Contents and Purpose

This page will contains links to the Calendar of Events and to the archived issues of the Harrisburg Herald.  Newsworthy notes will appear here to keep you informed of pertinent development in local, county, state and federal governments.

News Notes

May 24, 2005 - Lewis County Supervisor's and Mayor's Association to meet with DANC on economic development

The Lewis County Supervisor's and Mayor's Association will hold their next meeting at the the landfill at Rodman.  DANC's (Development Authority of the North Country) executive director Robert S. Juravich will host the supervisors and mayors in a meeting that will be initiate ongoing discussion on  economic development initiatives.  The agenda will cover:

The meeting will also feature an open discussion luncheon and a tour of the landfill, in which Lewis County is a partner.

May 24, 2005 - Towns Agree to Cooperate on Development of Comprehensive Plan

The Towns of Harrisburg, Martinsburg, Montague and Pinckney have each agreed by passage of resolution to enter into the development of a comprehensive or master plan.  The Comprehensive Plan is the foundation for land use laws (zoning) and economic development.  The project was initiated by Harrisburg Town Supervisor, Norm Roof and will be facilitated by Phil Street of the NYS Tug Hill Commission.  More info to follow.

May 24, 2005 - Wind Farm Construction starts.

The Towns of Harrisburg, Martinsburg and Lowville have been invaded by the construction crews who have begun the actual construction work on the wind farm project.  The general contractor, D.H. Blattner & Sons, Inc., and the roads contractor, Delaney Construction Corporation, have set up field offices at the intersection of NYS Route 177 and Eagle Factory Road in the Town of Lowville. It is not advised that "tourists" visit the site when construction traffic is active.

December 20, 2004 - Flat Rock Backs Off Plans to Complete Project in 2005

In a meeting with wind project landowners, Flat Rock Wind Power has stated that not all of the wind towers planned for Harrisburg will be completed in 2005.  None of the towers in Lowville are scheduled for construction in 2005.  Additionally, the required highway agreement has not yet been signed and some undefined "technical issues" remain in regards to the PILOT agreement.  The PILOT (Payment in Lieu of Taxes) will effect the amount of money reimbursed to Flat Rock Wind by Empire State Development through the Empire Zone Program and, subsequently will set payment to the Town.  Mark Gebo, the town's attorney, has been assigned to try to expedite the completion of the highway agreement, but the town is at the mercy of the State with regards resolution of issues surrounding the PILOT.

November 20, 2004 - Town Board Adopts 2005 Budget

 In a special meeting on November 18th, the Town Board, by majority vote adopted the 2005 budget.  Councilman Chase voted NO without comment and Councilman Snyder abstained citing "too many changes" leading to a lack of understanding as the reason for not voting.  Councilman Snyder is a member of the Budget and Finance Committee.

The 2005 Budget Contains expenditures of $258,244 which is down from the 2004 level of $279,219.  The Real Property tax rate will decrease by 0.75%.  Click here to see more information on the 2005 budget.  

 Contained in the 2005 budget are the salaries of elected officials which are as follows: