ECRWSS PRESORTED STANDARD U.S. POSTAGE PAID DENTON PUBLICATIONS PO Box 338 Elizabethtown NY 12932 Postal Patron
236968
Turn to page 13 to see how you can support community journalism. Published By Denton Publications Inc.
Burgh/North Countryman
February 8, 2020
suncommunitynews.com
• EDITION •
Plattsburgh f ighting for f lights Airport seeking inputs on essential service By Brian Happel STAFF WRITER
PLATTSBURGH | The number of passengers flying in and out of Plattsburgh International Airport is on the rise. But the question is whether a key air carrier will continue trying to add to that.
:rthURQII I ITERIIATIOIW. I
;,,
Hunter Church, Josh Williamson, Jimmy Reed and Kris Horn claimed the bronze medal for the four-man bobsled during the World Cup in Igls. Photo provided
RPORT
FIRST WORLD CUP MEDAL FOR HUNTER CHURCH
The U.S. Department of Transportation is deciding whether SkyWest will continue Essential Air Service flights out of Plattsburgh International Airport or give the contract to one of two other bidders. Photo by Brian Happel During a meeting of the Clinton County Legislature’s airport committee this month, Plattsburgh International Airport Director Christopher Kreig discussed the three proposals turned into the U.S. Department of Transportation for the next Essential Air Service contract. The airlines vying for the contract are Cape Air, SkyWest, which holds the current EAS contract, and Silver. Here is a look at the proposals: • Cape Air: 21 flights a week to Logan International Airport in Boston, Massachusettts, in a nine-seat, twin-engine Tecnam Traveler. The federal subsidy would be about $2.5 million a year for 2 years. See AIRPORT » pg. 4
Cadyville native is face of new era for USA Bobsled and Skeleton By Andrea VanValkenburg STAFF WRITER
CADYVILLE | Hunter Church recently claimed his first World Cup medal as he becomes the face of USA Bobsled and Skeleton’s international resurgence. The 23-year-old Cadyville man joined teammates Josh Williamson, Jimmy Reed
and Kris Horn in sliding into the fourman bronze medal honors at the IBSF World Cup in Igls, Austria, on Jan. 19. The last men’s bobsled medal win abroad was three years ago when Steven Holcomb helped claim a World Cup bronze medal. “I was a fan of this sport growing up, and I watched Steven Holcomb win the 2009 World Championships, and I shook his hand and told him I wanted to be like him one day,” Church said in a news release following the win. “This is so emotional. I didn’t think I’d ever be here.” Church helped secure the win with a 5.11-second push off the start block
in the opening heat, finishing with the third fastest downtime of 51.11 seconds. The four-man team officially stopped a German sweep of medal wins when they sped off the starting block at 5.10 seconds in the second heat and fi nished in 51.19 seconds for a combined third-place win at 1:42:30. “This sport is my passion,” Church said following the win. “There isn’t much else out there that gets me excited like bobsled, even as a spectator. The guys around me have a whole lot of heart as well. Everyone believes in what we are doing, everyone has faith in one another, and this team is truly working as one unit week in and week out.” ■
Leaders share vision for 2020 and beyond Businesses updated on county, Plattsburgh plans By Brian Happel STAFF WRITER
PLATTSBURGH | Optimism, the future and working together were the three main themes at the fourth annual State of the County, City and Town put on by the North Country Chamber of Commerce at the Butcher Block Restaurant. The event gives local leaders a chance to talk to the business community about what has been accomplished in the past year while also looking forward to what is ahead for 2020.
Clinton County Legislature Chairman Mark Henry (R-Area 3) was the first to address the crowd. “I am pleased to tell you that the county remains strong, and we are optimistic about the future,” he said. Henry pointed to legislature’s success in making the region more attractive for families and businesses by keeping taxes low. He told the crowd this year’s budget resulted in the lowest tax rate in a decade and the tax levy is under the property tax cap for the 8th straight year. But Henry also noted challenges, including the Medicaid program that he said could cause the county to lose about $1 million in funding, and making sure that with low unemployment, there are educated and trained workers who can take jobs when they do open up. City of Plattsburgh Mayor Colin Read, a Democrat, also focused on lowering
taxes, saying he wants to get the tax levy in the single digits. Mayor Read highlighted the city’s investment in infrastructure and told the audience to prepare for a lot of construction work in 2020, “We expect to see a lot of shovels in the ground this year.” The mayor noted this will be a big year for the Downtown Redevelopment Initiative, which came from $10 million in funding awarded to the city by the state. He said that money is leading to 25 million dollars in additional funding from private investments in the next 10 years. Read called for continued fiscal discipline. But he also wants to see more work done to attract more people to the waterfront. “We are the Lake City, and we need to fi nd ways to get people to live, play and even work along the lake.”
North Country Chamber of Commerce President Garry Douglas greets guests at the annual State of the County, City and Town. Photo by Brian Happel
See PLATTSBURGH 2020 » pg. 3
The City of Plattsburgh common council approves DRI study FGEIS leads to next step in downtown projects By Sarah Elizabeth Morris STAFF WRITER
PLATTSBURGH | The City of Plattsburghs common council has approved the final draft of the Generic Environmental Impact Statement (GEIS) for the upcoming Downtown
Revitalization Initiative (DRI) projects. In August of 2019, suggestions for the GEIS were submitted by the public to the city. This meant anyone could add what they believed relevant to review for the projects, and how it could affect the environment, traffic and public. Since then, the study was done by Chazen Companies on the new parking lots, Prime Companies’ multi-use building on Durkee Street, the farmer’s market relocation, river walk and more. The FGEIS was reviewed at the city council meeting Thursday, Jan. 30, where Vice President of Planning for Chazen Companies Chris Round presented the findings and
talked about where the city will go from here. “The resolution was very thorough,” Round said. “The next step in the process is the development of a fi nding statement … basically a compilation of the record and the basis for the decision making. Much of that information is contained in the fi nal GEIS.” Round explained that there is a 10-day waiting period after the acceptance of the GEIS before the city can move forward with adopting the study and completing the council’s SEQR process. See DRI STUDY » pg. 3
Expect Comfort Plus CVPH employees save 15% on ALL regular price items at Lenny’s
WonderWink ·
0
White Cross
Shop Online: LennyShoe.com | Free Shipping on Orders $99+ | Still Family. Still Local.
238632
285 Tom Miller Rd, Plattsburgh 518-324-7400 • Open 7 Days