Morning News Briefing
Written by WBTA STAFF on March 20, 2019
County looks at lack of funding to fix bridge infrastructure.
Speaking at the county’s Public Service Committee meeting this week County Highway Superintendent Tim Hens told members there is lack of funds to keep on pace fixing Genesee County’s aging bridge infrastructure.
Hens said at their Monday meeting that the average bridge in Genesee County is nearing or passed its expected life span as most were built 50 years ago.
The county has been on pace to replace about two per year but now that replacement schedule is down to about one per year following cuts in federal aid.
Hens said the county may have to rely on sales taxes to pay for the replacement program.
Hens also pointed out that Genesee is one of only three counties in the state that assumes responsibility for all bridges and culverts within the county.
Troopers in Batavia bust a LeRoy resident over twice the legal limit.
State Police out of Batavia took 25 year old Jacob Harvey of LeRoy into custody following a traffic stop on Oak St early St. Patrick’s Day morning.
Harvey was stopped for allegedly crossing hazard markings after recording a Blood Alcohol Content of .2% he was arrested and charged with Aggravated DWI and other vehicle and traffic infractions.
Harvey was issued traffic tickets returnable to Batavia City Court for later this month.
State Police arrest a Perry man for drugged driving.
45 year old Kenneth Bagg of Perry was arrested by Troopers out of Warsaw for Driving while ability impaired by drugs and alcohol.
Officers had initiated a traffic stop for an unregistered vehicle on Silver Lake Road in Perry and after administering Standard Field Sobriety Tests they determined Bagg was impaired by both drugs and alcohol.
Bagg was released on appearance tickets for Perry Town Court on March 27th.
The New York State Amateur Hockey Association will be holding a hearing after video of a player being taunted went viral.
Footage from the January game involving the Cheektowaga Warriors 18 and under hockey team showed an African American player on the opposing team being harassed with racial slurs.
Two Cheektowaga players and an assistant coach have been suspended.
A hearing will take place in the next ten days.
A community development meeting on the topic will be held next Tuesday.
Negotiations continue at the State Capitol as this year’s budget deadline gets closer.
Yesterday, Governor Cuomo announced marijuana legalization won’t be part of the final plan approved by himself and the Legislature.
The governor says the issue could be debated again before lawmakers finish their session in June.
Cuomo urged lawmakers to make marijuana legalization part of the budget to try and fill a three-billion-dollar budget gap.
