AUBURN - The Cayuga County Sheriff's Office will transfer money from its construction budget to help pay for its Navigation Unit to continue patrolling the county's waterways through the middle of September. The transaction was announced at Tuesday night's Cayuga County Legislature meeting.
Two drownings in Owasco and Cayuga lakes this summer soaked up the money budgeted to pay the Navigation Unit, which worked overtime to search for the victims.
On Wednesday, the sheriff's office will continue the search for Thomas Goff, who drowned in Owasco Lake July 25. State police will help by bringing never-before-used sonar equipment to search the depths of Owasco Lake. The body of Dennis M. Jones, who drowned in Cayuga Lake Aug. 2 was recovered two days later.
State police and the sheriff's office will use brand-new sonar equipment to search for Goff Wednesday and Thursday, Cayuga County Sheriff David Gould said. After that, he will re-evaluate the office's ability to continue the search.
“I'm optimistically hopeful that we'll be successful in the next few days,” Gould said.
With a warm end to the summer, the need for patrol boats is crucial, Gould said. And the recent drownings only further prove the importance of water patrol, he said.
The sheriff's office will transfer $10,000 from its construction budget to its salaries budget to allow the unit to work during the week. Without additional money, the unit would be able to patrol only on the weekends, Gould said.
“We certainly need them out there for all the people who depend on them,” Gould said.
The Legislature agreed Tuesday to support the state Senate's investigation of New York's failure to collect taxes on cigarettes sold to non-American Indians on reservations.
The Senate investigation would probe why Gov. David Paterson has not enforced tax collection on cigarettes sold on reservations to non-American Indians, which proponents of the investigation say has cost the state millions of dollars in tax revenue at a time when a budget deficit and slow economy have left the state strapped for cash.
“This is a long time in coming,” said Chairman of the Legislature Peter Tortorici. “It should have been acted on long ago.”
The state has struggled for years to collect taxes from American Indian sellers. But a recent report that Gov. Paterson allowed $65 million of potential American Indian cigarette taxes to go uncollected has spurred the Senate to act.
“An investigation is going to put heat on the governor,” said Legislator George Fearon, R-Union Springs. He described the money that could be collected on cigarette taxes as “low-hanging fruit” to help ease the state's economic troubles. “It could help reduce the burden to the entire state,” he said.
In other news:
* After a closed executive session, at which an unnamed personnel matter was discussed, County Attorney Fred Wesphal said County Manager Wayne Allen is still on administrative leave. Tortorici will serve as acting manager.
* The Legislature agreed to create and fill the position of assistant county attorney, with a salary not to exceed $75 an hour.
* The Legislature unanimously approved a 3 percent increase, about $82,000, to the county's contribution to Cayuga Community College's 2010 budget.
* The Legislature also approved the appointment of Jeff Edwards, of Genoa, to the Cayuga County College Board of Trustees. Edwards replaces Gina Speno and will serve the remainder of her term, until June 30, 2010.
Staff writer Sarah Gantz can be reached at 253-5311 ext. 237 or sarah.gantz@lee.net
On Wednesday, the sheriff's office will continue the search for Thomas Goff, who drowned in Owasco Lake July 25. State police will help by bringing never-before-used sonar equipment to search the depths of Owasco Lake. The body of Dennis M. Jones, who drowned in Cayuga Lake Aug. 2 was recovered two days later.
State police and the sheriff's office will use brand-new sonar equipment to search for Goff Wednesday and Thursday, Cayuga County Sheriff David Gould said. After that, he will re-evaluate the office's ability to continue the search.
“I'm optimistically hopeful that we'll be successful in the next few days,” Gould said.
With a warm end to the summer, the need for patrol boats is crucial, Gould said. And the recent drownings only further prove the importance of water patrol, he said.
The sheriff's office will transfer $10,000 from its construction budget to its salaries budget to allow the unit to work during the week. Without additional money, the unit would be able to patrol only on the weekends, Gould said.
“We certainly need them out there for all the people who depend on them,” Gould said.
The Legislature agreed Tuesday to support the state Senate's investigation of New York's failure to collect taxes on cigarettes sold to non-American Indians on reservations.
The Senate investigation would probe why Gov. David Paterson has not enforced tax collection on cigarettes sold on reservations to non-American Indians, which proponents of the investigation say has cost the state millions of dollars in tax revenue at a time when a budget deficit and slow economy have left the state strapped for cash.
“This is a long time in coming,” said Chairman of the Legislature Peter Tortorici. “It should have been acted on long ago.”
The state has struggled for years to collect taxes from American Indian sellers. But a recent report that Gov. Paterson allowed $65 million of potential American Indian cigarette taxes to go uncollected has spurred the Senate to act.
“An investigation is going to put heat on the governor,” said Legislator George Fearon, R-Union Springs. He described the money that could be collected on cigarette taxes as “low-hanging fruit” to help ease the state's economic troubles. “It could help reduce the burden to the entire state,” he said.
In other news:
* After a closed executive session, at which an unnamed personnel matter was discussed, County Attorney Fred Wesphal said County Manager Wayne Allen is still on administrative leave. Tortorici will serve as acting manager.
* The Legislature agreed to create and fill the position of assistant county attorney, with a salary not to exceed $75 an hour.
* The Legislature unanimously approved a 3 percent increase, about $82,000, to the county's contribution to Cayuga Community College's 2010 budget.
* The Legislature also approved the appointment of Jeff Edwards, of Genoa, to the Cayuga County College Board of Trustees. Edwards replaces Gina Speno and will serve the remainder of her term, until June 30, 2010.
Staff writer Sarah Gantz can be reached at 253-5311 ext. 237 or sarah.gantz@lee.net
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