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Rollover accident reported on Redfield Parkway

By Howard B. Owens

A rollover accident is repoorted in the area of 46 Redfield Parkway, Batavia.

Unknown injuries.

City Fire and Mercy EMS responding.

UPDATE 9:10 a.m.: The accident was apparently the result of a medical issue, accrding to Asst. Chief Chris Camp.  The minivan drifted off the roadway and struck a small tree, pushing it out of the ground and as the minivan road up the trunk of the tree it tipped n its side.  The driver was being treated at the scene by Mercy EMS and is expected to not require transport to a hospital.

BOCES statement regarding school bus accident

By Press Release

Press release:

Today, at approximately 12:45 p.m., a school bus carrying Batavia Career and Technical Education students to the Building Trades house project site, was involved in an accident. In order to avoid hitting a car, the bus swerved, went off the road and into a ditch. The accident occurred on Route 98 in the Town of Alexander.

EMS responded to the scene, along with GV BOCES Administration, School Resource Officer, and the school nurse. The bus driver was not injured. All students are being evaluated at the accident scene by EMS and the school nurse.

The students are being evacuated from the accident scene and returned to the Batavia Career and Technical Education Center.

“The safety and security of our students is of utmost importance; hence we are taking every precaution possible,” said Kevin MacDonald.

Law and Order: Driver accused of leaving accident, charged with felony DWI

By Howard B. Owens

Robert C. Paris, 31, of West Lee Road, Albion, is charged with felony DWI,  moving from lane unsafely, aggravated unlicensed operation, refusal to take a breath test, and leaving the scene of a property damage accident. At 11:40 p.m., Tuesday, deputies were dispatched to a residence on  Downy Road in the Village of Oakfield for a possible domestic dispute. While en route, deputies were notified that a male suspect had fled the incident location in a vehicle and was heading south on South Pearl Street.  A few minutes later, Deputies located a vehicle that had crashed into a utility pole and had come to rest in a field. The driver had left the scene.  After an investigation, deputies Zachary Hoy and David Moore arrested Paris. He was also charged with no or inadequate lights and speed not reasonable and prudent. He reportedly has two prior DWI convictions in the past 10 years. He was arraigned in Town of Batavia Court and issued an appearance ticket.

Erik Robert Motquin, 39, of West Main Street, Batavia, is charged with petit larceny. Motquin is accused of switching price tags on items at Walmart in order to pay less for certain items. He was issued an appearance ticket.

Joshua Edward Wayne Sager, 31, of Washington Avenue, Batavia, is charged with DWI, Aggravated DWI (child passenger), aggravated unlicensed operation, endangering the welfare of a child, and running a red light.  Sager was stopped at 10:22 p.m., Sept. 18, on Veterans Memorial Drive, Batavia, by Deputy Trevor Sherwood.

Driver dies after vehicle crashes into barn in Byron

By Howard B. Owens

A driver whose vehicle drove into a barn at 5693 Chapell Road, Byron, was pronounced dead at the scene of the accident this evening, according to the Genesee County Sheriff's Office.

The accident was reported around 6:10 p.m.

The vehicle was reportedly heading south on Chapell Road when it left the roadway.

The identity of the driver has not yet been released, nor has a description of the vehicle.

Chapell Road has been closed between Route 237 and Transit Road since the time of the accident.

Byron Fire, South Byron Fire, and Elba Fire, all responded.

The Sheriff's Crash Management Team is on scene.

UPDATE 9 a.m. Sunday: The driver has been identified as Dustin M. Nemec, no age provided, of Elba. Nemec was reportedly driving his 2020 Volkswagen eastbound on Chapell Road when he failed to negotiate a curve. His car struck a tree and the barn.  He was pronounced dead at the scene.

Photo and info from Alecia Kaus/Video News Service. 

Two people from Lockport killed in crash on Route 77 yesterday

By Howard B. Owens

Arnold E. Herdendorf, 69, of Lockport, and Christopher M. Rowell, 70, also of Lockport,  were killed in Pembroke yesterday, according to the Sheriff's Office, when Hendendorf, driving a 2009 Chevrolet sedan, failed to stop for a stop sign at Indian Falls Road and Route 77 and collided with a northbound tractor-trailer.

Both men were pronounced dead at the scene.

The accident was reported at 1:47 p.m.

Driving the 2015 Volvo was Kebir S. Inalla, 30, of Metairie, La.  His passenger was Ahmed A. Jaber, 38.  Neither were injured in the accident.

The investigation is being conducted by the Sheriff's  Office Crash Management Team with assistance from the NYSP Commercial Vehicle Unit.  

Assisting at the scene were Pembroke, Indian Falls, Alabama, and  East Pembroke volunteer fire departments, Mercy EMS, Emergency Management, and National Grid.

Previously: A motor vehicle with possible serious injuries reported on Route 77

A motor vehicle with possible serious injuries reported on Route 77

By Howard B. Owens

There may be serious injuries following a motor vehicle accident on Route 77 at Indian Falls.

Dispatchers are checking on the availability of Mercy Flight.

The accident involves a tractor-trailer and a passenger vehicle. 

Pembroke and Indian Falls along with Mercy EMS  dispatched.

There are power lines down in the area.

UPDATE 1:52 p.m.: A person is trapped in the vehicle.  Mercy Flight is on in-air standby.  East Pembroke responding mutual aid.

UPDATE 1:58 p.m.: Mercy Flight is canceled.

UPDATE 5:20 p.m. (Information and Photos from Alecia Kaus/Video News Service): According to Chief Deputy Brian Frieday, emergency crews were called to Rt. 77 and Indian Falls road about 1:47 pm. Preliminary investigation shows a passenger vehicle was headed west on Indian Falls Road and failed to stop at the intersection at Rt.77. The passenger vehicle was struck by a northbound tractor-trailer. Both vehicles ended up in a field northwest of the intersection. Frieday confirms there are two fatalities in the passenger vehicle.  The driver and one passenger in the tractor-trailer were not injured.

Police believe motorcyclist was driving fast on Walnut prior to serious injury accident

By Alecia Kaus

A motorcycle accident on Walnut Street at Law Street this afternoon is under investigation by Batavia PD.

The motorcycle rider was reportedly seriously injured at about 12:22 when his bike slammed into the side of a pickup truck at the intersection.

The 30-year-old male, whose name has not yet been released was taken ECMC by Mercy Flight.

According to Sgt. Mitchell Cowen, Batavia PD, the motorcycle was traveling west on Law Street at a high rate of speed and collided with a pick-up truck that was headed north on Route 98.

The driver and sole occupant of the pick-up was not injured.

Police say the motorcycle was passing vehicles on Law Street before the collision occurred at the intersection.

Because the intersection was closed down until about 3:00 p.m., the City Schools advised families that busses were delayed in dropping off students this afternoon. According to Batavian City Schools Business Manager Scott Rozanski. students remained at school with supervision until the road was reopened.

The Genesee County Sheriff's Department accident reconstruction team is also assisting in the investigation.

City Fire and Mercy EMS also responded.

Town resident invited to learn more about the process after suggesting an increase in sales tax rate

By Mike Pettinella

“Why can’t the Town of Batavia go to 8.25 percent sales tax and use the .25 percent to prevent citizens in the Town of Batavia and companies (from) absorbing this cost for everybody from outside communities that come here to do their shopping?”

With that question toward the end of Wednesday night’s Batavia Town Board meeting, Lewiston Road resident Bill Sutton triggered a 15-minute discussion with Town Supervisor Gregory Post about sales and property taxes, and New York’s tax cap.

Sutton, (photo at right), a truck driver for Kistner Concrete, said he noticed that the meeting agenda included a resolution calling for an override of the New York State tax cap – the limit on the amount of real property taxes that may be levied by the town as it prepares its 2022 budget.

He said he was concerned that property taxes will increase and thought that bumping up the sales tax from 8 to 8.25 percent could be a way to prevent that from happening.

Pointing out that Erie County’s sales tax is at 8.75 percent, Sutton said he wondered if the extra ¼ percent in sales tax could be put in the town’s budget “so that citizens in the town don’t have to pay higher property tax.”

“Why can’t we benefit from that? Why can’t the Town of Batavia implement a little more sales tax to compensate for this, instead of property owners and businesses picking up the slack?” he asked.

TWO SALES TAX JURISDICTIONS

In his response, Town Supervisor Gregory Post said he appreciated Sutton’s questions and went on to explain that towns or villages do not have the authority to impose sales tax.

“There are two entities that are eligible to collect sales tax. One is Genesee County and one is the City of Batavia,” Post responded. “Traditionally, over the last 20 or 30 years, there has been a collaboration between those two entities to allow the county to collect all of the sales tax and then distribute 50 percent of those revenues collected or some portion of that 50 percent to the communities on an ad valorem basis.

“Which means that communities will get a percentage of the sales taxes collected by Genesee County – whether it’s 8 percent or 8 ¼ or 8 ½ or 8 ¾. Those are distributed based on the communities’ assessed valuation – taxable assessed valuation.”

Post mentioned the agreement between Genesee County and the City of Batavia that provides the city with a minimum of 14 percent share of all the sales tax revenue generated in the county. That agreement also benefits the county’s towns and villages which, by virtue of a revision last month, will share $10 million in sales tax revenue annually for the next 38 years.

Per that agreement, the Town of Batavia’s assessed value qualifies it for about 16 percent of that amount – the actual figure is $1,687,937 – and that is substantially more than the other municipalities. The Town of Darien, site of Six Flags Darien Lake, is next at $970,992, followed by the Town of Le Roy at $822,260.

The supervisor explained that the town is supported by sales taxes “and the sales tax revenues have traditionally been twice what the property tax collection levy was.”

“So, for every dollar collected in property taxes, we have been benefited by a dollar and a half to two dollars in sales tax revenues already,” he said. “And that sales tax is paid by (in part) by citizens not living in the Town of Batavia …”

'LOOKING DOWN THE ROAD'

Sutton said that satisfied that part of his question, but added that he is “looking down the road (because) here we are today – we have a shortfall.”

He continued on his point that many people from outside the town come to the town to shop, and that the town should benefit more from having to deal with extra traffic and for having many “employment opportunities.”

“There has to be something we can do as a town to increase sales tax,” he said. “There has to be something that we can go forward doing this to make it even more beneficial to live in the town – to bring a business in from outside.”

Post replied by asking him to consider, “How much benefit does Genesee County get by having a lower sales tax rate to attract shoppers from counties that have a higher sales tax rate?”

“We have spent a lot of time looking at the consequence; right now, we’re an attractive site for equipment sales, heavy equipment. We just had a groundbreaking this week (LandPro),” Post offered.

“I’m looking at the larger scale sales of automobiles and heavy equipment, and if you’re selling a million dollar bulldozer and you’re selling it because your sales tax are 8 percent instead of 8 ¾ percent, and they’re buying it and taking delivery here, we’re getting the benefit of some of those revenues that we wouldn’t get if our sales tax rate was the same as it was in another county.”

Sutton said if Genesee County went to 8.25 percent it still would be lower than Erie County (but more than Monroe County, which also is at 8 percent).

Post offered to continue the debate with Sutton, inviting him to attend a weekly (Wednesday at 5 p.m.) board workshop.

“I am happy to hear your perspective and your comments … and I’m happy to see the participation,” the supervisor said.

Sutton acknowledged that he doesn’t have access to all the dollar amounts, but pressed on with his view that the Town of Batavia has a quality of living that other communities don’t have, especially an abundance of shopping locations.

“Why can’t be benefit from this so that our children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren will also have that benefit going forward?” he asked. “We will prevent the shortfall by adding the .25 percent sales tax across the board to make it fair for not only the residences and the businesses – for everybody – to keep the property tax down that will draw business in from the outside and everybody will contribute.”

'NO OBLIGATION TO SHARE'

Post then brought up the fact that Genesee County has “absolutely no obligation to share one dime of sales tax revenue with any community.”

“They are entitled to keep 100 percent of it and it is only through the strict negotiations over the last 20 years by this board and our predecessors to come to some rational agreement where the county gets what they need to sustain their operation and not defer maintenance, and the communities in the county are benefited by the apportionment of sales taxes that they are,” he explained.

He then said he believes that Genesee County probably distributes more in sales tax to its towns and villages than another other county in New York State.

“There might be one or two other counties that do a better job with sales tax distribution than Genesee County, but locally they take 10 million dollars in revenue they collect in sales tax and they give it back to the towns to subsidize town and village operations to maintain a lower (property) tax rate.”

Post then went back to the resolution to override the state property tax cap, calling it “a statement that our community has been strategic and has been looking down the road five, 10 and 15 years financially, and retained by these resolutions annually the ability to manage our assets and modify our cash flow to meet the needs of our community so that we’re not bound and restricted by New York State and prevented from maintaining infrastructure that is key to being an attractive community to developers both international site selectors and local developers.”

The board set a public hearing on the tax cap override for 7 p.m. Oct. 20 at the Batavia Town Hall, 3833 West Main St. Rd.

Post thanked Sutton for sharing his thoughts, adding that he is “part of this community and your job as a citizen is to participate.”

Following the meeting, Post said that although it is early in the 2022 budget process, he does not expect the town’s property tax rate to increase.

The 2021 tax rate was set at $2.85 per thousand of assessed value, meaning that a home assessed at $100,000, for example, would pay $285 in town taxes for the year. The town also imposes a fire district tax, which was $2.34 per thousand this year.

Photo by Mike Pettinella.

BPD investigating afternoon East Main accident

By Howard B. Owens

Batavia PD is investigating a three-car accident reported today at 1 p.m. on  East Main  Street in which one car rolled onto its side.

According to the preliminary investigation, a minivan was traveling north on Harvester Avenue while a small SUV was west on East Main Street.  The minivan failed to stop for the red light and t-boned the SUV, pushing the SUV to the northwest corner of the intersection, causing the SUV to tip on its side.  

After striking the SUV, the minivan rolled backward and struck a  third vehicle that was also westbound. 

East Main  Street was closed to traffic for a time due to the accident.

No serious injuries were reported. Occupants of the SUV and minivan were reportedly transported to a hospital by private vehicle. 

The driver of the minivan was issued tickets.

Any witnesses are asked to contact Batavia PD at (585) 345-6350 and ask for Officer Girvin.

Accident reported in Oakfield

By Howard B. Owens

A motor vehicle accident with three people injured is reported at Fox Road and Drake Road in Oakfield.

It is blocking.

Oakfield Fire and Mercy EMS dispatched.

UPDATE 7:42 a.m.: A first responder reports, three injuries, all relatively minor.

Accident reported on Ledge Road, Alabama

By Howard B. Owens

A motor vehicle accident is reported in the area of 1031 Ledge Road, Alabama.

The vehicle is 30-40 feet off the roadway, according to a first responder, and on its roof.

It was occupied by five people. One person has a minor injury.

Alabama Fire and Mercy EMS responding.

Vehicle rolls over retaining wall in Corfu

By Howard B. Owens

A vehicle has reportedly gone over a retaining wall at Crosby's, 47 Alleghany Road, Corfu.

A caller reports one person in the passenger seat. Unknown injuries.

Corfu Fire and Mercy EMS responding.

UPDATE 4:43 a.m.: A first responder reports no injuries.

UPDATE 4:45 a.m.: The person who was in the car has run off.  He's a white male with dark pants, checkered shirt, wearing a hat.  He's heading eastbound on Main Street.

UPDATE 4:51 a.m.: A deputy reports being with a subject. The subject is apparently the person who ran.  Corfu Fire is back in service.

UPDATE 4:54 a.m.: There is a warrant for the subject out of Montgomery County.

Car hits building on Liberty Street

By Howard B. Owens

A car has reportedly hit the USDA building at 29 Liberty St., Batavia.

Minor injuries are reported but the building is damaged.

City Fire and Mercy EMS on scene.

UPDATE 10:22 a.m.: Medics evaluating one patient. Minor, cosmetic damage to the building.

Accident reported on East Main Street, Batavia

By Howard B. Owens

An accident is reported on East Main Street, in front of the Depaul complex, Batavia.

Unknown injuries.

Traffic is blocked.

City Fire and Mercy EMS responding.

UPDATE 8:13 a.m.: Mercy EMS can respond non-emergency for evaluation of a knee injury.

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