church, 149 Honness Lane, 10 AM – 2 PM More Information and Other Locations Tompkins County Whole Health – Healthy Neighborhood Program The Healthy Neighborhood Program offers free single-burner portable induction cooktops with compatible pot and pan for residents currently using gas stoves to encourage the transition away from fossil fuels.