I’ve heard it said that if you don’t like the weather here
in Allegany County all you have to do is wait a minute and it will change. That hypothesis became a reality for
residents in the Towns of Centerville, Rushford and Hume on June 15th of this
year.
It’s reported that those towns and others north of them
received some 6 inches of rain within about a 1 hour period of time. I strongly doubt if any town in Allegany
County could handle that kind of rain in so short a period of time. Thankfully,
I’ve heard no reports of personal injury but there was damage to public and
private property. That’s the good
news. The bad news is that because it
was one of those storms that hit a confined area the damage incurred was not
enough to warrant a Federal disaster declaration. In this case the damage to
public property, although considerable, was by some estimates far less than
that suffered by private property owners.
I don’t like doors closed in my face or the word “No”. Especially when I think a “Yes” is
appropriate. I doubt anyone does. The
rules of engagement for these types of occurrences is that damage assessments
are made mainly to public property (County, Town and Village roads, bridges, sluices
and right of ways.). For the property
owners, of those that inquired, the “rules of engagement”, pardon the pun, left
them high and dry. Government, without just cause, cannot repair or improve
private property.
Recourses, as we have been advised, are few. Little if any
of the private property affected was in what is considered as a flood plain. I
doubt if any affected property owners had flood insurance. Why would they? If
you don’t live in an area prone to flooding there is no need or requirement
that mandates a property owner have it. So, in a nut shell, the affected
property owners were told there is nothing we (Government) can do for you.
The irony is that in today’s world it seems all anyone with
a problem – of any type, real or imagined – has to do is complain and
Government runs to their rescue. Granted, aid often appears to be directed at
those less fortunate than others, but how do you tell a farmer who’s lost
literally acres of top soil, trees and other appurtenances that you’re on your
own. There’s no hope, no help, no aid available. Please remember these are
people that aren’t checking in a 9 and leaving at 5. They pay their own health
insurance, pay taxes, have huge equipment and labor costs not to mention
compliance with government regulations, et al.
They suffer extraordinarily when Mother Nature throws a
curve at them like the one suffered. In discussion with the Soil Conservation
Service and our Emergency Management personnel, we’ve asked that every effort
be made to provide as much aid – in the form of suggestions and advice – that
these folks might be able to contact for help. We’ve asked that research be
done to help those affected deal with what might happen should another freak
storm hit their property but unfortunately there is little, other than a
sympathetic ear, that we can provide under the present “rules of engagement”.
Efforts are being made to find help. Marv Covert, an affected property owner in
Centerville, is leading a charge in this direction. He’s launching a campaign to find help – but
he needs your involvement. How? By writing letters, sending emails and making
phone calls. If you have the time and inclination for this worthy cause please
contact him at 585-567-8586. Any
assistance you can offer will be deeply appreciated.
In other matters of concern the third and final vote on the
Sales Tax extender that keeps our sales tax at 8.5% will soon be taken by the
Allegany County Legislature. (The extra .5% is what concerns me. 8% Puts us on
parity with our neighboring counties.) I believe it will occur on Monday,
August 28th.
One interesting wrinkle has appeared. The extender has, up
until now, always been for only a two (2) year period. In the past we’ve asked
for it to be changed to four (4) years but we’ve always been turned down. Not
so this time. Instead of 4 we’ve been granted
a change to every three (3) years.
The problem is that this means the renewal of the next
extender will not coincide with a Allegany County Board of Legislators election
until 2029. Some 12 years hence. A tool
you have, to judge how your legislature is performing, will be denied. Right
now you have the ability to speak out at a critical juncture – by your vote –
whether or not you approve of the county continuing this additional tax. Yes,
you can attend meetings. Yes, you can contact your legislator and complain
anytime this extender is considered. The real power you have – the one that
speaks the loudest – is the voting booth.
12 Years is a long time.
If this concerns you as much as it does me I strongly recommend that you
contact your legislator(s) and ask them how they intend to vote on this
measure. Especially in view that the county generated - in their “hope that we won’t have to use the
surplus “Piggy Bank” to make budget ends meet” - some $3.5 Million in additional
“hoped for” revenue that increased the “Piggy Bank” up to about a $33 Million
dollar bonanza. Ending 2016 that amount was pegged at $29 Million. In every
budget that a stipend from this surplus was figured in – the county NEVER had
to transfer the money! Revenues exceeded projections above and beyond what was
needed to make the wheels of government turn.
Ending duplication in services rendered, ending inefficient
operations, ending building a surplus for our “Piggy Bank” and ending the over
reliance on Sales Tax revenue is the key. As my Grandmother used to say “Speak
now or forever hold your peace”. A contact list of all Allegany County
Legislators can be found on the web at www.alleganyco.com.
