BOARD VIEWS LIBRARY PLANS

Architects from the Syracuse firm Quinlivan, Pierik, and Krause (QPK) presented preliminary design plans for the new Tompkins County Public Library to the County Board. Architect Eugenia Brieva outlined the thought process behind the various design elements and displayed color drawings of the proposed alterations to downtown Ithaca’s Woolworth building, site of the new library. The boxy appearance of the former retail store will be softened with several new elements including varying facade heights and surface treatments, a drum-shaped main entry area at the Cayuga and Green Street corner, a curved window wall on the Green Street side, skylights, and a large bowed reading room window at the rear of the building. The drawings will be displayed at the former Woolworth building Friday and Saturday, during the Angelheart sale, and at the library after that. The library presentation, part of the regular County Board meeting, will be re-broadcast on cable channel 15 at 7 am and noon on May 5, and at 7 am, noon, and 7 pm on May 6. Media contacts: Rep. Barbara Mink, 274-5343, 273-7847; Library Director Janet Steiner, 272-4557; QPK Project Architect Eugenia Brieva and Project Manager Connie Brace, 315-472-7806

JAIL SPACE STUDY SHOWS JUMP IN INMATE POPULATION

Tompkins County’s jail population has increased dramatically both in size and length of stay over the past ten years. Drug arrests – up 180 percent since 1989 – have accounted for much of the increase, as have longer sentences, and increases in felony crimes, parole violations, and numbers of inmates waiting to be transferred to state prisons. Citing a recently completed study by an outside consultant, Rep. Tim Joseph reported to the Board that the original projections by the builders of the now crowded jail would have been accurate if trends had stayed the same. But the years from 1989 to 1998, reported Joseph, have seen unprecedented increases. The average length of stay in the jail has increased by 40 percent, and the average daily population is up 67 percent. While Joseph expressed reservations about the consultants’ projections for the future, they have estimated that, based on the last ten years, the number of beds needed at the jail could increase to 95 – 129 by 2005, 112 – 157 in 2010, and 128 – 173 in 2015. The current number of beds in the jail is 117. The jail committee is digesting the report and will continue to look at solutions to the need for more jail space. Media contact: Rep. Tim Joseph, 277-2519

COMMERCIAL CENTER REVITALIZATION GRANTS APPROVED

The Board of Representatives unanimously approved just under $16,000 in Commercial Center Revitalization grants. The 50-50 matching grants allocate County funds to the following projects:

TOWN OF DANBY

$1,614 – to Danby Fire Department, for replacement of picnic pavilion roof

VILLAGE OF DRYDEN

$3,000 – to the Village, for development of design guidelines for commercial buildings

$1,200 – to Southworth Library, for facade repairs (Rep. Michael Lane, a library trustee, abstained from this vote)

TOWN OF CAROLINE

$1,620 – to Brooktondale Committee for Pedestrian Ways, for Elm Street footpath

$ 920 – to Brooktondale Committee for Pedestrian Ways, for moveable outdoor planters

TOWN OF ULYSSES

$2,750 – to the Town, for Town Hall sidewalk

VILLAGE OF GROTON

$2,500 – to the Village, for wrought iron trash receptacles for Main Street

$2,350 – to Groton Hotel, for exterior rehabilitation

Approximately $66,000 in Commercial Center Revitalization grants have been allocated since 1997. About $50,000 remains. The Commercial Center Revitalization Grants Advisory Committee expects to open a second round of funding later this year. Media contacts: Rep. Michael Lane, 844-8440; Deputy Planning Director Joan Jurkowich, 274-5560.

BOARD ENDORSES E-911 SURCHARGE LEGISLATION

By a 13-2 vote (Reps. Dooley Kiefer and Frank Proto voted no), the Board of Representatives again showed support for an increase in E-911 funding. Earlier this year, The Board asked the State legislature for a home rule bill that would allow the current 35-cent monthly 911 telephone surcharge to be increased to as much as $1. Bills in both the State Senate and the Assembly were subsequently introduced; the Board’s vote shows its support for the bills. Obtaining home rule on 911 funding would allow the surcharge to go up, but a public hearing and amended local law will be required for any increase. Tioga and Herkimer counties also have State bills pending that would increase their 911 surcharges to amounts up to $1. Media contacts: Rep. Charles Evans, 273-5488; Deputy Fire, Disaster and EMS Coordinator Lee Shurtleff, 257-3888.

JAIL WILL REPORT ON INMATES’ SOCIAL SECURITY BENEFITS

By unanimous vote, the Board of Representatives authorized a system that will identify and report to the Social Security Administration jail inmates who continue to receive Social Security benefits. The benefits, which are for individuals only and do not affect their families, will be ceased while the recipients are incarcerated. The Social Security Administration will pay the County $400 for each identified inmate. Media contacts: Rep. Charles Evans, 273-5488; Sheriff Peter Meskill, 257-1345.

TAX AUCTION NETS $48,000

County Finance Director David Squires reported to the Board of Representatives that the annual auction of tax-foreclosed properties, held April 30, resulted in the sale of 18 properties and a gain for the County of $48,254.55. The largest parcel in the auction, however, remained unsold, and was largely responsible for an overall loss to the County of just over $64,000. The multi-acre piece of land carries $61,391.76 of unpaid property tax. Several properties were sold to neighbors, Squires noted, indicating that the County is doing a good job of letting adjacent property owners know about the annual sale. Media contact: David Squires, 274-5545