Happy 2010.  Whether you call it twenty-ten or two thousand-ten, it’s a new year and we have a clean slate to work on.

The past four years have been, I feel, a time of progress for the town.  All the departments have had to “tighten their belts” and work within a restricted budget.  Thank you all for your cooperation.  I have managed to accomplish most of my original campaign promises and a few more.

During the next four years we will accept the challenge of our poor economy and high unemployment.  Please keep in mind that cutting the budget may mean cutting some services that you have come to rely on.  So we will try to be frugal while keeping our services at an acceptable level.

Some of these services are necessary for the safety and welfare of the entire community.  We need our town workers and plows to keep our roads clean during snowstorms.  The highway workers have been clearing the roads day and night working for your safety.  We give them our thanks and also need to give them our cooperation by keeping the roads free of vehicles so that they can do their jobs.   If your vehicle sticks out in the road, it makes it difficult to maneuver the big plows around to keep the roads clear of snow.   Also, remember that they will come back a second time to push the snow back even further to prepare for a second snow fall.  I have had reports from the employees who plow the sidewalks in Gananda, where the kids walk to school, that there are cars parked on the sidewalks.  The sidewalks also need to be free of vehicles so that they can be cleared and used by the children safely.

I would also like to mention, again, to please keep fire hydrants near your home clear of snow.  As a firefighter, I know how important time is when there is a fire in the home.  If the firefighters need to spend precious minutes digging out the hydrants, they lose that time fighting the fire that could destroy your home or even the lives of your family.

Reservations for use of the Lodge at Ginegaw Park are filling up fast.  If you are planning any kind of get together, consider using the lodge.  Sign up as soon as you have a day planned so that you will not be disappointed.

I am holding my “Sit With the Supervisor” again this year.  My next meeting will be on February 6, (9am) at Lincoln Fire Hall.  The March meeting will be on Saturday the 6th (9am) at the new Gananda Senior Apartments (the Gardens), (on Canandaigua road) and on April 3 (9am) we will meet at Walworth Hardware Store in the Hamlet.  Please stop by and share with us your town and county concerns. 

This is the year for the Federal Census.  It is very important to be counted.  It affects many things for everyone.  The number of representatives we have in Congress,  the weighted vote at the County Board of Supervisors, the amount of sales tax revenue we get from the county and numerous other items.  So when you get your census survey please fill it out and return it!!!  There are links on the town web site www.townofwalworthny.gov to the US Census Bureau.  Please help us get more for you by you being counted. Being counted in the census means more money for the town, which may mean lower taxes for you.

Enjoy the winter and stay warm.

Bob Plant