http://www.thedailynewsonline.com/articles/2009/07/05/news/5605914.txt
The Daily News Online.com
Serving Genesee, Wyoming and Orleans (NY) Counties
[See highlighted section below for “Keep Levers” action.
Highlighting added by WheresThePaper.org]
By Matt Surtel msurtel@batavianews.com
Published: Wednesday, June 10, 2009
WARSAW -- A measure which would have allowed big game
hunting with rifles in Wyoming County was turned down on Tuesday.
The Board of Supervisors voted 1198-82 against the
resolution. Larry Rogers of Pike and John Copeland of Wethersfield were the
only supervisors voting in favor.
The resolution was proposed earlier this year after the
Wyoming County Wildlife Federation asked its respective organizations to survey
members about using centerfire rifles for deer hunting.
It cited the state's initial ban on rifle hunting more as a
matter of conservation than safety, since deer population was in a steep
decline over the late 19th and 20th centuries.
The state Department of Environmental Conservation also
estimates the statewide deer population at 1 million and becoming problematic,
the resolution reads. Rifle-caliber handguns have been used for deer hunting in
the county for many years, and if a person has a DEC nuisance deer permit.
That means rifles can be used in Wyoming County for most of
the year except during big game season, the resolution reads. Few, if any,
incidents were reported in counties which have allowed rifle hunting over a
one-to-three year trial period.
Supervisors still had their qualms. Jerry Davis of Covington
said he didn't think it was a safe idea, given the county's population density.
Chairman Douglas Berwanger of the Board of Supervisors
likewise said he owned a farm and acreage in Arcade and worries about the
safety.
In other action:
n Supervisors approved a resolution urging the state
Assembly, Senate, governor and Board of Elections to authorize the continued
use of lever-style voting machines.
The resolution was proposed as a solution to expenses
county taxpayers have incurred through the purchase of electronic voting
machines through the federal Help Americans Vote Act.
Berwanger said hidden costs have included purchase of a
special "air-ride" trailer to transport the county's 20 electronic
machines to locations throughout the county, along with the extra work the
county's Information Technology staffers have assumed while transporting and
maintaining the new machines.
Supervisor Joseph Gozelski of Castile noted the older
machines could be kept in cold weather and other conditions, and weren't as
environmentally sensitive as the electronic voting units.
Davis said each electronic ballot costs 50 to 60 cents to
print.
n Supervisors passed a resolution supporting the creation of
a proposed sewer district along Route 19, just north of the Village of Warsaw.
The town and village are in negotiations for the potential
district that would be installed along the highway, out to the Valu plaza.
Supervisors cited the potential economic development which could result,
through the increased contributions of county property and sales taxes.
The supervisors also support the town's request for a sewer
rate of 1.5 times the village's existing rate.
Copyright © 2009 - Batavia Newspapers Corp.