Steuben County Manager bans all outdoor burning in Steuben County

 

Steuben County Manager, Jack Wheeler has declared a local state of emergency in Steuben County due to high potential for wildfires. 

 

The state of emergency declares it illegal to conduct outdoor burning in Steuben County from 12:00 p.m. on Wednesday, March 12, 2025 until the executive order expires in five days at 11:59 a.m. on March 17, 2025.  In addition, the New York State Burn Ban becomes effective on Sunday March 16, 2025, and remains in effect until May 15, 2025. 

 

Warm temperatures and low relative humidity this week along with brisk spring winds combined to increase our fire potential.  Local Forest Rangers and volunteer firefighters have responded to an increasing number of wildfires over the past several days. 

 

The major concern currently is unprotected grass, timber and dry brush lots.  With the spring season also comes unpredictable winds which can become gusty at any time. These winds can spread a fire to areas of unexposed brush and grass causing any fire to jeopardize life and property.

 

This executive order from Steuben County bans all open burning and all recreational outdoor open fires.  Anyone who knowingly violates any emergency order is guilty of a Class B Misdemeanor.

 

Today Is the Day For The Big YMCA Community Meeting

The Bath Community meeting about a possible YMCA in Bath.  That meeting goes from 5pm to 6pm today at the middle school cafeteria in Bath. 

 

Sheriff Allard's FB Post From Yesterday 

Steuben County Sheriff Jim Allard posted a Facebook statement yesterday, saying that County Legislator Scott Van Etten and County Manager Jack Wheeler were singling out the sheriff’s office, asking for details about overtime pay for sheriff’s department employees.  In the sheriff’s statement, he listed other county departments and their amounts of overtime pay.  The sheriff also said that the other county departments are not questioned extensively about overtime.   "To my knowledge, no other department or agency has been singled out for a review of this nature," Allard said in his FB post on Tuesday.  "To my knowledge, no other elected official or department head has been questioned publicly regarding payroll of any kind."

 

County Manager Jack Wheeler says the sheriff’s statements were, "both unfortunate and inaccurate."  Wheeler also says it’s "standard practice for Legislative committees and the county manager’s office to request details on financial items of all departments.  To say no other departments have received such questions is patently false," Wheeler stated.

Steuben County Legislator Scott Van Etten had a similar response.  "Unfortunately this is what we’ve come to expect as a response from Sheriff Allard," Van Etten said.  "He can’t seem to grasp the concept that Legislators are elected by the voters / taxpayers of this County to be the financial stewards of the Annual Budget and County operations."  

 

Tobia And Lando Object To Fitzpatrick's Letter To Trump

Two Steuben County Lawmakers, Corning Democrats Joe Tobia and Hilda Lando spoke out against a letter written last week by Bath Republican, Steuben County Legislative Chair Kelly Fitzpatrick.  Fitzpatrick’s letter asked President Trump to step in and have a federal agency investigate the working conditions of the New York State prison system.  Fitzpatrick‘s letter stated that Democrat Governor  Kathy Hochul was either incapable of solving prison condition problems, or was refusing to.  Corning Democrat Joe Tobia said the letter was "too opinionated".  Corning Dem Hilda Lando agreed, but she also pointed out that Fitzpatrick removed Lando's name from the letterhead, on that particular letter, when that was requested.

 

Kelly Fitzpatrick maintains that the only complaints she got about the letter were from the two Democrat county lawmakers, and Fitzpatrick says she was the only signature on the letter.  "It did not say 'we', it said "I", Fitzpatrick explained during the Tuesday Steuben County Legislative meeting.

 

Governor Kathy Hochul's Latest Executive Order

Governor Hochul signed an executive order yesterday, saying that no state run law enforcement agencies can hire any of the almost 3,000 prison guards she fired Monday.  The executive order also suspends home rule laws and bans county, city, village and towns from hiring, a fired prison guard.  Republicans were quick to respond to this executive order.  

“The governor could have used her executive authority to declare a staffing and safety crisis inside our correctional facilities and actually suspended the dangerous HALT Act to protect the safety of Correction Officers (COs) and inmates alike inside our prisons'." Assemblyman Phil Palmesano stated.  “Instead, she is grossly abusing her executive authority to extract retribution and just further hurt our COs even more by trying to devastate any potential future employment opportunities they may have. Shame on her. She should rescind this now.”

 

Langworthy, Tenney: There Won't Be A Gov't Shutdown

From Congresswoman Claudia Tenney: "House Republicans passed a Continuing Resolution today that ensures President Trump's America First agenda will be implemented. Americans overwhelmingly voted for President Trump and are eager to take the next steps to achieve the policy priorities of his campaign last year. While I do not favor Continuing Resolutions, it is essential to keep the government open so the reconciliation process will continue to move forward. If we fail to pass a reconciliation package that includes an extension of the Trump Tax Cuts, taxpayers in NY-24 will see an average tax increase of 25%. Expanding the permanency and the certainty of the Trump Tax Cuts is essential and a priority for President Trump and the future prosperity and security of the American people," said Congresswoman Tenney.

 

From Congressman Nick Langworthy: “Despite Democrats’ attempt to shut down the government, nothing they do will impede on President Trump’s incredible and quick work fixing our country. House Republicans are committed to strengthening our economy, getting our $36 trillion debt under control, and ensuring the long-term strength of our nation; it’s shameful that House Democrats have done nothing but obstruct this mission.

 

I am proud to say that this CR reduces, then freezes spending for the next six months. This allows the President the time to continue to identify waste, fraud, and abuse of our tax dollars which is one of my top priorities. 

 

A continuing resolution isn’t a perfect solution, but it’s our best course of action to keep the government open and functional delivering the critical services that the hardworking American people pay for.”

 

Gillibrand, Schumer: DOGE And The VA System

From Senator Gillibrand:

U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, and Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee Ranking Member Richard Blumenthal are leading a group of 18 senators in calling on the Trump administration to reverse its cancellation of 585 contracts with the Department of Veterans Affairs, including those that help veterans exposed to burn pits and other toxins access lifesaving health care. This care is guaranteed under the Sergeant First Class Heath Robinson Honoring Our PACT Act (PACT Act), which passed with overwhelming bipartisan support and has provided care and benefits to over 1 million veterans. Contracts targeted for cancellation by the Trump administration help provide the necessary personnel and resources to conduct outreach to eligible veterans, screen applicants, and process claims. The senators are demanding that Trump reinstate all PACT Act contracts and commit to preserving all PACT Act-related programs in the future. 

“Carrying out such arbitrary cuts and contract cancellations under the excuse of eliminating waste, fraud, and abuse is exactly the form of cynical action that prioritizes talking points about wasteful government spending rather than helping the veterans who have honorably served the American people. Any actions to hamstring implementation of the PACT Act – which passed with overwhelming bipartisan support – betrays our veterans and fully disregards congressional intent,” wrote the senators. “We ask that you take immediate action to protect and preserve all relevant programs, employees, and contractors in support of PACT Act implementation and ensure they remain unharmed by any further plans by you and DOGE.” 

Gillibrand’s letter to Secretary of Veterans Affairs Doug Collins was also signed by Senators Martin Heinrich (D-NM), Ben Ray Luján (D-NM), Ron Wyden (D-OR), Jacky Rosen (D-NV), Maria Cantwell (D-WA), Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Tim Kaine (D-VA), Adam Schiff (D-CA), Peter Welch (D-VT), Dick Durbin (D-IL), Cory Booker (D-NJ), and Alex Padilla (D-CA).