Saranac Lake, NY, Dec 14, 2010 — Many villages and towns across the North Country are looking for ways to increase efficiency and reduce the property tax burden. In some cases that's led to discussions about sharing services, village dissolution or consolidation.

Trustees of one village in the Adirondacks took a step in a different direction last night, toward becoming a city. Chris Knight reports.  Go to full article

Massena, NY, Dec 07, 2010 — The concept of an Interstate connecting Watertown and Plattsburgh has been the holy grail of North Country economic developers for decades. It's been so long, the so-called "rooftop highway" can seem more legend than reality.

Supporters are fighting hard to push the project into the reality column. They're calling it by a new name - Interstate 98. And they're urging the state Department of Transportation to begin an environmental review of the project. That would mean charting a precise path for the road. And it would mean studying impacts on wetlands and forests, birds and other animals, and people's homes and properties.

But the DOT isn't on board. It doesn't think an Interstate is needed to begin with. David Sommerstein reports.  Go to full article

Nov 18, 2010 — The St. Regis Mohawk Tribe says it's "at an impasse" in talks with New York over sharing the revenue from the Akwesasne Mohawk Casino near Massena. The tribe says it's paid more than $50 million to the state, St. Lawrence and Franklin counties, and four north Country towns since 2005 under the Mohawks' gaming compact.

But those payments stopped last month when the tribe claimed New York violated an exclusivity clause in the compact by allowing slot machines on a little native territory in Clinton County. David Sommerstein reports.  Go to full article

Malone, NY, Nov 18, 2010 — Across the North Country, county leaders are struggling to slash budget, hoping to avoid big property tax increases. The Plattsburgh Press Republican is reporting that Essex County is considering selling the county fairgrounds in Westport to cut costs.

In Franklin County, meanwhile, county legislators are struggling to trim a tax hike that stands currently at 22 percent. Martha Foley has more.  Go to full article

Canton, NY, Oct 05, 2010 — Municipal power advocates in St. Lawrence and Franklin counties took a big step over the weekend. But they have a lot more work to do to create a new not-for-profit power company.

Governor Paterson signed a bill creating the North Country Power Authority on Saturday. It paves the way for 24 towns and villages in St. Lawrence and Franklin counties to buy the lines, poles, and substations from National Grid. Robert Best, president of the Alliance for Municipal Power, estimates that will cost $50 million. But he told David Sommerstein municipalized electricity from Gouverneur to Fort Covington is far from a done deal.  Go to full article

Saranac Lake, NY, Sep 29, 2010 — Essex and Franklin counties are balking at fronting the money for a $65 million project to modernize and renovate the Saranac Lake campus of North Country Community College.

NCCC President Carol Brown told county lawmakers this week that the 40-year-old campus is long overdue for a renovation. But they're are skeptical about the cost of the project, and whether they can count on reimbursement promised by New York State. Martha Foley has more.  Go to full article

Saranac Lake, NY, Aug 04, 2010 — The Village of Saranac Lake is overlaid by five jurisdictions: three towns as well as Franklin and Essex counties. Village leaders say that's a burden on taxpayers, and can hamper planning and policy for Saranac Lake. A committee has been looking for options to simplify the complicated municipal boundaries. One alternative is to seek "city" status from the state legislature. But there are a number of principal players, and some conflicting interests.
Martha Foley talked with Chris Knight, who's been following the story for the Adirondack Daily Enterprise, about the effort.  Go to full article

Albany, NY, Jun 29, 2010 — A bill paving the way for a municipally owned power company in St. Lawrence and Franklin counties passed the state Assembly yesterday. The bill to create the North Country Power Authority has already passed the state Senate. Robert Best of the Alliance for Municipal Power has been working on the project for almost 20 years. He expects Governor Paterson to sgn the bill into law soon. Martha Foley reports.  Go to full article

Albany, NY, Jun 28, 2010 — A bill allowing a group of North Country towns to form their own municipal power company cleared the Assembly Ways and Means Committee on Friday. It has already passed in the Senate. A floor vote before the full Assembly is expected as early as today. If it passes, two dozen towns in St Lawrence and Franklin counties will begin to buy power lines and substations from National Grid. The Alliance for Municipal Power is leading the effort. David Sommerstein reports.  Go to full article

Rensselaer, NY, Jun 22, 2010 — Municipal power advocates are in Albany making a final push for a new North Country authority. The bill would be the first real step toward two dozen towns in St. Lawrence and Franklin counties starting a not-for-profit electric company. David Sommerstein reports.  Go to full article