Travis VanKoughnett

The General Services Committee meeting agenda includes a presentation on Security Upgrades and Briefing. Resolutions to be discussed involve authorizing an agreement with the Development Authority of the North Country for a fiber optic cable easement. Several resolutions concern amending the 2025 County Budget and funding/implementing transportation projects, specifically the replacement of Weaver Road over Skinner Creek, with potential federal/state aid eligibility. Other resolutions authorize an amended agreement for the statewide expansion of the Hurrell-Harring Settlement related to indigent defense, reappropriating unspent Homeland Security Grant funds for the Sheriff's Department, authorizing an agreement for the FY24 Operation Stonegarden grant, amending the budget related to unauthorized waste at the Recycling Center, and authorizing agreements for the Governor's Traffic Safety Committee's Stop-DWI High Visibility Enforcement Grant.

The session agenda included several public hearings concerning the 2025 inclusion of viable agricultural land in Certified Agricultural Districts and the eight-year review of Southwest Agricultural District No. 3. A key item was the consideration of Local Law Intro No. 6 of 2025, which provides a Real Property Tax Exemption for non-residential property converted to mixed-use property within the City of Watertown. Numerous resolutions addressed financial matters, including the payment of Legislators' expenses, setting the time for the 2026 Tentative Budget public hearing, position reclassification in the County Attorney's Office, and authorizing agreements under the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act of 2014. Employment agreements were authorized for the Faculty Association of Jefferson Community College and the Jefferson County Sheriff's Employees Local 3089. The Board also established the position of Administrative Supervisor-Highway, authorized agreements for an Employee Assistance Program, health benefits administration with UMR, Inc., and prescription benefits management with Pro Act, Inc. Furthermore, joint services agreements for County Assessment Services with the Towns of Alexandria and Clayton were addressed. Amendments to the 2025 County Budget were considered for the Airport Department, the Dairy Mill demolition project, and Buildings Department accounts. The Board also revised the Rules and Regulations for the Administration and Enforcement of the New York State Uniform Fire Prevention and Building Code, accepted a grant from the NYS Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Services, authorized an agreement regarding Federal Navigation Facilities at the Watertown International Airport, approved construction administration services for airport parking lots, and authorized an agreement with the Community Action Planning Council for fair housing promotion.

The Finance & Rules Committee agenda for the meeting scheduled immediately following the Health & Human Services Committee meeting includes numerous resolutions. Key items involve revising and adopting the 2026 Tentative County Budget, adopting the 2026-2031 Capital Plan, levying 2026 Tax Map Maintenance Charges, and setting times and places for public hearings regarding Local Law Intro No. 7 of 2025 (approving the 2026 Management Compensation Plan) and Local Law Intro No. 8 of 2025 (authorizing 12 and 13 year old licensed hunters to hunt deer). Other resolutions address budget amendments for 2025 related to County Attorney legal fees, Board of Elections expenses, and the Employment & Training Program. The agenda also includes authorizing software agreements, grant agreements related to cybersecurity, utilizing Jefferson Community College rental income funds for capital projects, approving the Mortgage Tax Report, and reappointing/appointing members to various boards and authorities such as the Cornell Cooperative Extension Association, Regional Fish and Wildlife Management Board, Industrial Development Agency, Jury Board, Soil & Water Conservation District Board of Directors, Sports Fishery Advisory Board, Thousand Islands Bridge Authority, and the Watertown-Jefferson County Area Transportation Council. General Services Committee items cover updating plans for the Watertown International Airport and roof replacement at The Workplace. Health & Human Services items include allocating additional State Aid for Community Services Programs.

The Health & Human Services Committee meeting agenda includes a presentation on a Homeless Solutions Update by the County Administrator. Key resolutions focus on authorizing agreements and amending the 2025 County Budget related to Opioid Settlement Funds for regional abatement, provision of Mental Hygiene Services, allocation of State Aid for Thrive Wellness and Recovery, Inc., and agreements for the Bi-County Mobile Crisis Program. Further resolutions address amendments to the County Budget for Public Health Department Accounts, amending a Comprehensive Planning Resource Allocation Agreement concerning Youth Team Sports Programs, authorizing agreements for continuing homeless services through community partners (Salvation Army, New Life Christian Church, Emmanuel Congregational Church), authorizing data collection services related to homelessness with Fort Drum Regional Health Planning Organization, authorizing street outreach services with ACR Health, and authorizing office renovations and security upgrades to the Human Services Building with BCA Architects & Engineers. Informational items include monthly department reports from the Office for the Aging, Community Services, Public Health (including 2025 Awards of Distinction), and Veterans Services.

The session agenda included several public hearings concerning the Tentative 2025-2026 Jefferson Community College Budget and various Local Laws concerning contract authorization, compensation plan amendments, and hotel/motel occupancy tax. Key actions involved adopting Local Laws concerning contract approval, compensation plan amendment, and local law amending the tax on hotel/motel occupants. Numerous resolutions were passed, including authorizing the vacating of a judgment of foreclosure, approving tax refunds due to clerical errors or tax certiorari settlements, establishing standard work day hours for elected officials, authorizing a settlement for motor vehicle damage, adopting and appropriating funds for the 2025-2026 Jefferson Community College Budget, authorizing employment agreements with the Civil Service Employees Association and for a pilot program with Clear Ballot Group, authorizing agreements related to WIOA funding and engineering assistance, amending agreements related to airport equipment and budget allocations for federal/state aid projects (Oxbow-Rossie Road and Weaver Road replacements), amending the budget for insurance recovery, reappropriating FY 2021 State Homeland Security Program grant funds, and amending the budget to replace heavy equipment for Recycling & Waste Management. The Board also accepted a grant award from the NYS Division of Criminal Justice Services for the Gun Involved Violence Elimination (GIVE) program.