TURBINES CAUSE A STIR

Allegations of conflicts-of-interest by town officials in at least one town in northern Franklin County has attracted the scrutiny of the district attorney and state investigators.

Ken Tacy lives in the Town of Burke where two wind projects could bring more than 100 turbines to his community. He says wind towers on an adjoining farmer's field will destroy his property's value and ruin his quality of life.

Recently, he and his wife Janet went to the county courthouse in Malone and pulled the records of who in Burke had signed contracts with the wind companies. These easements and lease options allow the wind companies to store equipment, give access to surveyors and even site wind towers on the landowners in exchange for thousands of dollars.

They found that two town board members as well as members of the town zoning board – including its chairman – had sold lease options to their properties and would financially benefit from the wind farms.

Ken Tacy said he and others in the community have asked those board members to recuse themselves as the town decides whether to allow the wind farms to be build. But so far the board members have  refused, he said.

“These people have been paid good amount of money for leasing their land and everything and they're sitting there on the zoning board and the town board making all of these decisions,” he said. “Are they going to make the right decisions? Are they going to look at what I have to say? Or are they  just going to look at what's going into their pockets.”

The Tacys took this information to Franklin County District Attorney Derek Champagne who says he's agreed to investigate.

“There's more than one particular township in Franklin County that we're examining alleged conduct and alleged activities,” Champagne said. “Obviously, because it is something that's under investigation I don't want to prejudice any investigation.”

The district attorney has asked state investigators in Albany to look into this issue.

“We are an investigative body and if we uncover wrongdoing that of criminal content, we will send it to a prosecutor.”

That's New York State Inspector General Kristine Hamman. Her office in charged with investigating any ethical wrongdoing of a state agency or state employee.

“We're at the very beginning of this investigation. I had a conversation, as you know, with Derek Champagne and he mentioned this issue to me and he will be sending me materials and we'll be talking more to see what role we will have in this investigation but it sounds like something we could certainly contribute to.”

None of the town officials contacted would comment for this story. The town attorney, C.J. Madonna in Plattsburgh, did not return several phone calls.

Dan Boyd, a project manager with Noble Energy, one of the wind companies that's proposing wind towers in Burke, says the turbines have a lot of popular support.

“It hasn't been until recently that there's been any negative sentiment in the town. It's all stemmed from these accusations of conflicts-of-interest,” he said.

For Noble's part, it says its project will generate $24 million in construction revenue plus add as many as 17 permanent jobs in the community. Plus, the company says the wind farms will share revenue with the towns that will help offset the local tax levy.

Similar accusations of conflict of interest have been leveled at town boards in Clinton County where 121 turbines have already been erected and will begin generating power in coming months. DA Derek Champagne has said he's been in touch with prosecutors in other counties.

The state Attorney General's Office is also investigating this issue, a spokesman in Albany said.

Burke is just one town that's mulling the chance to bring wind towers. Last week, the Town of Brandon southwest of Malone, held a public hearing that attracted more than 120 people to the tiny town hall. That town is considering a law that would make it impossible to build industrial wind farms. Residents were divided at the public hearing.

Some argued that wind power is the kind of green energy that's needed to replace coal burning power plants that's causing acid rain.

“Can't catch a trout hardly in any of the streams that I used to fish when I was kid because of the (acid) rain and everything. I think you're damned lucky to have these people here to build their wind towers if you'll let 'em do it.” 

Others argued that the promise of green energy is a sham.

“These things in my book are nothing but a big joke. They're here to make money that's all this thing is all about. I've said it before. It's nothing but the money. ” (applause)

Other towns in northern Franklin County including Bellmont and Chateaugay are mulling whether to allow wind turbines into their communities and the controversy continues.

GOV. ANNOUNCES GRANTS FOR TRAFFIC SAFETY

Governor Eliot Spitzer today announced highway safety programs across the state would receive nearly $25 million in grants from the Governor’s Traffic Safety Committee (GTSC). The Federal highway safety grants will be distributed among nearly 700 state, local and not-for-profit agencies to conduct various highway and traffic safety initiatives.                

“We continue to work diligently to increase highway safety and reduce the number of needless crashes, serious injuries and fatalities on our roadways,” said Governor Spitzer. “The funding announced today will go a long way to further assist us in meeting these goals. It will provide the many grantees with substantial, front-line assistance with the many safety issues challenging motorists across the state.”                                               

Organizations and police departments in Franklin County received a total of $47,481. The Franklin County Traffic Safety Board was awarded just over $36,000. Richard Pearson, consultant for the Franklin County Traffic Safety Board said a majority of the funding would be used to work with schools, hospitals and others. “What the Franklin County Traffic Safety Board out in for a grant is for us to do training with the hospital and school districts as well as the county employees,” he said. “And what we’re going to try and do is traffic safety courses and hopefully reduce the number of crashes that are being reported on the road today.”                                                           

A little over $6,000 was awarded to the traffic safety a child passenger safety program. Pearson said that allows the county to show people how to properly install car seats. And if someone attends a fitting station and doesn’t have a proper car seat the county is able to provide them with one free of charge.                                                                                                                      

Pearson said the funding from the state helps the traffic safety board fulfill their mission- educate the public and save lives.  “Without the state coming in and giving money like this to continue these traffic safety programs we would have a lot more deaths on the roadway and that’s what we’re trying to stop,” he said.                                                                                        

Local Police Departments to receive money include the Tupper Lake Village Police department who will use $2,250 for a strategic traffic enforcement, or STEP program. The program is designed to target such traffic safety issues such as speeding, aggressive driving and red light running.                                                                                                                   

Saranac Lake was awarded nearly $7,500 for a child passenger safety program and for the STEP program.                                                                                           

In Essex County a total of $51,892 was awarded to police departments and traffic safety boards. A total of $32,700 was given to the Essex County Traffic Safety Board. The Lake Placid Police Department received $4,592 for the Buckle Up New York program, designed for seatbelt enforcement. They also received $2,460 in STEP funding.                                                                                 

Since 1967, GTSC has been awarding Federal highway safety grant funds received from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), to local, state and not-for-profit agencies for projects to improve highway safety and reduce deaths and serious injuries due to crashes.

PASSPORT FEE GOING UP

The fee for obtaining a passport went up last week a day after new federal rules went into effect requiring travelers entering in to Canada and Mexico to show in addition to their driver’s license a passport or other similar identification.

An adult, age 16 and over, will no pay $100 compared to $97. For children under 16 the cost will also increase by $3 to $85.

And now both parents must be present for a child 15 and under to obtain a passport whereas is the past only one parent was needed to accompany a child 14 and under.

In addition counties are waiting for paperwork that will allow them to begin processing passport cards, which a less expensive, that are valid for travel between the U.S., Canada and Mexico by land or water but not air.

The passport card is expected to cost $20 for adult plus a $25 processing fee and a total of $35 for children 16 and under.

The newest changes have left some county clerks in the dark. In the past clerks were able to keep $30 from ever transaction completed. But clerks were informed last week through a letter from the U.S. Department of State that clerks would now only be collecting $25, even though the cost for passports is going up. “Originally, they said they weren’t doing this to make money, and when they first mentioned that our processing fee might go from $30 to $25 we thought are we going to fight this,” Franklin County Clerk Wanda Murtagh told the Plattsburgh Press Republican. “We were not told at all that at the same time our fees were going down, the passport fees were going up.”

Passports are good for 10-years. If an individual is renewing a passport five years old or less they pay a flat rate of $75 for renewal. Counties do not get a share of the renewal fee.

Murtagh told the Press Republican she did not know why the fees were changed but speculated that the federal government may need extra revenue to pay for a new passport-processing center in Indiana to deal with an influx of passport applications.

WOMAN SPENDS NIGHT TRAPPED IN CAR

A Chilson, New York woman spent hours trapped in her vehicle before crawling to a nearby road and finally being discovered a passing scholl bus.

Roxanne Dore lost control of her vehicle around 9 p.m. Thursday while rounding a curve on a remote road in Ticonderoga. Her vehicle slid down an embankment and into a creek trapping her inside.

According to Ticonderoga Police Officer Michael LaVallie the vehicle was partially submerged.

With part of her body in the frigid water Dore was eventually able to crawl her way to the road where she was spotted by students who alerted the bus driver. “She got as far as the road and collapsed,” Officer LaVallie told the Plattsburgh Press Republican. “Then the bus found her.”

The bus was picking up students in the hamlet of Ticonderoga at around 7 a.m. Friday. Dore had spent 10-hours in 20-degree temperatures before she was finally rescued.

“She had collapsed from hypothermia and exhaustion, said LaVallie.

Students carried Dore aboard the bus and gave her jackets to harm her warm up. Emergency crews were called and the Ticonderoga Emergency Squad transported her to Moses-Ludington Hospital where she was them transferred to Feltcher Allen Health Care in Burlington. Dore suffered multiple custs and scrapes, she suffered form hypothermia and shock and an injury to her left eye. During her struggle to exit the vehicle Dore lost her shoes and suffered frostbite to her feet. LaVallie said doctors were working to save her toes.

LaVallie said the students deserve a lot of credit for their heroic actions. “The students went way beyond what they had to for her,” he told the Press Republican. “They assisted her when she needed it.”

POLICE REPORT

Lake Placid Police arrested 44-year old John G. Gagnon of Lake Placid at 8:20 p.m. Saturday and charged him with driving while intoxicated, unsafe backing, unsafe starting and operating with an expired vehicle registration. After a traffic stop Gagnon was found to allegedly found to be intoxicated. He was processed and released on bail to appear in village court at a later date.

A Wilmington man was arrested by Lake Placid Police at 2:24 a.m. Sunday morning and charged with driving while intoxicated and failure to keep right. 27-year old Trevor J. Ano was pulled over for failing to keep right along Saranac Avenue and allegedly found to be intoxicated. He was processed and released on $50 bail to appear in court at a later date.

A Fort Drum man was arrested by Lake Placid Police at 2:57 a.m. Saturday morning and charged with driving while intoxicated and failure to keep right. 23-year old Brady T. Nix was arrested following a traffic stop where he was found to allegedly be intoxicated. He was processed and released on bail to appear at a later date.

Saranac Lake Village Police arrested 49-year Michael R. Thompson of Saranac Lake at 8:20 p.m. Saturday and charged him with fourth-degree criminal mischief. Thompson was arrested following a complaint by a local resident. Thompson is alleged to have have broken the windshield of the victim’s car. He was processed and released to a third party to appear in Saranac Lake Village Court at a later date.

21-year old Christian P. Lester of Victor, New York was arrested by Saranac Lake Police at 6:34 p.m. Saturday and charged with driving while intoxicated, leaving the scene of a property injury accident and speed not reasonable. Lester lost control of his vehicle on Broadway then left the scene of the accident. He attempted to cross Lake Flower where he fell and knocked himself out. Saranac Lake Rescue was contacted and transported to AMC Saranac Lake for treatment. He was later charged, processes and released to appear in court at a later date.

Saranac Lake Police arrested 42-year old Gary R. Kilner of Saranac Lake at 2 p.m. Friday and charged him with petit larceny. Kilner was arrested following a larceny complaint from a local grocery store. He allegedly left the store without paying for $186 worth of groceries. He was processed and released to appear in village court at a later date.

VILLAGE TABLES DECISION ON WATER SYSTEM STUDY

The Saranac Lake Village Board tabled a resolution Monday night that would have authorized the borrowing of up to $390,000 to cover the costs of a study on state mandated improvements to the village water system.

The board also held off on picking the engineering firm to perform the study, which will evaluate the cost and logistics of building a water filtration plant or developing a source of groundwater.

The postponement came despite the pleas of Village Manager Marty Murphy who said they need to get the study done so the board can decide which option to seek funding for by a mid-August deadline.   “I’m concerned that if we miss the August deadline for pre-application, it’s going to be a signal to the state Department of Health that we’re not being diligent in pursuit of compliance,” he said.  “We’re already behind schedule.”

Last fall, the Health Department rescinded Saranac Lake’s “avoidance” from having to filter its drinking water.  The village was given 18 months to come into compliance, either by filtering the existing water supply or finding another drinking water source.

Eight companies submitted proposals to study the two possible options.  The bids were ranked by the village manager, Community Development Director Jeremy Evans, Public Works Superintendent Robert Martin and Sewer Plant Operator Kevin Pratt.

A proposal from Barton and Logudice was ranked first, followed by bids from Stearns and Wheler, O’Brien and Gere and AES Northeast.  But there was a wide variation in what each firm would charge to do the study.  Barton and Loguidice, the top choice, submitted a $320,000 proposal.  AES Northeast’s bid was $271,000 and Stearns and Wheler $259,000.

Murphy recommended the board select the Barton and Loguidice proposal, citing their knowledge of the village water system and their “proven track record” on similar projects.  “I think we’d be comfortable with any of the top four,” he said.  “But we did feel Barton and Loguidice was the best qualified.”

Muphy acknowledged their bid was $50,000 more than the next closest proposal, but said that amount of money will seem “miniscule” compared to the total cost of the project.

But Trustee Dan Olson questioned why they wouldn’t try to save the $50,000 and go with the bid from AES Northeast, a company that he said has helped the village “immensely” over the years.

Trustee John McEneany noted the amount proposed in the bond resolution to cover the cost of the study was $390,000 – well above even the highest bid. 

Murphy said he recommended the village bond for the maximum amount because of unknowns and contingencies.  He reminded the board again that the village is under a “tight schedule” to get the study done.  “The longer we wait, the further we jeopardize hitting that August deadline,” he said.

But McEneany, citing his six years of experience on the board, said if the money is approved it will be spent. He also objected to the deadline. “I’ve sat around this table for too many years having this stuff shoved down my throat at the eleventh hour,” he said.  “And every time we do this, they spend every nickel of it.”

Dan Olson agreed.  “Usually when we borrow an amount of money, somehow somewhere that money does get spent,” he said.  “It’s incumbent upon us to make this project as affordable as possible for the village taxpayers.”

A four-fifths vote of the board was needed to approve the bond resolution.  With Mayor Tom Michael absent from the meeting attending a New York Conference of Mayors event, it was clear there weren’t enough votes to move forward last night.

McEneany said he had additional questions for Robert Martin and Kevin Pratt.  The board tabled any decision and will likely call a special meeting to consider the proposals sometime in the next week.

-Chris Knight

AUTOMOBILE ICE RACE ON LAKE COLBY GETS BOARD’S OK

A car racing club from the Southern Adirondacks will be putting on a race on the frozen surface of Lake Colby in less than two weeks.

The Adirondack Motor Enthusiast Club approached the Saranac Lake Village Board on Monday night seeking approval for an automobile ice race March 8-9 on Lake Colby.

Bruce Carlton said they’ve been hosting an ice race series since the mid-1960’s.  Normally they run 6-7 races per winter in places like Lake George, Lake Algonquin and Caroga Lake. 

But warmer weather this winter has led to the cancellation of nearly all the group’s events, prompting them to look north for better conditions.

Carlton said they visited Lake Colby earlier on Monday and found the ice was 15-16 inches thick.  They require a minimum of at least 12 inches to race.  “It looks very good,” he said.

Assuming the ice holds up, the event would involve 50-70 cars, some with studded tires, racing on a plowed, mile and a quarter long track marked with pylons.  Organizers say they typically draw drivers across the Northeast.

If the races are a success, Carlton said, the village may want to consider adding the event as part of the Saranac Lake Winter Carnival.

Board members and the audience asked a number of questions of the race organizers.    “I just haven’t ever seen anything like this before,” said Trustee Susan Waters, who wondered how noisy the vehicles would be considering the lake is directly across from the hospital. 

Claude Hutchings, president of the club, said they have muffler rules. “It doesn’t sound like NASCAR by any stretch,” he said.  “They’re pretty quiet.”

Asked about the environmental impact of their “pit areas” on the lake, Carlton said all entrants are required to have a shovel, pail and spill pillows.  If any fluid is spilled on the ice, it has to be removed in the pails.

Trustee Dan Olson said the event would bring a lot of people to town at a time when not much else is happening.  “Anything we can do to help the tourism economy, I think is a good thing,” he said.

Sylvie Nelson, executive director of the Saranac Lake Area Chamber of Commerce, also endorsed the idea.  “I think it’d be a great thing,” she said.

Trustee John McEneany suggested they meet with the Lake Colby Association, local police and the fire department to see if they have any concerns.  The only potential down side, he said, would be the noise the vehicles could generate. 

If noise is an issue, organizers said they can move the track farther out onto the lake.

The board approved the request contingent on a review of the proposal by village staff and the village manager.

-Chris Knight

SWEENEY DROPS OUT OF VILLAGE BOARD RACE

John Sweeney is dropping out of the race for Saranac Lake Village Board, although his name will still appear on the ballot.

Sweeney wrote a brief statement that was mailed to WNBZ on Friday.  “I am withdrawing from the Village of Saranac Lake Board of Trustee campaign and I will not seek placement with the village as a trustee at this time,” he said.  “I withdraw my name with regret and wish the remaining candidates the best of luck.”

Sweeney, a former village manager and former trustee, said in a conversation Monday that he’s taken a new job and would be too busy to serve on the board.  “I just don’t have time for it,” he said.  “And I don’t know how welcome I am there anyway.”

Sweeney said he wasn’t expecting to be nominated to run for a trustee seat when he came to the Democratic caucus in January. 

The nomination was made by Village Justice Paul Herrmann and may have violated a rule barring judges from political activity.

Sweeney said that didn’t play a role in his decision to withdraw from the race.  “But after the fact I’m glad that I have stepped down because of some of those issues,” he said.

His decision, however, comes too late for his name to be removed from the ballot on Election Day, according to Village Clerk Kareen Tyler.

The move means there will be just one Democrat – Jason Brill – in the race for two village board seats.

Two Republicans are also in the running – John McEneany, who’s seeking reelection, and former trustee Jeff Branch.

Both McEneany and Branch have filed to run on an independent line, under the Integrity party banner.

Dan Olson, whose seat also expires this year, failed to get the support of the Republican Party caucus last month.  He has decided not to run on a third party line, meaning his term in office will come to an end in early April.

The three candidates in the trustee race have agreed to participate in a forum March 12 at the Harrietstown Town Hall, organized by the Saranac Lake Area Chamber of Commerce, the Adirondack Daily Enterprise and WNBZ.

-Chris Knight

FIERY CRASH CLOSES PART OF NORTHWAY

One person was killed early this morning when a tractor-trailer and a car collided in a fiery crash that closed a stretch of the Adirondack Northway.

State Police said the southbound and northbound lanes were closed after the 4:30 a.m. crash on I-87, just outside Glens Falls, about 45 miles north of Albany. Troopers closed a 5-mile stretch of the highway between Exit 18 in southern Warren County and Exit 17 in Moreau in northern Saratoga County.

The crash involved a tractor-trailer owned by the Malta-based Stewart's Shops chain of convenience stores. The truck caught fire and the charred rig remained at the side of the highway during the rush hour. 

A state police investigator confirmed that the driver of the car died in the crash but the person’s name was not being released because next of kin had not been notified.

The truck driver was not seriously injured. He was treated at Glens Falls Hospital and released.

No other details were immediately available.

-AP wire reports

SAYWARD BACKS CUOMO’S E-STOP LEGISLATION

Assemblywoman Teresa Sayward announced Monday she’s backing a proposal from Attorney General Andrew Cuomo that’s designed to protect children from sex offenders using the Internet.

The Electronic Security and Targeting of Online Predators Act or E-STOP would create new laws to make it illegal for convicted sex offenders to use social networking websites such as Facebook and MySpace, among other measures.

“In today's day and age it has become increasingly more important to protect children from online sexual predators,” said Sayward, in a news release.  “This landmark legislation will go a long way towards making the Internet safe for children.”

The Senate has already passed similar legislation that will expand Megan's Law by requiring convicted sex offenders to register their screen names and other Internet identifiers as a condition of their probation or parole.  It will also prevent Level 3 sex offenders, or those whose victims were minors, from viewing Internet pornography and communicating with anyone under 18.

Sayward said she’s in full support of the E-STOP legislation.  “The Internet is an invaluable resource for our children, and now we must do everything we can to ensure that they are able to take advantage of its potential in a safe and secure manner,” she said.

There are 25,000 registered sex offenders in New York State.

-Chris Knight

CHAMBER HOSTING ICE OUT FUNDRAISER

The Saranac Lake Area Chamber of Commerce is putting a new twist on its annual fundraising event.

Instead of the Spring Fling Lottery, which the chamber has held the past five years, the chamber is introducing the Great Ice Out 2008.

Executive Director Sylvie Nelson described how the fundraiser will work in a recent appearance on WNBZ’s K and J show.  “Basically we’re going to putting an Adirondack Chair on Pontiac Bay,” she said.  “People can buy tickets and guess when the date, time, minutes and seconds when the chair goes down.”

Whoever correctly guesses the time, without going over, that the Adirondack chair sinks into the water could win 50 percent of the funds raised through the event.

Tickets are $2, or three for $5.  The deadline to purchase tickets is April 1. People need to be 18-years or older to purchase tickets and/or win.

Nelson said the chamber’s events committee felt the fundraiser would be a great way to get people excited about spring and at the same time, support the chamber. “[It supports] Pretty much all our operations and different events like the concert series, legislative issues,” she said.  “Its very important for us and we hope people will participate and have some fun with it.”

Tickets can be bought at the chamber, located at 39 Main Street, as well as several retail locations in downtown Saranac Lake:  Borealis Color, Bear Essential, Mountain Gift & Powder Company, Blue Line Sport, Christian Bookstore and Two Horse Trade.

The chamber asks those who want to check out the Adirondack chair not to venture onto Pontiac Bay. 

The event is sponsored by Mountain Gift & Powder Company and Upstate Vinyl Graphics.

For more information, contact the chamber at 891-1990 or by e-mail at info@saranaclake.com.

-Chris Knight

FIRE REPORT

Lake Placid firefighters were called to 77 Deerwood Trail at 5:56 p.m. Monday night.  One truck and 14 members responded to a report of a carbon monoxide alarm activation.  A search of the building with a gas meter detected low levels of carbon monoxide.  The homeowner was advised to have their fuel burning appliances inspected.  Firefighters were back at the fire station by 7:24 p.m.