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Valley News
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• EDITION •
Essex County seeks occupancy tax hike Supervisors ask legislature for authority to raise tax from 3 to 5 percent By Elizabeth Izzo STA FF W RITER
ELIZABETHTOWN | Supervisors are asking the state legislature for the authority to raise Essex County’s occupancy tax from 3 to 5 percent. If approved by the legislature, the controversial measure could spur the creation of a “Community Enhancement Fund,” designed to shuttle new revenue from an increase in the so-called “bed tax” into town-level quality of life projects. The resolution seeking authorization to raise the tax was approved 3,073 to 966 on April 1. The lone objections came from Schroon Supervisor Michael Marnell and Wilmington Supervisor Randy Preston. Both have raised concerns about the plan’s impact on local hotel and motel operations. Ticonderoga Supervisor Joseph Giordano and Westport Supervisor Michael Tyler were absent. The 2 percent tax hike could generate approximately $1.7 million in new revenue, according to a recent report from the Regional Office of Sustainable Tourism (ROOST). That money would be directed to ROOST and doled out to committees in the Lake Champlain, Schroon Lake, Whiteface and High Peaks regions for distribution.
NEW REVENUE
The 2 percent occupancy tax increase and creation of a Community Enhancement Fund was first proposed by ROOST CEO James McKenna Feb. 11. ROOST is tasked with marketing Essex County to tourists in other areas. The organization currently receives 95 percent of the revenue generated through the county bed tax. The county Treasurer’s Office keeps 5 percent. » Tax hike Cont. on pg. 2
Essex County advances EMS pilot program Will supplement volunteer squads with full-time paramedics
KIDDING DAY
By Elizabeth Izzo » pg. 3
Red Storm track has many ny strengths strengtn SARANAC LAKE | Thnee Red Red Storm varsity track team is coming :oming off a strong indoor season anddhopes hopes the changing weather will continue Jntinue to bring success. )ftalent “We are a team with a lot of talent in our distance events, middledistance and throws,” coach Cy Ellsworth said. “It is time for some of our veterans to step up in the sprints and jumps. jumps. We have focused this preseason ason on on restarting the engine (manyvof of our our kids played winter sports), getting getting :ibility." stronger and working on flexibility.” Ellsworth said one of the: team’s team's strongest aspects is in distance:events, events, where Micah McCulley, Anderson 1derson nHe sGray, James Catania, Adam Hesseltine, Peter Fogarty and Andrew lndr ew Fogarty come into the spring 1g after afte r having combined to capture ure the the Class C state championship in in cross cross country last fall. “They challenge each other er every every day in practice,” Ellsworth said. “I look for Patrick Wamsganz and Brooks Fletcher to have great seasons in the mid-distance and jumps. It is time for Owen Yando to have an excellent year in the jumps as a senior and to provide us with some leadership.” Ellsworth also looks forward to the throwing events, led by indoor sectional champion Patrick Alberga. “Pat should be in the 50’s in the shot-put and give us the depth we 1 ''T1
1
need with need in in the the discus discus with Brennen and II look BrennenNobles, Nobles,and look for Jon Hewitt forJon Hewitt to to near near 150’ 150' in the the discus discus and and chalchalin lenging our school lenging our school record," record,”
he said. “We have said."We have some athletic younger younger kids some athletic kids who will give us the whowillg iveus the depth depth we ne ed. II can’t can't wait we need. wait to to get get the the season season started.” started." Members Members of of the the Red Red Storm include Patrick Storm roster rosterinclude Patrick Alberga, Jacob Adams, Alberga,J acob Adams, Dylan Amell, Swayer D ylan Amell, Swayer Carson, Carson,}James ames Catania, Catania, Rijah Justin Rijah Cecunjanin, Ce cunjanin,Ju stin
STA FF W RITER
ELIZABETHTOWN | Essex County is in the early stages of implementing a pilot program designed to address critical emergency service gaps and labor shortages. The Essex County . J Board of Supervisors on Monday formally accept a $2.27 million state votedto to voted formally grant, aa chunk chunk of change earmarked to pay f o r full-time full-tim1 staff to supplement existing volunteer EMS in Crown Point, TiEMS operations op conderoga, Moriah and Wilmington. conderoi; This Th is "st “staff augmentation,” according to to County County Manager Dan Palmer, is the fi rst step pilot program devised first step in in aa small-scale srna to test test the the feasibility feasibil to — and the effectiveness — of aa countywide countywide EMS of system. E County cials hope the additional help will County offi officials reduce reduce the the number numbe1 of dropped calls, improve the quality services in rural areas, and quality of of emergency emergt dramatically decrease de, dramatically response times. By possible with this four-town By proving proving that’s th test, could potentially unlock an test, Essex Essex County Colli additional in funding from the state additional $4 $4 million m to countywide. to expand expand the the initiative i1 “Implementing "Implernentin this program is a complicated and process,” Palmer told the suand time-consuming time -conslll pervisors’ Ways and pervisors'Ways : Means Committee last week. "] “But this is one of the most critical programs we’re looking at implep menting over the next few years.” n Supervisors voted 3,237 to 802 to accept the state grant. Lewis Supervisor James Monty, who called for pen more information about how the program would be funded beyond the grant, was the lone dissenting vote. Supervisors Joseph Giordano and Michael Tyler, of Ticonderoga and Westport, respectively, were absent. 11
Brooks Fletcher Duprey, Grant Eckhardt, Gabe Faubert, Brooks Fletcher, Andrew Fogarty, Peter Fogarty, Dan Foley, Anderson Gray, Adam Hesseltine, Jon Hewitt, Dawson Hough, Nick Kelting, Jeffrey LaVair, Micah McCulley, Connor McMinn, Brennen Nobles, Alex Purner, Sean Sanford, Colter Cheney-Seymour, Jackson Small, Caleb Shoemaker, Sawyer Trudeau, Patrick Wamsganz, Gabe Wilson, Brady Yando and Owen Yando. ■
Spr in g Spor ts Preview » Cont. on pg. 7
PHASE ONE
The $2.27 million in state funding accepted by supervisors Monday is expected to fully fund the purchase of four new medic cars this year, as well as the first-year salaries of five new paramedic positions under the purview of the county. Those paramedics will be on-call, charged with responding to emergencies in Crown Point, Ticonderoga, Moriah and Wilmington. “Addressing this sector became the focus of phase one because this area has what represents the highest dropped call rates in the county,” Palmer said.
» EMS program Cont. on pg. 2
AdkAction looks to replicate ‘Farmacy’ type grocer Goal is to start up in storefront by December By Kim Dedam STA FF W RITER
KEESEVILLE | AdkAction is looking to expand its fresh-market “Farmacy” model to a second location in Essex County. Marking success with the start-up local producers indoor market here, the nonprofit group hopes to duplicate the project they established in 2017 in a town without a grocery store. » Farmacy Cont. on pg. 3
Keene Central hones in on project priorities
Boiler, roof targeted for replacement By Kim Dedam STA FF W RITER
KEENE| After community outreach and input, Keene Central School has decided on which elements to keep in
their proposed capital building project. Final revised repair and renovation costs were reduced by $4.4 million to a total $7,859,566. Once approved by the school board, the capital plan will go to referendum vote May 21, the same poll as the school budget vote. The estimated cost includes $1.8 million for school boiler and equipment replacement. » KCS Cont. on pg. 2
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