Wayne Commissioners approve two awards, consider a third

HONESDALE, PA — The Wayne County Commissioners have awarded two bids.

The first awarded $96,786 to Leeward Construction of Honesdale for the paving of the space occupied by the former county prison and work release center. The prisoners from the old prison, which sat behind the county court house on Court Street, were transferred to the new correctional facility in Indian Orchard. The plot of land that the old prison occupied will be converted into a parking lot.

A second award authorizes the county clerk to proceed under a reimbursement agreement, spending $887,000 to begin the removal and construction of the Axe Factory Bridge on Tryon Street.

Bids are being sought for the replacement of the flooring in the Earl J. Simons Senior Center on 11th Street.

New York website on energy-efficiency grants launched

NEW YORK STATE — Governor David A. Paterson has announced the launch of an energy efficiency clearinghouse website ( www.nyserda.org/clearinghouse ) that will provide information on state-funded energy efficiency programs available to schools, hospitals and local governments.

“New York’s clean energy programs help to reduce costs, create jobs, and improve our environment. This clearinghouse will make it easier to access the many great efficiency programs offered by the State by providing a single point of access to the programs,” Paterson said. “We urge every facility administrator to check this comprehensive page for information on energy efficiency programs that can reduce operational costs while spurring clean energy job growth and reducing our greenhouse gas emissions.”

Pennsylvania DEP releases climate change report

HARRISBURG, PA — A shift in the ability of crops to thrive, increased building cooling costs and lower heating costs are among the possible impacts of climate change identified in the Pennsylvania Climate Impact Assessment, a report released today by the Department of Environmental Protection.

“Climate change is long-term variations to daily weather patterns,” said DEP secretary John Hanger. “ This report presents an assessment of how climate change could potentially affect such things as human health, wildlife, recreation, agriculture, tourism and the economy in Pennsylvania for the rest of the 21st Century.”

Hanger said the report states temperatures and precipitation are likely to increase in the decades to come. Those conditions could lead to longer growing seasons, which could increase the yield of crops like corn and soy beans. But those same conditions could also lead to a decrease in the yield of cool-temperature adapted fruits and vegetables like apples and potatoes.

Stephenson withdraws from sheriff’s race

MONTICELLO, NY — Keith Stephenson, a 14-year sheriff’s deputy in Sullivan County, has withdrawn his candidacy for the election to be held in November.

In a letter to media outlets Stephenson wrote, “After being unable to obtain the Conservative or Democratic Party nominations, I have recently decided not to pursue the election as an independent candidate. After careful consideration I have decided to withdraw my candidacy.”

The race will now be between Michael Schiff, the incumbent sheriff who has the backing of the Republican and Conservative parties, and Frank Armstrong, a county legislator running on the Democratic ticket.

Liberty traffic circle complete

LIBERTY, NY — A ceremony celebrating the formal completion of the traffic circle beautification at the Mill Street intersection of Routes 52 and 55 will be held on Thursday, July 16 at 10:30 a.m. The occasion will be marked by unveiling the “Welcome to Liberty” sign and raising the U.S. flag and flags representing the branches of the U.S. Armed Forces.

The project was funded through the Sullivan County Legislature’s Beautification Initiative Grant (BIG). Patrick Kelly of Kelly Masonry & Design in Liberty provided the project design and donated his skills and expertise to build the “Welcome” sign. The other elements of the project design were made possible through the engagement and donations from local businesses DJM Dealers, Phoenix Enterprises, Werlau Enterprises, Catskill Harvest Market, Ashlee Green and Hofer Log & Lumber. Additional support and assistance was provided by the Village of Liberty Department of Public Works and the Town of Liberty Highway Department.

The Route 52/55 traffic circle is the final element of the Mill Street Gateway BIG program

Hinchey urges FERC to deny NYRI request

WASHINGTON, DC — U.S. Representatives Maurice Hinchey (D-NY), Michael A. Arcuri (D-NY) and John Hall (D-NY) have sent a letter to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) urging it to deny a request by New York Regional Interconnect, Inc. (NYRI) that would pave the way for NYRI to receive special ratepayer subsidies for its suspended power line proposal.

NYRI is appealing a previous FERC ruling that refused to overturn the New York Independent System Operator (NYISO) voting provision that effectively blocks NYRI from receiving ratepayer subsidies for its proposal. The company suspended its pending application with the New York Public Service Commission following that decision, citing the fact that without ratepayer subsidies, the project was not economically viable.

The congressmen wrote, “We appreciate the commission’s prior positions in this matter and hope that the commission will continue to dismiss NYRI’s disingenuous attempts to obtain undue consideration for their poorly conceived proposal, which is widely and vehemently opposed throughout New York State.”