WPCNR TRADEWINDS. From the Westchester County Association. May 5, 2016:
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County Offers Minnows to Chew Up Mosquitos
WPCNR HEALTH NEWS. From County Legislator Benjamin Boykin (5th District) May 4, 2016:
To eliminate mosquito breeding sites and prevent the spread of West Nile Virus and other mosquito-borne diseases, the Westchester County Health Department will offer free minnows, mosquito dunks and Keep Healthy and Bug Off brochures to residents on six Mosquito Control Days this month.
Residents with ornamental ponds should add the fathead minnows to the water to keep it from becoming a mosquito breeding site. The dunks serve the same purpose in birdbaths, rain barrels and unused pools.
Health Department staff will be available to answer questions and give out Keep Healthy and Bug Off brochures, which offer advice on how residents can prevent mosquito bites and eliminate standing water around their homes to keep mosquitoes from breeding nearby.
Residents with ponds who want the minnows should bring a bucket or pail to 2 Loop Road at the Westchester County Airport. The building is the first right from the airport access road. Minnows will be distributed in watertight plastic bags, and residents should plan to bring them straight home and release them into ponds with at least eight inches of water.
- Wednesday Friday, May 4-6, 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.
- Thursday Friday, May 19-20, 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.
- Saturday, May 21, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
To eliminate breeding sites, the health department will begin to apply larvicide to catch basins that hold standing water but are clear of debris starting Monday, May 9th.
Larvaciding teams will evaluate and treat as needed, all catch basins on county and municipal roads throughout the county over the next few months.
To help prevent mosquitoes from breeding, residents should eliminate standing water from around their properties, especially after it rains. Large areas of standing water on public property that cannot easily be removed should be reported to the Health Department by calling (914) 813-5000.
To learn more about mosquito prevention, visit the Health Departments website at www.westchestergov.com/health.
Final Public Hearing on City School Budget Monday
PUBLIC HEARING ON SCHOOL BUDGET
The final Public Hearing and Presentation on the Superintendent’s Proposed $208,750,000 2016-17 Budget for the White Plains City School District will be held on Monday, May 9, 2016, at 7:30 P.M. at Education House, 5 Homeside Lane.
The public vote on the budget, a capital project proposition and re-election of two School Board members, Sheryl Brady and Charles Norris, (the only candidates to file petitions to run), will take place on Tuesday, May 17th, from Noon to 9 P.M. at six voting locations.
The proposition on the ballot will include establishing a $25,000,000 reserve and reads thus:
“Shall the proposition set forth in the notice of this meeting authorizing the establishment of a capital reserve fund with an ultimate amount of $25,000,000, a term of 10 years, and annual appropriation of available fund balance and other legally available funds to such Reserve Fund, be approved?”
Please note: due to the closing of Fire Station #5, the new polling place in that area will be the Battle Hill Community Room.
Information on the Budget is available on the district’s website, www.whiteplainspublicschools.org or in each school building.
COUNTY LEGISLATOR BENJAMIN BOYKIN SUPPLIES DETAILS OF THE PLAYLAND — STANDARD AMUSEMENTS AGREEMENT
WPCNR COUNTY CLARION-LEDGER. SPECIAL TO WPCNR FROM County Legislator Benjamin Boykin, District 5, May 3, 2016:
On Monday, May 2, 2016, the Board of Legislators approved a revised agreement (“agreement”) between Westchester County (“the County”) and Standard Amusements, LLC. (“Standard”) by a vote of 13 to 4. In addition, the Board of Legislators approved spending $33.208 million in capital investments for Playland. I voted to approve the agreement and the capital spending.
Working with my Democratic colleagues, I restructured the agreement to save taxpayers millions of dollars by ensuring that Standard does not double count their management investment. I also had provisions included in the agreement to clarify that rides added to Playland by Standard could not be removed. These changes will permit the County to begin to share in net profits sooner and will reduce the financial impact on our taxpayers.
The key points of the agreement include:
- Standard will manage Playland for a term of 30 years
- Standard will make payments to the County of $2.25 million by June 15, 2016 of which $500,000 is non-refundable and $1.5 million will be placed in a special reserve account by the County, of which a portion may revert to Standard if certain conditions are not met
- Standard will invest $5.0 million in Playland prior to June 1, 2017
- Standard will make a management investment of at least $27.75 million and up to $32.75 million within five years
- Standard will continue to make additional capital investments in Playland over the 30 year term
- The County will make capital investments of at least $33.208 million, which were approved on May 2
- Standard will continue to co-manage Playland with the County and will take over full management in either 2017 or 2018 depending upon when the County has made at least 50% of its required capital investments which were approved by the Board on May 2
- Standard will pay the County an annual Management Fee of $300,000 which will increase by at least 2% per year
- In addition to the annual Management Fee, the County will share in net profits (after Standard has recouped its management investment) starting at 8% and growing to 12% over the term of the agreement
- Standard will pay the County rent for various booths and other items at Playland
When Standard takes over full management of Playland, the County will be reimbursed for 100% of salaries and overtime costs plus 30% of salaries for fringe benefits for County employees that will continue to work at Playland for Standard. After two years, Standard will reimburse the County for 100% of County employees’ costs for salaries and overtime and 100% of fringe benefits. County employees who will no longer work at Playland will be provided other jobs within the County at the same pay, pay grade and benefits. In addition, Standard will reimburse the County for police and park ranger services.
Playland will continue to provide summer employment opportunities for many youth in Westchester.
The Board of Legislators will decide to either replace or close the Playland pool by July 31, 2016. Standard will manage this area once the County has made its decision.
While not perfect, this agreement and Board approved capital spending will result in much needed investment in Playland by the County and Standard of at least $61 million. Taxpayers will not have to pay directly for $27.75 million of management investment that will be put up by Standard. Instead, the operating cash flow from Playland will be used by Standard to recoup this investment.
The $33.208 million capital investment by the County will cost the taxpayers approximately $2.6 million per year in principal and interest payments on the new debt to finance the County’s capital expenditures. These are needed capital investments in Playland that have been deferred by the County and would have been required regardless of an agreement. This $2.6 million will be partially offset by payments from Standard to the County for the annual Management Fee and net profits share.
Under this public/private deal, the County will continue to own Playland and will have considerable leverage over Standard. Playland will receive new rides and upgrades to the Park’s infrastructure, resulting in an updated and revitalized park for Westchester. Over time, the County will reap financial benefits and at the end of the term of the agreement, the County will continue to own Playland. Our historical Playland will be revitalized for us and future generations to enjoy.
Playland is opening on May 7 for the 2016 season. I am working to improve the customer experience for everyone with this agreement between Standard and the County. While neither party got all that they wanted, I believe that we negotiated a better situation for our taxpayers while enhancing this historical jewel.