SCIPIO - What's in the wind for Scipio?

Keith Batman, town supervisor, put a positive spin on his update of wind farm and broadband plans for the town, at a town board meeting Wednesday night.

The board also weighed in on property issues related to its comprehensive plan, increases in highway expenditures due to rising fuel costs and their effects on budgets and taxes, and a review of its policies regarding the Southern Ambulance Service.

The Shell WindEnergy group met with a group of Scipio landowners on Monday at the Auburn Masonic Temple to discuss issues on which they disagreed, according to Batman.

“In the initial lease that Shell showed the landowners, all legal rights went to Shell. It was a big problem,” he said. “Shell has economic concerns and proprietary technology that it's not willing to give away.”

Batman said the company now seems more willing to discuss the landowners' concerns. He said that there was sufficient information for the town to move ahead and consider forming an advisory group.

Landowners' concerns included placement of towers and placement of access roads, and they wanted to know who was going to decide. Batman said it's difficult to determine placement because of all the scientific testing that has to be done.

Wind, soil and subsoil samples have to be analyzed.

As for setback issues, a third concern, the town does decide how far back the towers can be set.

“The landowners were asking for some say in where they (the towers) would go,” Batman said.

While Shell Wind did not inform the town which landowners were invited to the meeting, Batman said it was easy enough to look at a tax map at the land between Wyckoff Road and Route 34 to the town line to find out.

A meteorological experimental tower (MET) was placed on the farm of Jay Horst on Skillet Road.

Even if there is a compromise on definitive issues, a process has to be followed where the landowners sign on, followed by an environmental review process, which wouldn't be complete for another two or three years.

“They would like to be in by 2010 or 2011,” Batman said.

The broadband project to go along with using the windmill towers wasn't promising. Somehow the blades of the windmills could interfere with the signals, he said.

New York Public Interest Research Group (NYPIRG) will make an educational presentation, “The Facts about Wind,” as part of the Wind Power Education Project to examine misconceptions about wind power. Batman expects to participate in the event at Cayuga-Onondaga BOCES July 24.

The board also discussed the status of the Burlew property divisions as it might relate to concepts still evolving in its comprehensive plan, which is still being worked on. One issue was the size of lakefront parcels, as the Burlew property's proposed subdivisions to the town planning board are quite narrow. Whether or not the property division can proceed will be a function of the town zoning laws, planning board members agreed. The board discussed whether or not there were inconsistencies between its proposed comprehensive plan and the town zoning laws, as seemed to be the case in Fleming, prior to its moratorium.

The Scipio town attorney advised the town that it had to go by its old laws until it has a new comprehensive plan. Right now nothing in the zoning laws prohibits small parcels.

Highway superintendent Ron Walter reported he was able to save 30 cents per gallon of oil, by laying down chip and oil before the end of June. Now he's out of stone to finish two or three miles that still need to be done. The bill for the oil was between $44,000 and $45,000, so his account has zeroed out. He estimated that the work left to complete would cost about $8,700 per mile.

Batman listed the choices available to the board: 1. Whatever's left undone, don't do. 2. Look for a way to get input from the public and get a referendum. 3. Take money from an unencumbered fund as a stop gap to finish the roads this year. Since the highway account will be over budget this year, the town will have to plan on its being over next year.

“We're not looking for a one-year, short-term fix,” he said. The board has to look realistically at some $300,000 over the next couple of years, which could add up to a big tax.

“I don't suggest we need to resolve this tonight,” Batman said. “You can't increase a budget $80,000 or $100,000 each year in a town this size. The cost problems we're having are the same as everyone else's.”

The board discussed depreciation of equipment, especially trucks, as they had set aside some money toward the purchase of a new truck. They agreed to have the highway superintendent inventory their equipment so they could come up with at least a three-year plan and know what future highway expenses might be.

A final look at the cost of ambulance service in the town was initiated by Jim Perkins, captain in the Scipio Fire Department, who asked the board to reconsider an earlier decision not to contribute to the Southern Ambulance Service, while Genoa, Ledyard and Venice all do. Perkins said the service had improved but noted how difficult it was to get qualified volunteers when they can go elsewhere and get paid.

“Volunteerism is dwindling,” he said.

Board members made the case that the town has to plan and budget for more than one year.

Batman suggested that the service come up with a five-year plan that the town could look at.

Staff writer Kathleen Barran can be reached at 253-5311 ext. 238 or

kathleen.barran@lee.net