Planning & Public Works Committee - Regular Meeting
About this meeting
- Government Body
- Planning & Public Works Committee
- Meeting Type
- Planning & Public Works Committee
- Location
- Cayuga County, NY
- Meeting Date
- July 14, 2026
Video will appear here as soon as Cayuga County Planning & Public Works Committee posts it — usually within a day of the meeting
Tuesday, July 14, 2026
44 items on the agenda.
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Start free trialCALL TO ORDER: By Hon. Robert Shea
MEMBERS: Legislators –Brian Muldrow, Heidi Nightengale, Hans Pecher (Vice Chair) and Amy Sargent
MINUTES TO APPROVE: June 9, 2026
APPOINTMENTS: None
Announcements/Items of Note:
- Countywide Strategic Plan PUBLIC Meetings are coming up on July 28th at 6pm at the Locke Fire Hall, July 29th at 6pm at BOCES, and July 30th at 6pm at the Ira Fire Hall. All will have the same content, just 3 locations for convenience. - Countywide Brownfield Opportunity Area (BOA) Pre-Planning FINAL PUBLIC Meeting coming up on August 19th at 6pm at BOCES. - We have received a great response to our Senior GIS Analyst opening and will be conducting interviews in mid-July. Planner applications are also coming in and interviews for that position will be forthcoming as well. - The cancellation of the Fall E-Waste and HHW recycling events was made as a result of the resignations of staff and the amount of time it takes to schedule, advertise, coordinate with the vendors, coordinate with the sites, facilitate registration, secure volunteers, setup the site the day of the event, coordinate the volunteers and vendors the day of the event, run the event, and breakdown/clean up the site after the event. These events bring many questions and requests for assistance from the public resulting in numerous calls and emails daily in the weeks before and after each event. In addition, the paperwork and tracking before and after the events, along with permitting required from DEC all together take an incredible amount of time. These events and the rest of the recycling program account for roughly half of the annual staff time for the individual in our department who ran the program, even more so in the weeks leading up to the events. We currently do not have enough staff to run these events given the countywide projects and grants that are currently open with deadlines. We are hopeful that with the hiring of new staff, we’ll be able to bring the events back next year, but there will be a steep learning curve and the number of events may still be reduced next year to account for the required training, coordination, and time management between the Recycling Program and all other county planning obligations and projects. We’re looking forward to continuing to partner with the Cayuga County Soil & Water Conservation District and Cornell Cooperative Extension for these events and to find a more efficient and reliable way of providing these critical events for the public to help maintain the environmental health of the county.
Director’s Monthly Meetings Attended:
- 6/1- Moravia NYF Small Project Fund Progress Meeting - 6/2- Cayuga County Convention & Visitors Bureau Board of Directors Meeting - 6/2- Countywide Strategic Plan Committee Meeting #5 - 6/4- WQMA - 6/4- CNY REDC Achieve Grant Economic Development Call • 6/4- Special Legislature Meeting • 6/5- Cayuga County Agriculture & Farmland Protection Board Meeting • 6/8- Cayuga County Micron Housing Committee Meeting • 6/8- Economic Development Coordination Group Meeting • 6/9- Government Ops & PPW Committee Meetings • 6/10- Required Annual County Training (Right-to-Know) • 6/16- Ways & Means Committee Meeting • 6/17- Cayuga Cortland Workforce Development Board Meeting • 6/17- Cayuga County Tourism Summitt • 6/17- Congressman John Mannion NBRC Press Conference- Deauville Island Bridge award • 6/18- Cayuga County GML 239-l, m & n Review Committee Meeting • 6/22- Economic Development Coordination Group Meeting • 6/23- NYS DEC Freshwater Wetlands Regulations Update Webinar • 6/23- Legislature Meeting • 6/24- Cayuga County iPhone Upgrade • 6/24- CNY Regional Planning & Development Board Meeting • 6/25- Cayuga County BOA Pre-Planning Grant Project Update Meeting with Fisher Associates • 6/26- NYS Association of County Planning Directors Meeting • 6/29- CNY County Planning Directors Meeting with ESD
Kelly King (Employment & Training) –
○ Youth Program updates: Primary purpose- To connect young people with paid work experience and career exploration. Aiming to teach essential workplace, leadership, and financial literacy skills while helping them earn money and shaping their long-term career trajectories. SYEP (Summer Youth Employment Program) Allocation for Cayuga County was: $ 236,811, which was an increase of $6,000 from last year. Amount held for FFFS funds was just over $21,000 leaving a reduction in program of close to $15,000. To make up for the loss we have reduced the number of program hours rather than serve less kids this summer. 80 plus applications received this year to date. 64 was program goal. Exceeded goal and had turned kids away this summer again due to high volume of applications and lower funding. The need continues to be high in this community based on poverty. 5-hour reduction for paid work experience to be able to keep the program goal flat to where we were last year at 30 hours per youth. ○ YEP (Youth Employment Program) Waiting for allocation. Funds are through the GIVE Initiative. Program year starts in September, and we are hopeful to receive the funds again to be able to continue to provide work experiences and workforce development skills to youth living in poverty and who are potentially at risk for becoming involved in gun violence in some fashion. ○ WIOA Youth (Federal youth program) Allocation is grim, leaving very few dollars for paid work experience opportunities. Working to be creative and braid funds to be able to continue to serve the WIOA eligible youth in the community. WIOA youth have barriers that require support to be successful in the workforce and to become productive members of society and gain work readiness skills. • Local Workforce Development Area- Merger Update: Cayuga and Cortland will not be separating until the end of the 1st Quarter of the program year (October) at the earliest or the end of the 2nd Quarter (January) more realistic. From a fiscal standpoint Cayuga will benefit more with an October separation to avoid the high fiscal agent quarterly fee Cayuga County E&T Department pays to Cortland Grant Administration. ○ Met with the Executive Director for Oswego County Workforce in Fulton at the Oswego County Career Center for future planning. Positive outlook. • Budget Preparation- Preliminary budgets were submitted to the Grant Administrator and then to NYS DOL FOTA team of guidance and review. FOTA designed a budget with the figures Cayuga County E&T Director presented for approval. Despite significant budget cuts from Federal and State funding streams, the budget has been made whole with effort to rearrange staff and duties resulting in a small surplus. Awaiting final carry in funds, which will be put fully to program for PY26. The NYS DOL has provided guidance to the local area that despite the shared designation with Cortland, Cayuga and Cortland have been allocated funds independent from the other and will operate their own funds. This will allow the county E&T Directors to make determinations that are best for their respective counties until the merger takes place. • Other Updates- ○ WIOA sub-recipient fiscal monitoring for 2 program years took place to close out. 0 findings ○ Single Audit for Cayuga County taking place for 2025 of Federal Grant ○ NYS Audit for the DSS Jobs Program- Favorable report and feedback ○ Mini Job Fair with 3 local employers in attendance (Birnie Bus, Elder Choice, DOCCS) ○ ACCESS VR Presentation and collaboration for braiding funds for program due to significant federal funding cuts and lack of other program revenue ○ Nucor Steel Assessments E&T hosted 4 evenings this month for hiring ○ 556 people served in person this month at the Workforce Center ○ 67 Job Postings created and posted by E&T ○ E&T staff conducted Worksite Supervisor Orientation to prepare approximately 30 worksites for this year’s Summer Youth Employment Program. ○ E&T Staff conducted new employee orientation and SYEP overview to over 60 youth, along with providing Financial Literacy education ○ Cayuga-Cortland LWDB Budget and Finance Meeting 6/10 Full Board 6/17 ○ Attended Oswego LWDB Meeting via Zoom on 6/25/26. ○ Participated in Empire State Development’s Consolidated Funding Application Workshop ○ Attended various trainings. They include County Annual Training, Higher Education Funding Opportunities and Resources (including the new Workforce Pell), and Updated Data Element Validation (DEV) Guidance.
Agriculture, Food Systems, and Natural Resources
○ CCE Cayuga is currently recruiting for the vacant agriculture educator position. ○ In partnership with CCE Seneca, CCE Cayuga is in the final stages of selecting a candidate for our shared natural resources/environment educator.
4-H Youth Development
○ CCE educators are delivering educational lessons for Booker T. Washington Community Center’s summer program. The lessons include gardening and agricultural literacy. ○ Through a new grant from Scotts-Miracle Gro, CCE Cayuga is starting a project to engage youth in gardening to help address food insecurity in partnership with the Moravia Food Pantry.
Petroleum Quality Sampling
Purchased 12 samples from 5 stations. Received results, all passed. Pit Stop, Genoa – 3 gas 1 diesel, Wilcox General Store, Ledyard. - 1 gas, King Ferry Corner Store, King Ferry – 3 gas, Circle K, Montezuma – 3 gas, Cayuga County Highway Dept., Venice Center – 1 diesel.
Bulk Milk Tank
Calibrated 1600-gallon milk tank at Keith Sensenig farm in Cato.
Gas Stations
Kwik Fill -Grant Ave, Auburn – 14 pumps, all passed King Ferry Corner Store -King Ferry – 9 pumps, all passed Kwik Fill -Moravia – 14 pumps, all passed Pit Stop -North Victory – 12 pumps, all passed
Marina Fuel Pumps
Owasco Marine South Shores Marina
Fuel Truck
Tested fuel truck being brought back into service for E&V Energy -Fleming
Scales
Vehicles scale at Raymond Donald & Son, Scipio Center. Tested to 82,100 lbs. Vehicles scales at Nucor, 3 scales tested to 113,240 lbs., 113,120 lbs., and 59,720 lbs.
Training
Completed NYS Weights & Measures annual 5-day training school in Oswego, NY. Commuted daily to reduce cost of overnight stay.
Purchasing - RFP/Q/I, Quote, Estimate requests
A. RFQ – EFC Environmental Planning Grant, Emerson Park I&I Study, B. RFQ – Pavilion HVAC controls C. RFP – Fleming Parking Design, drafted D. RFP – Solar array, drafted
Grant applications:
A. MPR Grant – applied 2/9/26, grant application denied B. NBRC – Timber for Transit Program – Deauville Island Bridge replacement –successfully funded for$3.1mil C. NY PLAYS – partnering with the FOES, applied June 15, awards announced after mid August
Emerson Park:
A. Projects: 1. Whitebridge road property driveway: review round 3 changes sent, new permit track process is now required for this project 2. Emerson Park Entrance and parking expansion project has been designed is in final review. 3. Vehicle charging stations – NYSERDA funded, installation complete and stations are operational. 4. Seawall Shelter removal: OPRHP response received - approved, coordinating with CCSWCD 5. DEC letter of no jurisdiction has been received regarding beach rehabilitation – Deauville Island B. Beaches are open for the season. C. Friends of Emerson Park (FOES): 1. The FOES continue to apply for local and state grants to fund the Destination Playground project. 2. The FOES has received commitments for the $2.5 mil PLAYS Grant match totaling $500,000. 3. The FOES have also received $109,000 from the CNYFC for the playground project. 4. The Friends are working with the BOCES Welding Class on a memorial sculpture. Designs are complete and materials are being sourced. D. Catering contract RFP for the Emerson Park Pavilion for the 2027-2029 renewal is with the Purchasing department.
Ward W. O'Hara Ag Museum/Dr. Joseph F. Karpinski Sr. Educational Center Update (Tim Quill, Director)
A. Programing a. Harvesting History series i. May 21, 2026 Harmful Algae Blooms in Finger Lakes ii. June 18, 2026 Karen Weissman Victory Farm Volunteers During World War II B. Museum Director: b. Engaged in museum website update c. Assisting Friends of the Museum with obtaining 501 3 C Status making the museum more self-sustaining and preparing a 5-10 year plan
Sterling Nature Center (Jim D'Angelo, Director) Report attached
A. Summer hours as of May 1, 9am-4pm seven days a week. B. Staff is working on: grants, publicity, volunteer training & coordination, summer youth program, Art & Nature exhibits
Owasco Flats:
A. No report
Trail Update:
A. The Auburn - Fleming Trail: no update B. The Cato-Brutus Trail: no update C. Cato – Fair Haven Trail – no update D. Cayuga County Highway trail maintenance calls: 1. Culvert Replacement/clearing: 1 2. Tree overhanging/blocking: 0
Grants & Finance
○ Empire State Development Tourism Matching Funds: The purpose of the Tourism Matching Funds Program is to provide funding to TPAs to market their destination in order to increase the number of visitors and the level of spending across New York State. Finger Lakes Tourism Regional Council pledges have been processed to begin regional programming for 2026, including America 250 marketing. ○ Finger Lakes Regional Tourism Council (FLRTC) America 250: Launched America 250 free coloring books available to any partner sites that would like to distribute. Contact our office for arrangement.
Tourism Support Programming
○ Tourism Summit & Annual Awards: Hosted on Wednesday, June 17, at the Emerson Park Pavilion featuring speakers Bob Provost, President/CEO NYSTIA & Ally Spongr Degon, Harriet Tubman UGRR NYS Byway Project and special welcoming remarks from Chairman Anna. Recognition was given to partners for America 250 programming, including: - Aurora Ledyard Historical Society: "A Living Declaration" - Lock 52 Heritage Society/Old Mentz Heritage Center: Founding Mothers' Liberty Tea Party - City of Auburn Historic & Cultural Sites Commission: History's Hometown America 250 programming - Cayuga County Historian Ruth Bradley: "Steward of County History" - Ward O'Hara Agricultural & Country Living Museum: "Stewardship of Agricultural Heritage" - Cayuga-Owasco Lakes Historical Society: "Preserving Presidential Heritage" - Melody Smith Johnson: "Harriet Tubman's Legacy in Action"
Public Relations
○ Media Trips: - International Underground Railroad Group FAM: Planning is underway for our September 2026 group FAM tied to International Underground Railroad Month. - IFWTWA Wine Region of the Year Group FAM: Early planning continued for a hosted wine writers group FAM with the International Food and Wine Travel Writers Association (IFWTWA), designed to capitalize on the Finger Lakes' recognition as Wine Enthusiast's American Wine Region of the Year. The proposed visit would showcase Cayuga County's wineries, vineyard landscapes, culinary experiences, and hospitality assets to a targeted group of wine and travel writers. This FAM is intended to strengthen media coverage of Cayuga County's wine tourism offerings while positioning the county as an essential part of the broader Finger Lakes wine story. - Pustika Samaddar Markets & Main Streets FAM: Planning continued for an individual hosted visit with travel influencer Pustika Samaddar, currently scheduled for October 15 to 18, 2026. The proposed theme centers on "Markets and Main Streets," highlighting Cayuga County's agritourism character, small-town downtowns, and farmers market experiences through a fall visit designed to appeal to her regional audience in the Philadelphia, New Jersey, and New York markets. This FAM is intended to generate visually strong lifestyle and travel content that presents Cayuga County as a charming and accessible getaway destination. ○ Press Releases: - Tour Cayuga Announces 2026 Tourism Support Grant Recipients - Juneteenth Celebrations in Harriet Tubman's Chosen Home - Tour Cayuga Honors America 250 Tourism Award Winners at Annual Where Tourism Meets Community Luncheon ○ Placements: - The Citizen: Finger Lakes Sweet Treat Trail Invites Visitors to Celebrate America 250 with Local Flavor - Smithsonian Magazine: America's Original Travel Influencer Drew Up a Revolutionary Itinerary 200 Years Ago. There's Still Plenty to See Along the Way This travel feature retraced Gideon Miner Davison's early 19th-century "Fashionable Tour," one of America's first practical travel guidebook itineraries, connecting the route from New York City through the Hudson Valley, Saratoga, the Erie Canal corridor, Buffalo, and Niagara Falls in the context of America 250. Cayuga County received a meaningful feature within the article through Aurora, NY, where the writer paused along the eastern shore of Cayuga Lake and highlighted the village’s connection to early canal-era travel, its historic lakefront character, and the restored Inns of Aurora, including the 1833 Federal-style Aurora Inn and the E.B. Morgan House. The placement positioned Aurora and Cayuga County as part of a broader national travel story linking Revolutionary-era memory, Erie Canal history, Finger Lakes scenery, heritage tourism, and modern visitor experiences. - Mainly Museums: Following the Path Through History – Well-Spent Time at The Howland Stone Store Museum This article by Theresa St. John, who visited Cayuga County as a hosted FAM trip writer, highlighted the Howland Stone Store Museum in Sherwood as a meaningful heritage tourism stop connected to abolition, women’s rights, education, Quaker history, and the Underground Railroad. The article emphasized the legacy of Slocum Howland, Emily Howland, and Isabel Howland, while also drawing attention to the museum’s distinctive cobblestone architecture, rare Underground Railroad pass, extensive suffrage poster collection, and unique “cabinet of curiosities” exhibit. St. John also encouraged readers to visit nearby Opendore, further positioning southern Cayuga County as a destination for visitors interested in historic preservation, reform movements, and nationally significant local stories. - Travel + Leisure: This 3,254-mile Road Is the Longest and Most Scenic in the U.S.—Passing Small Towns, 12 States, and 2 National Parks This feature positioned U.S. Route 20 as one of America’s most scenic long-distance road trips, spanning 3,254 miles from Oregon to Massachusetts and passing through major natural, cultural, and historic destinations. The Cayuga County connection appeared within the article’s Finger Lakes section, which highlighted Route 20’s passage through the region and noted Auburn as Harriet Tubman’s chosen hometown and home to Harriet Tubman National Historical Park. The feature placed Cayuga County within a national travel narrative that connects scenic road trips, wine country, Finger Lakes landscapes, women’s rights history, and nationally significant heritage tourism.
Marketing Efforts
○ Collateral: - Visitor Guide: A new visitor guide is in production and is available digitally here: https://www.tourcayuga.com/wp-content/uploads/2026-Travel-Guide-2.pdf ○ Campaigns: - Finger Lakes Sweet Treat Trail: The next pop-up event will take place at Northville Arts Center for the King Ferry Wheat Harvest Festival on August 1 from 12-3 pm and August 14 at Owen Orchards from 3-5 pm - Where You Go Matters. Make It Count: Received a 2026 excellence in tourism award for creative marketing from NYS Tourism Industry Association to be awarded at the annual conference in Corning September 2026 - America 250: Landing page on the Tour Cayuga website: https://www.tourcayuga.com/celebrate-america-250-in-cayuga-county/ ○ E-Communications: Newsletters have been revamped for a fresh new design - Partners June Newsletter: 40% open rate, 4% CTR - Visitor June Newsletter: 31% open rate, 3% CTR - June Pro Tip: 41% open rate, 1% CTR ○ LinkedIn: - 3 Posts Shared: 38 Likes, 2 Comments ○ Social Media: - Facebook Followers: 9,321 (June: 9,291) - Instagram Followers: 2,811 (June: 2,793) ○ Advertising: - Life in the Finger ½ page ad - Skaneateles Boat Show program - 585 Magazine ¼ page ad
Special Project Mentions
○ NYS Harriet Tubman Byway Project: - On June 13, 2026, Governor Kathy Hochul signed the Harriet Tubman Underground Railroad Byway into law at the Buffalo Juneteenth Parade. The legislation was passed unanimously by both chambers of the New York State Legislature. The byway is now official in New York State. - Phase 2, Cayuga County, etc. Resolutions - Scheduling presentations and follow up with: Sennett, Aurelius, Throop, Mentz, Brutus, Skaneateles to meet DOT deadline of early August
Karl Rindfleisch (Water & Sewer) – No updates
Kevin VanBeveren (Buildings and Grounds) –
- 63 Genesee – Working with landlord. The issue with water infiltration has been corrected. - HPO – 3rd Floor A/C repaired - Law Library Painting - HPO exterior handrail repaired - Trimmed Trees - Cooling repairs at HPO - Repaired Buildings tractor - Performed Generator testing at all buildings - Mowing and trimming as needed - Daily clean up downtown - Fire drills scheduled for next month - Completed painting at Probation office at HPO - Replaced ceiling tiles at Courthouse - Courthouse 2nd floor blinds ordered. Insall when received - Installing measures to limit control on PTAC units courthouse. - Soffit and roofing repairs scheduled for next week at MH - Progressing on getting summer capital projects out for bid, such as: PSB Chiller Replacement, PSB Sidewalk Repair, and Mental Health Paving.
Brian Soper (Highway) –
- Tree removal has been the focus in the central barn the last few weeks and clean up from storms that seem to continue to hit the mid-section of the county this year. - Roadside mowing is ongoing in all areas the County has 5 units out mowing currently with additional 3 boom axe’s trimming brush in the Right of Way’s. The crew has been around all roads the first time and started on the second mowing. - Prep work for the 2027 season has started on the planned road improvements along with the general maintenance that needs to occur throughout the year. - Staffing remains to be an issue at the highway. We lost 1 more MEO this past month to higher paying jobs with lower cost health insurance. Currently highways have 5 medium MEO, 1 automotive mechanic, 1 Automotive Diesel mechanic, Sign Shop position open with 1 Mechanic Diesel out on medical. The good news is I have been able to hire 1 MEO the Jr Accountant ,3 summer laborers, and have 4 workforce development workers that are helping to fill the lack of fulltime staff. - I am continually working with B&L on the Turnpike road bridge deck issues to come up with a plan to design and fund the necessary superstructure replacement. I plan on putting through a resolution next month to fund the design of the project.
Doug Kierst – (Soil & Water) –
AGRICULTURAL TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE: - Cayuga SWCD Staff continue to work with landowners and contractors on projects that are under construction. - Cayuga SWCD Staff continued to work with farms on project planning for multiple Best Management Practice (BMP) implementation projects funded through the Agricultural Nonpoint Source Abatement and Control Program, Climate Resilient Farming Grant Program and the Ecosystem Based Management Program. - There is one project currently out to bid. A mandatory site showing has been scheduled for July 22nd, 2026 and the deadline for interested bidders to submit their bid is August 5th, 2026. It is anticipated that the bid will be awarded at a future Board of Directors Meeting. For additional information, please visit www.cayugaswcd.org. - Cayuga SWCD Staff continue to complete monthly construction site inspections on one SPDES permitted construction site at an agricultural operation in the Cayuga Lake Watershed. - Cayuga SWCD Staff is assisting with the planning and site selection for the in-field training components associated with the Conservation Skills Workshop to be held in Cayuga County October 5th-8th. - Cayuga SWCD Staff provided permitting assistance for several projects in the Cayuga and Owasco Lake Watersheds. - Cayuga SWCD Staff continue to meet with Agricultural landowners as they go through the Agricultural Environmental Management planning process. We have met with farmers in the Cayuga and Owasco Lake Watersheds to complete two Tier 1 and one Tier 2 evaluations since my last report. NON-AGRICULTURAL & MUNICIPAL TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE: - Cayuga SWCD Staff continue to complete project planning, designs, permitting, contracting and bidding for several projects throughout Cayuga County. - Cayuga SWCD Staff completed a drainage improvement project on Firelane 23E, Owasco Lake Watershed, located in the Town of Niles. The project consisted of rock lining sections of the roadside ditch, upgrading road culverts and installing inlet and outlet controls to reduce the risk of flooding. - Cayuga SWCD Staff completed hydroseeding of critical areas in the Towns of Moravia and Niles. - Cayuga SWCD Staff met with representatives from the City of Auburn to discuss additional water quality projects at Hoopes Park. - Cayuga SWCD Staff assisted the Town of Moravia & Village of Moravia Highway Departments with he installation of a new subsurface drainage system on West Ave. - Cayuga SWCD Staff completed septic system designs, sanitary code inspections and percolation tests for county residents. Homeowners in the Towns of Conquest, Locke, Mentz, Moravia, Owasco, Scipio, Sempronius and Springport have reached out to the SWCD for assistance. - Cayuga SWCD Staff continue to work with engineers on the planning and design for a streambank stabilization and remediation project on a tributary to Owasco Lake (Owasco Lake Inlet). The project is funded through a grant obtained through the Owasco Lake Management Council. - Cayuga SWCD Staff completed the evaluation of culverts throughout portions of the Seneca River Watershed utilizing the North Atlantic Aquatic Connectivity Collaborative (NAACC) protocol. OTHER SWCD NEWS, WORKSHOPS & TRAININGS: - Cayuga SWCD Staff worked in conjunction with the Cayuga County Highway Department to carry out the County's Annual Tire Round-up that was held at the SWCD offices on June 7th. Special thanks goes out to NUCOR Steel for creating availability to receive them for further recycling and for providing volunteers to assist in the event as well. Approximately 3,500 tires were collected and recycled during the event. - The Cayuga SWCD is partnering with other SWCDs and agricultural related organizations to promote the 2026 Soil Health Field Days. The local event is scheduled for August 13th @ Rodman Lott & Son Farms in Seneca Falls (Seneca Cty). The meeting focus will be on Soil Health and Cover Crops in Field Crops. For additional information visit: FieldDays.NewYorkSoilHealth.org