Our Cayuga County Legislature really needs to zero in and resolve many, many issues. However, it would seem that two major problems would be of prime importance - and yes, ahead of their jockeying for position in the rewording of our “consecutive 12-year limit” law.
The first is to establish a dedicated long-term Cayuga County director of industrial development to concentrate on bringing good paying jobs into Cayuga County.
Maybe, just maybe, the empty GE, Auburn Spark Plug and Bombardier plants would be humming and not sitting idle for umpteen years if we had one. One would be amazed how we could have lower property taxes - and boy, could we use them - if we had an expanded industrial tax base. But we'll never realize this if we don't have a specific individual(s) championing Cayuga County and what we have to offer - which is a lot!
State Sen. Michael Nozzolio, et al, jump-started the county by funding the first year's salary of our county IDA director. He is no longer with us because the state funding ran out and the county dropped the ball by not continuing to fund this important position. Not a very good move unless they're handing over the IDA reins to the city. Say it isn't so, George.
The second major problem that needs to be resolved is to hire a full time Owasco Lake steward who has the clout to make things happen. And this issue also contributes to the first issue because if we don't have clean water, not many industries or people will want to locate here. Would you blame them if they read in the papers that “Owasco Lake is in the worst condition of the Finger Lakes?”
According to the July 2001 Owasco Lake Watershed Management Plan, “Over 70 percent of the people residing in Cayuga County use it as a drinking water source.” This 41-page plan had 25 different “suggested actions” to “take control of the health of Owasco Lake and protect its quality.”
It's been five years since this plan was published by the Cayuga County Soil and Water Conservation District. As one can see, things have gotten worse, not better since then. Why? Because, again, we had no money and no one with any authority to make farmers, industry, municipalities or individuals toe the line.
On Thursday, at the Emerson Park Pavilion, Nozzolio said “As policies are developed by you all, we will find the money to fund them. But I want the money to go to solutions.”
The county has this 2001 Plan and Nozzolio promised to get the money.
All the county has to do is knight a dedicated individual to implement these 25 suggested actions. Why do we have to reinvent the wheel if we have this 2001 action plan? Just implement it!
Lead, follow or get out of the way. Which shall it be Cayuga County?
It's your money.
Balyszak writes from Auburn
Maybe, just maybe, the empty GE, Auburn Spark Plug and Bombardier plants would be humming and not sitting idle for umpteen years if we had one. One would be amazed how we could have lower property taxes - and boy, could we use them - if we had an expanded industrial tax base. But we'll never realize this if we don't have a specific individual(s) championing Cayuga County and what we have to offer - which is a lot!
State Sen. Michael Nozzolio, et al, jump-started the county by funding the first year's salary of our county IDA director. He is no longer with us because the state funding ran out and the county dropped the ball by not continuing to fund this important position. Not a very good move unless they're handing over the IDA reins to the city. Say it isn't so, George.
The second major problem that needs to be resolved is to hire a full time Owasco Lake steward who has the clout to make things happen. And this issue also contributes to the first issue because if we don't have clean water, not many industries or people will want to locate here. Would you blame them if they read in the papers that “Owasco Lake is in the worst condition of the Finger Lakes?”
According to the July 2001 Owasco Lake Watershed Management Plan, “Over 70 percent of the people residing in Cayuga County use it as a drinking water source.” This 41-page plan had 25 different “suggested actions” to “take control of the health of Owasco Lake and protect its quality.”
It's been five years since this plan was published by the Cayuga County Soil and Water Conservation District. As one can see, things have gotten worse, not better since then. Why? Because, again, we had no money and no one with any authority to make farmers, industry, municipalities or individuals toe the line.
On Thursday, at the Emerson Park Pavilion, Nozzolio said “As policies are developed by you all, we will find the money to fund them. But I want the money to go to solutions.”
The county has this 2001 Plan and Nozzolio promised to get the money.
All the county has to do is knight a dedicated individual to implement these 25 suggested actions. Why do we have to reinvent the wheel if we have this 2001 action plan? Just implement it!
Lead, follow or get out of the way. Which shall it be Cayuga County?
It's your money.
Balyszak writes from Auburn
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