OBSERVER Photo
by Braden Carmen
Zoning and Code Enforcement Officer Ed Pagano stated at a recent Arkwright Town Board meeting that a property in the town is being evaluated for a potential solar project.
ARKWRIGHT — When the town of Arkwright passed a local law regulating solar energy projects in the town to begin the 2024 calendar year, Supervisor Brian McAvoy spoke to the law as a proactive approach knowing that eventually solar projects would be looking to set up in Arkwright.
While in the very early stages, it appears that time has come.
The town has now received an inquiry regarding a solar project. The potential site is a 15 to 20-acre parcel of land on Straight Road. The site is being evaluated to determine whether a project would be feasible under the town’s zoning regulations.
Regarding the inquiry, Zoning and Code Enforcement Officer Ed Pagano said, “That’s as far as it’s gone at the moment.”
Also of note, Arkwright Justice Court has been busier than usual in recent months. In the month of June, the Town Court collected $1,036 in fines, fees and surcharges. In July, the Town Court collected $418 in fines, fees and surcharges, with an unofficial report of nearly $1,000 collected already in the first half of August.
“The court has been very active,” McAvoy said. “… People are actually showing up to settle their debt to society.”
Additionally, the Town Clerk collected $604 in the month of July, with $595 being turned over to the town’s general fund.
The Town Board is also likely to take action at its next meeting regarding two exemptions to property taxes in the town. The Town has discussed offering a Volunteer Firefighter Tax Exemption and a Senior Citizen Low Income Tax Exemption, with an extensive discussion held regarding the latter. The board directed McAvoy to draft a resolution to raise the income limit from its current state of $16,000 per household to $23,000 per household. McAvoy determined that a limit of $23,000 would include every resident currently receiving assistance through the exemption, while also providing “wiggle room” to potentially include a few other residents at the lower end of income in the town.
Town Board Member Chris Jackson also expressed an interest in beginning a program to honor veterans in the town with banners, similar to that of the city of Dunkirk. More information will be sought in the coming weeks.
The next meeting of the Arkwright Town Board is Monday, Sept. 9.