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Lewis County Legislature adopts special-events law, approves $3.41M in claims and sells Lyons Falls school property
Summary
At its regular meeting the Lewis County Legislature adopted an amended local law on special events, approved auditing $3,410,559.23 in claims and authorized sale of the former Lyons Falls school building to a developer. A public commenter raised concerns about UTV traffic that the chair said was outside the hearing’s scope.
The Lewis County Legislature voted to adopt an amended local law regulating and permitting special events on county roads, trails and other county property and approved a set of related resolutions at a regular meeting. The board also audited and allowed claims totaling $3,410,559.23 and approved the sale of the former Lyons Falls school building to Top View Apartments, Lewis LLC.
The action followed a public hearing on the amended local law. Nicole Delash, a Martinsburg resident, spoke during the hearing to oppose new vehicle access on a local road used by utility terrain vehicles (UTVs), saying her home is “very, very close to this road” and describing near-miss crashes at a nearby curve. The chairman told Delash the hearing before the legislature was limited to the county’s event-permitting law and noted the county ATV trail network closes for the season the Monday after Columbus Day (Tuesday, October 14 for Lewis County this year). Delash apologized for being “misinformed” about the meeting’s purpose.
Why it matters: the adopted local law (Local Law No. 6–2025) creates a process for permitting large gatherings that use county or opt‑in town property so county public safety and health providers can be notified and prepared. The sale of the Lyons Falls property transfers a long-deteriorating former school into private ownership for apartment development; the county and local planners have pushed for redevelopment of that site for decades.
Key details and supporting items reported at the meeting included committee announcements and community event reminders. The planning and community development office promoted a nonprofit ‘‘boot camp’’ for board members on Oct. 2. County staff also reminded the public of the Lewis County OHV trail ride Sept. 5 and that the county ATV trail system closes for the season on Oct. 14.
Votes at a glance
- Resolution 172 — Auditing and allowing claims in the total amount of $3,410,559.23. Moved by Vince; second by Herb. Roll call: Frost — yes; Mosher — abstain; Norts — yes; Levicker — yes; Osborne — yes; Kalamus — yes; Leyendecker — yes; Morehan — yes; Nellenback — yes; Dollhoff — yes. Outcome: approved (yes 10, abstain 1).
- Resolution 176 — Continuation of the county’s 4% sales-and-use tax rate pursuant to Article 29 of the New York Tax Law. Moved by Herb; second by Andrea. Outcome: approved (voice vote recorded as “carries,” individual roll-call not recorded in transcript).
- Resolution 181 — Authorizing sale of the former Lyons Falls school property at 6832 McAlpine Street to Top View Apartments, Lewis LLC for apartment housing development. Moved by Tom Kalmus; second by Jeff. Roll call (recorded as individual yes votes in transcript): Kalmus — yes; Nortz — yes; Leyendecker — yes; Osborne — yes; Levicker — yes; Morehan — yes; Nellenback — yes; Frost — yes; Mosher — yes; Dollhoff — yes. Outcome: approved (unanimous among recorded voters).
- Resolution 183 — Adoption of Local Law No. 6–2025, the amended special-events permitting law (subject of the public hearing). Moved by Andrea; second by Josh. Roll call recorded in transcript: Osborne — yes; Frost — yes; Nellenback — yes; Kalamus — yes; Levicker — yes; Mosher — yes; Morehan — yes; Leyendecker — yes; Norts — yes; Dollhoff — yes. Outcome: approved (unanimous among recorded voters).
What the law does: The adopted local law requires organizers of larger gatherings on county property (and on town property where the town opts in) to register events with county officials so public safety, health and other services can be coordinated. The legislature did not specify fee amounts or operational details in the meeting record; implementing procedures were not detailed in the transcript.
Meeting process notes: A single public commenter raised a separate concern about UTV and snowmobile use on a local street; the chair clarified that the public hearing was limited to the event-permitting law and that ATV trail seasonal closures reduce winter ATV use on the county trail network. The legislature approved the consent packet, pulled four resolutions for separate votes (the four listed above), and adjourned.
