Morning News Briefing
Written by Michael Baldwin on December 9, 2020
Interim City Manager Rachael Tabelski announced the appointment of Raymond Tourt as the Director of the Department of Public Works. Tourt has served the City for 22 years in various capacities including Assistant City Engineer and currently as the Superintendent of Maintenance. During his tenure, he has successfully completed multiple infrastructure projects to include over 10 federal aid projects, other responsibilities have been Streets, Sewers, Parks, Snow and Fleet operations. He currently oversees 23 employees in the Bureau of Maintenance. As the Director of the City of Batavia Public Works, Tourt will oversee the Bureau of Water, Wastewater, Bureau of Maintenance, Bureau of Inspection and Bureau of Engineering. “I am excited to continue to work with Ray in his new role as the Director of Public Works. The City is undertaking numerous capital projects and his knowledge and leadership will ensure that these projects move forward to successful completion. He is a dedicated and knowledgeable member of the City staff and I know he will be well received in his new role,” said Rachael Tabelski, Interim City Manager. Tourt will serve as Acting Director of Public Works for the next four weeks until the retirement of the current Director, Matt Worth, at which time he will be appointed provisionally. The City of Batavia encourages all citizens to welcome Tourt in the position of the Director of Public Works. Tourt lives in the Town of Batavia with his family.
Genesee County has 21 new positive COVID-19 cases and two more deaths. The deaths involved non-nursing home residents and both were over the age of 65. The new cases involve people from Batavia, Le Roy and six other communities. Seventeen of the positive individuals are hospitalized. In Orleans County, 23 new cases were confirmed on Tuesday. The county also confirmed another virus-related death.
The Volunteers for Animals at the Genesee County Animal Shelter have racked up good deeds this year. If you’d like to donate to a good cause this season, consider them if you’d like to make a tax-deductible contribution. Or you can donate stuff they need to care for homeless pets. So far in 2020, 369 cats and 124 dogs have been adopted.
Western New York Gas & Steam Association invites you to the Drive-thru Country Christmas Light Display – with a drive-thru food court every Friday and Saturday through Dec. 19. It happens from 5 to 9 o’clock each evening. Admission is $10 a vehicle. You can take a half-mile ride through the grounds and enjoy the thousands of Christmas lights and unique and amazing displays. You can even purchase some carnival-type food that you may have missed this summer. This is a fundraiser for WNY Gas & Steam Engine Association. Enter at 3000 Walker Road, Alexander, just off Route 20. This event will be COVID-19 friendly.
Assemblyman Steve Hawley joined several of his Assembly colleagues in a letter to FEMA seeking to ensure adequate funding for projects that he says are necessary to protect Great Lakes shoreline communities and surrounding habitats. Hawley and others requested the federal government to omit cost-sharing requirements that may come with a potential FEMA grant due to the state’s financial constraints.
