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  Orange County Executive Steven M. Neuhaus Issues Burn Ban Executive Order

  For Immediate Release                                          Contact: Rebecca Sheehan
  October 28, 2024                                                 845.291.2700

   

  Orange County Executive Steven M. Neuhaus Issues

  Burn Ban Executive Order

  Goshen, N.Y. – County Executive Neuhaus today issued Executive Order No. 13 of 2024, declaring a State of Emergency in Orange County which prohibits certain burning activities due to the prolonged dry weather conditions the County and surrounding areas have been experiencing.

  “The beautiful, dry weather we’ve been enjoying comes with a consequence,” stated Neuhaus. “Over the past week, there have been numerous brush fires in the region, including in Orange County. These fires endanger the public and our first responders and we must do what we can to mitigate these dangers while conditions remain ripe for fire spread. My Executive Order will help to keep residents and visitors safe.”

  COUNTY OF ORANGE

  EXECUTIVE ORDER NO. 13 OF 2024

  DECLARING A STATE OF EMERGENCY IN ORANGE COUNTY

  DUE TO PROLONGED DRY WEATHER CONDITIONS

  AND PROHIBITING CERTAIN BURNING ACTIVITIES

            I, Steven M. Neuhaus, County Executive of the County of Orange, State of New York, do hereby declare as an EXECUTIVE ORDER the following:

           

  WHEREAS, the entirety of the County of Orange (hereinafter the “County”) has been experiencing prolonged dry weather conditions over the course of several months, which has resulted in extremely dry vegetation and environmental conditions that are susceptible to fire; and

  WHEREAS, said prolonged dry weather has created a real, immediate and continued danger of wildfires and fire-related hazard, and the concomitant perilous effect on the lives and safety of the inhabitants that live in the effected portions of the County, and which require immediate measures to protect the lives, health and safety of the public; and

  WHEREAS, local fire officials are reporting elevated fire danger levels that are a direct threat to the lives, health and safety of the residents and visitors in the County; and

  WHEREAS, the National Integrated Drought Information System currently lists the County as being “Abnormally Dry” and provides that September 2024 was the 8^th driest September on record for Orange County over the past 130 years; and 

  WHEREAS, pursuant to Section 24 of the Executive Law of the State of New York, the County Executive of Orange County, as its Chief Executive, is authorized to proclaim a local state of emergency within any part or all of the territorial limits of the County of Orange, and in connection therewith the County Executive may promulgate local emergency orders to protect life and property or to bring the emergency situation under control.

  NOW, THEREFORE, I, Steven M. Neuhaus, as County Executive and Chief Executive of the County of Orange, New York do hereby find the public safety to be imperiled by the present and imminent conditions created by the above-referenced weather conditions and the resulting risk of fire and fire-related hazards to the lives of residents, officials, rescue workers and other in the County of Orange and, consequently, to safeguard the lives, health, safety and property of the public, I do hereby declare a STATE OF EMERGENCY for the entirety of the County of Orange pursuant to, inter alia, New York State Executive Law Sections 24 and 25, beginning at 1:00 p.m. this date, October 28, 2024, and continuing until such time that I declare the State of Emergency is no longer necessary or such declaration expires by law, whichever is first; and

  I FURTHER ORDER, that as a result of my Declaration of a State of Emergency and above findings, that for the duration of this Declaration and Order subject to extensions, if necessary, that the following is hereby PROHIBITED within the boundaries of the County of Orange:

  All outdoor burning of any material, including, but not limited to, yard waste, household paper products, bonfires, campfires, warming fires, outdoor fireplaces, outdoor chimneys and any cooking fires unless such an activity is expressly authorized by the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation.

  The following exceptions shall apply to the above list: (i) outdoor cooking for food exclusively is permitted within a contained gas or charcoal grill; (ii) any firefighting training; and (iii) any burn operations expressly approved by the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation.

  Pursuant to New York Executive Law § 24(5), any person who knowingly violates this Executive Order is guilty of a class B misdemeanor.

            This Executive Order shall take effect immediately and, pursuant to New York Executive Law § 24(3) shall be (1) signed in quadruplicate, (2) published as soon as practicable in a newspaper of general circulation in Orange County and transmitted to the radio and television media for publication and broadcast, and (3) filed within 72 hours or as soon thereafter as practicable in the (i) office of the Clerk of the County Legislature, (ii) office of the County Clerk, (iii) office of the Secretary of State, and (iv) State Office of Emergency Management within the Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Services, either directly and/or through the County of Orange Division of Emergency Management.

  ORDERED this 28th day of October, 2024

  Hon. Steven M. Neuhaus 

                                         County Executive

  For more information, contact Rebecca Sheehan, Assistant to County Executive Steven M. Neuhaus, Director of Public Information and Media Relations, at 845.291.2700 or [email protected].

  To learn more about what County Executive Neuhaus is doing for Orange County, follow Orange County Government and Steven M. Neuhaus on Facebook, @Orange County NY Govt and @steve.neuhaus on Instagram, and @OCGovNY and @SNeuhausOC on X. You can also watch Neuhaus’ NeuCast podcasts and Leadership Speaker Series on YouTube.

   

  PDF REGARDING BURN BAN

• 

  Orange County Hazard Mitigation Public Meeting

  Orange County is updating its hazard mitigation plan to ensure continued eligibility for federal grants that help protect our communities. A hazard mitigation plan identifies potential risks, proposes solutions before a disaster strikes, reduces the need for emergency response, supports better decision-making, and promotes data sharing between governments and academic institutions. It also makes the county eligible for FEMA mitigation funding and can be integrated into other local planning efforts.

   

  WE NEED YOUR INPUT!

  We are inviting residents and stakeholders to provide feedback that will help shape the future of our community’s disaster resilience. Your insights are essential in developing a plan that reflects the

  needs and priorities of Orange County.

  The survey will take approximately 15 minutes, and your responses will remain confidential.

   

  SURVEY LINK

  https://forms.office.com/r/cFqEhptvVC?origin=lprLink

  255 Main Street, Goshen, New York 10924

  845-291-4000 I www.orangecountygov.com

• Orange County Transportation Council (OCTC)

  THE ORANGE COUNTY TRANSPORTATION COUNCIL (OCTC)

  is updating its Long Range Transportation Plan (LRTP) and released an online survey to understand the needs and issues facing the County’s residents, businesses, and visitors when they drive, use transit, walk, bike, or move freight and goods.  With over 100 unique responses, we just wanted to say, we heard you!  Now, we would like to know more.  We are seeking public input on concerning highway corridors + possible future transit and bike/ped corridors.

  To take a brief survey about specific corridors and provide your input, visit http://sgiz.mobi/s3/6d48bb415acb.  The survey link will be active through September 30, 2019.

  For more information and to stay involved throughout the 2045 LRTP update process, visit: https://www.orangecountygov.com/1670/LRTP-2045-Update

• 

  Mayor’s Message (Critical Infrastructure and Orange County I.D.A. Edition):

  November 3, 2022

   

  Mayor’s Message (Critical Infrastructure and Orange County I.D.A. Edition):

  Dear Cornwall-on-Hudson residents, neighbors, and friends:

  This probably serves as the most important message, to date, I have shared with you as the mayor. As our Village department heads can attest, I acknowledge a long-held leader axiom which directs: “Bad news comes to me immediately and good news can wait until Monday morning.” I share immediate news regarding Cornwall’s aging critical infrastructure. The Department of Homeland Security identifies sixteen sectors as “critical infrastructure.” Two of them – 1) Water and Wastewater Systems and 2) Dams Sector within the Village of Cornwall-on-Hudson and Town of Cornwall require some immediate attention. Let me outline concerns and remediation plans one by one:

  Firstly, please review the three attached photos of pipes that deliver water to greater Cornwall customers. Photo one depicts a failed section of 10” water main recently replaced under Hudson Street. The pipe is cast iron and was installed in 1895. Note the fissure. Twenty-five percent of our 52 miles of Cornwall water piping is 1895 vintage.

  

  Photo two depicts failed section of 1927-installed 2” piping riddled with holes and replaced along Chestnut Street.

  

  And finally, photo three, which highlights sediment and sludge built up within a section of 2” piping laid in1955. Should this not concern all of us?

  

  So, what to do about it? Well, the Village Board of Trustees recently approved an expenditure of funds to have our engineers draft a comprehensive plan to include recommendations related to immediate and future required maintenance, an assessment of necessary capital improvements, and suggested funding sources. It will serve as a priority roadmap to ensure timely and necessary repairs and upgrades BEFORE we endure yet another failure of mains and connective piping. This places us in a proactive – rather than a reactive or defensive – posture. It also includes our dams. Cornwall is supplied water through two primary sources (five reservoirs and a well field) that have allowed us to avoid, of recent, having to draw water from the New York Aqueduct.

  Yet, the reservoirs have to remain drawn-down to lower levels because of the aging, decrepit, failing dams that support them. This is not hyperbole when I advise that in some places (Ex: Sphagnum Reservoir), the dam is supported by plywood and 2x4 “reinforcements.” This is wholly unacceptable. Yet, repairs to that dam could cost upwards of a million and a half dollars. No easy fix and nothing cheap about necessary repairs.

  And finally, regarding our wastewater (sewer) system – speaking of Cornwall-on-Hudson – the “mapping” of our sewers consists of photocopied, spiral-bound notebook paper with hand drawn lines connecting manhole covers. Not exactly 21^st century technology. We have also noted several sections within the Village where sewage backups have become more frequent. How are we tackling this issue? Firstly, there are some immediate needs to install “benches” within a number of manholes in order to better direct water flow and

  ensure enough velocity for sewage movement. I will ask the Village Board to support emergency contingency funding (we have a budget line) for this effort. Longer-term plans will include gaining Board support to include, in the soon-to-be compiled 2023-2024 budget, a similar engineers-conducted sewer project (akin to the ongoing water system evaluation), which should include mapping that is more recent than some ninety years.

  Final-final note on our wastewater/sewer system: As I toured the “pleasant” environs of popped, problematic manhole covers this past week, the “aromatic splendors” were somewhat exacerbated by VISIBLE clogs attributed to baby wipes. Friends and neighbors, PLEASE, ignore the hype – there does not currently exist a “flushable wipe.” Help your neighbors avoid a backup of sewage into their home because you chose to flush baby wipes, Clorox wipes, Lysol wipes, baby diapers, or a giraffe. Enough said.

  The issues and remedies outlined above are all time-consuming and costly. Costs should be borne out over time and intelligently triaged. As I committed when I ran for this position, I will ensure we are actively engaged on these issues. And I will make certain we are exploring available funding sources – beyond tax dollars – wherever/whenever available.

  Okay, that completes the “bad news” upfront.

  Now, some good news. Bill Fioravanti, the CEO of Orange County’s Industrial Development Agency, has graciously agreed to make a short presentation (similar to the one he recently delivered at the October meeting of the Orange County Association of Towns, Villages, and Cities) that will help demystify the processes and rubric that is applied to IDA decisions regarding tax abatements. This may help bust some of the myths about the IDA’s dealings and residents will be able to view, via our livestream, the presentation when delivered at 7:00pm at the Village Board business meeting on Monday, November 21, 2022. Following the presentation, there will be a short Q&A between Mr. Fioravanti and the Village Board. Make certain to catch this in person or view online. Note: Currently, there are no Cornwall or COH matters for consideration before the IDA.

  Lastly, I am thrilled to announce that, yet again, the Town and Village have made a commitment to work together, this time in relation to our observances of Winterfest and the Holiday Season – to include our two Christmas Tree lightings. Only details I can share now are the date: Sunday, December 4, 2022 and the volunteer committees participating: Greater Cornwall Chamber of Commerce, the Cornwall Youth Committee, Main Street Committee, Storm King Engine 2 and Highland Engine Company1. Stay tuned for exciting developments and details soon shared by Supervisor Wojehowski and yours truly.        

  On behalf of your Village Board,

  Mayor James A. “Jimmy” Gagliano

• 

  Online Utility Billing

  The Village of Cornwall-on-Hudson is excited to introduce its electronic utility bill (e-Bill) to enable our customers to ‘Go Paperless’. e-Billing will be available to all of our customers beginning May 28, 2021.

  The e-Bill is an electronic version of your Village Utility Bill and will be e-mailed directly to registered customers enrolled in our e-Bill program. Customers may sign up for e-Bills using the link on the home page or below.

  The benefits of using our e-Bill system are:

  • Online Bill Payment - You can also pay your bill online by registering a credit card with the e-bill system or if you choose, you can still pay by mail or in person at the Village Hall. You can also use the Bill Pay service provided by your bank of choice.
  • Receive your bill faster to avoid missing due bills. Signing up for paperless billing doesn't change your due date.
  • View and access your e-Bill anytime and anywhere. For your convenience, you can review your bills going back 24 months.
  • A e-Bill is sent directly and securely to your registered email account. If you ever have problems receiving emails from us, check your spam, bulk or junk folders, and then add [email protected] to your approved senders list. This will mitigate the risk of it getting lost.
  • Environmentally friendly – Enrolling in our e-Bill system reduces paper usage and helps to save our trees.

  To enroll, customers need to visit the Village website at www.cornwall-on-hudson.org and click on the “Pay My Utility Bill” button on the home page. You then will need to provide your house/building number, your entire account number (ex. 009021-000) and e-mail address. Once enrolled customers may choose to no longer receive paper bills and receive their monthly e-Bill via their registered email address. This will ensure that all of our customers receive their utility bill in a timely and secure manner.

  If you have any questions, please feel free to contact our office at (845) 534-4200 Ext. 312 or email [email protected]. We are excited to be able to provide this new e-Bill opportunity to you and for its successful implementation. 

  

• 

  COVID-19 Vaccination Info

  Need Help Getting Signed Up for the COVID-19 Vaccine? Orange County is here to help. Visit their website at  Vaccination.orangecountygov.com

   

  ¿Necesita ayuda parainscribirse en la vacunaCOVID-19? Visite sitio web en Vaccination.orangecountygov.com