Let's Go Back for Aug. 22, 2014

40 Years Ago, Aug. 14, 1974

Tax rate set

The Grand Island Board of Education moved to set the 1974-75 school tax rate at $86 per $1,000 of an assessed value of property, based on an assessed value of $37,683,917. This represents a 98-cent decrease over the projected $87.03 rate presented to the population at the time of the budget's approval, Wednesday, June 12, 1974. The tax break for local residents is stated to be the result of a higher total assessment than originally estimated at the time of budget preparation.

30 Years Ago, Aug. 10, 1984

Board to discuss garbage district

Councilwoman Marion P. Fabiano Monday obtained Town Board approval to again have the subject of creating a town-wide refuse and garbage district investigated. It would permit the town to contract for garbage pick-up and place the cost on tax rolls of those benefited.

... The board Monday directed the town engineer and assessor to prepare a map, plan and report, which will be used to study the possibility of a town-wide contract. One of the two disposal companies now servicing town property owners in March requested an opportunity to "express the advantages of bidding the garbage pick-up by town contract rather than by the current method."

Fabiano also requested the board meet with insurance companies to review present coverage. The board agreed to discuss the matter at its Aug. 20 meeting. At the councilwoman's request, the board met at 4 p.m. yesterday for a dog control discussion.

20 Years Ago, Aug. 12, 1994

Rezoning request tabled; plat plan approved

The Planning Board at a lively meeting Monday tabled action on rezoning 1501 Ferry Road for commercial use, but paved the way for more discussion on the request to allow constructing a storage building on the property.

Faced with a substantial agenda, the planners agreed to recommend final plat approval of River Meadows subdivision. Waterbourne Group, the developers, has agreed to repair existing sewers and take steps to rectify a drainage problem in the area. Nearby residents at a public hearing Aug. 1 protested the plan because presently there is only one access road into the 59-lot subdivision.

Objections to the Ferry Road rezoning were cited in a 90-signature petition as well as a legal petition presented to the Town Board at the Aug. 1 public hearing.

According to information presented by a Ferry Village resident, the legal petition requires a four-vote majority of the Town Board when officials vote on a decision.

Before tabling the request for rezoning, the planners indicated it would be discussed at a mediation session. Creating a Master Plan for Ferry Village will also be considered.

10 Years Ago, Aug. 13, 2004

State budget boosts funding for school district

Assemblymember Sam Hoyt, D-Buffalo, announced that the state budget, in its final days of negotiation, will contain an increase of more than $500,000 in school aid above Gov. George Pataki's initial proposal for the Grand Island School District.

"This is what we've been fighting for," Hoyt said. "This victory has been a long time coming but it is a victory. The winners are the schoolchildren and taxpayers of Grand Island. Had we simply rubber-stamped the governor's proposal, the people of Grand Island would have been faced with the choice of a property tax hike or cutting school funding."

Superintendent Thomas Ramming said this was good news for the Grand Island schools. "With this funding, we will not use this year, the money could be used for future liabilities that we have little control over, such as retirement costs and health insurance costs."

The funding will be used in years to come.