Collins Library not

on county closing list ... yet   

by Richard Westlund

     At the July 1 Collins Town Board meeting, Supervisor Ken Martin announced that the new Collins Library was not presently on the list of libraries to be closed because of current county fiscal problems. Martin also informed everyone that during August there would be bait, or lures, laced with oral vaccines, distributed by airplanes in an effort to control rabies among the raccoon population of the county. Rural areas of the county are scheduled from Aug. 28 to Sept. 11.

     Code Enforcement Officer Gene Degman reported 23 building permits for the month of July.

     Resident Tom Raymond addressed the board to complain on what he termed a delinquent property, which he has had difficulty getting action on. Degman has been pursuing the problem, and has had a bit of difficulty in nailing down just who the owner is.

     Town Clerk Becky Jo Summers reported 404 transactions for July, totaling $4,333.75, the town’s portion of which is $3,989.29.

     Water Maintenance Chief Dan Stroud reported that the 104 new water meters are in and will soon be installed. He is meeting with engineers on the Collins Center water filtration project, and in the week of Aug. 8 will be involved in the installation of the cathodic protection installation in the Bagdad water tower.

     In other matters, the board:
   •  Agreed to pay $4,206.76, the remaining amount of the gas bill for the L.K. Painter Center when the town took it over. The bill was $7,800 at the time of the town’s takeover, but $3,600 was paid by the Painter Center.
   •  Authorized the town supervisor to sign a contract with William Schutt Associates, Inc. for $32,000 for engineering services on the expansion of the Collins Town Park, work not to exceed 18 months.
   •  Agreed to the Blue Cross/Blue Shield of WNY group application for health-care coverage and the group health-care contract.
   •  Agreed to switch from Niagara Mohawk to Energy Services Providers, Inc. for electrical energy for the town.
   •  Agreed to send a letter of support to state legislators and other government officials in support of Congressman Higgins’ letter regarding the contract renewal of the Niagara Power Project. Higgins is asking the Niagara Power Project to increase its offer of $2 million a year in recompense for the impact of its operations on the county waterfront to $10 million a year, and to index it to the inflation rate. This includes effects such as the delay of spring by the ice boom, etc. and other negative results to the area from their operations.

     The next regular meeting of the Collins Town Board will be held on Monday, Aug. 15 at 7 p.m. in the Collins Town Hall.