GC legislators go to the mat about solar, housing, water and why they deserve your vote

With seven candidates in opposed races for a Genesee County legislator seat, no one can say people haven’t gotten involved in local government this year for the county Legislature.

The Batavian posed six questions to each candidate, and the answers are listed here in alphabetical order. John Borrelli, on the Democrat/Batavia’s Voice lines, is running against Republican-endorsed Robert “Bob” Bialkowski and Kathy Briggs, Conservative, for Wards 4 and 5 in District 9; Nikki Calhoun, Democrat, is running against Laurie Mancuso, on the Republican and Conservative lines, for District 5’s Le Roy area; and incumbent Gordon Dibble, Republican, Conservative, is running against Democrat Michael Plitt for the Darien/Pembroke/Corfu territories of District 3.

Incumbents John Deleo and Chad Klotzbach are also on the ballot, running unopposed.

Editor’s Note: Kathy Briggs did not respond to The Batavian’s questions.

1. What do you believe are the top three challenges for Genesee County, and what do you think are avenues toward solutions?

Bob Bialkowski:
“The Top three challenges are the county water supply, solar energy and housing. These could all change at any time depending on our Governor.”

John Borrelli:
“With the ongoing uncertainty of cuts to social services, it is necessary to find ways to offset the costs of such programs, such as Medicaid and mental health programs. Protecting our senior citizens is imperative, and with the possible federal cuts, the taxpayers will need to pick up the variance. These cuts will create a strain on the county with limited resources, so alternate revenue streams need to be identified.”

We need to make sure Genesee County remains a safe and healthy county for all our citizens. Safe public water, police and public safety must remain strong.

“With the ever-increasing tax structure rising for everyone, we need to make sure that there is a balanced revenue-sharing system between the county and the city. We need to reduce any unnecessary spending at the county level to focus on reducing or eliminating tax increases. At the same time, we cannot afford to cut programs that are needed.”

“A priority of the Legislature is to be fiscally effective, so the burden is not passed onto the residents. Through dialogue, transparency and listening, these issues can be addressed.”

Nikki Calhoun:
“Building an economy that works for working families. While Genesee County has made gains in economic development, too many working families still struggle to find good-paying, stable jobs close to home. We need to strengthen the connection between education and opportunity by expanding “grow-your-own” workforce programs, apprenticeships, and partnerships between BOCES, GCC, and local employers.”

“By tackling barriers like childcare and transportation, we can help families thrive — not just get by — and ensure our next generation sees a future right here.”

“Reliable infrastructure, especially water. Water is at the core of our growth and quality of life. Between ongoing capacity concerns and the countywide water project, residents deserve transparency, efficiency, and fairness. My focus will be securing outside funding, clear communication with towns and villages, and ensuring no community bears a disproportionate cost.”

Balancing growth with preservation of our rural character. We’re proud of our farmland and open spaces. As industrial and renewable projects increase, we must plan growth carefully — with full environmental reviews, water impact studies, and community-benefit agreements that ensure residents see the rewards, not just the risks.

Underlying all three challenges is the issue of state mandates and delayed reimbursements that strain our local budget. I’ll advocate for timely state payments and fair funding formulas so our county can invest more directly in families, seniors, and infrastructure.”

Gordon Dibble:
“While we have many challenges to address, my top three would be water, affordable housing and living wage employment.

Water:
Back in 1998, the County Legislature recognized a looming water supply problem and formed a Water Resource Committee known as the Water Resources Agency (WRA) to develop a plan to ensure a reliable and safe source of water for all of Genesee County in the foreseeable future. All options were studied. A multi-phase plan was developed and eventually put into motion.

A contract was made with the Monroe County Water Authority (MCWA), bringing in water to supply the County’s Eastern Towns from Lake Ontario and using Erie County Water Authority (ECWA) water to supply the County’s West side towns, while still relying on the city water plant to supply the city and the central part of the County. Over the years, transmission lines were put in place, making water available for our towns and villages to develop their water districts, a process that is still going on today.

“The water plant in Batavia is over 100 years old and was originally scheduled to be decommissioned years ago. However, the amount of water we would need was grossly underestimated, forcing the county to extend the life of the water plant and undertake significant additions to the original lines, towers, pumps, etc. Industrial growth, inflation, availability of essential components and the pandemic all played a role in delaying phase two of the master plan. We have aggressively searched for grants and other sources of revenue to meet our water needs, and we have been successful in securing a significant amount of grant money. We continue to search for more. This current drought and the number of wells gone dry underscore the urgency and are why I place water as our number one challenge. After all, what good is housing, economic growth, etc., without adequate water?”

Affordable housing:
Everyone needs housing. Whether it’s people who can no longer afford their current location, a young couple just starting out, senior citizens looking to downsize, people with disabilities or a growing workforce moving into the county seeking the jobs that have been, and are being, created. Our Planning Department has consistently listed housing as one of our greatest needs. Several housing projects of all shapes and sizes have been undertaken in recent years. The legislature is exploring the feasibility of a multi-county Land Bank, which would purchase abandoned, neglected houses, repair them and put them back into use.

“We have also applied for a 2.5 million dollar grant to encourage contractors to rehabilitate older/unoccupied apartments, creating more move-in ready rentals. Finally, the County is considering the creation of a Housing Development Officer that would be dedicated to addressing our housing shortage and lead the effort in exploring a multi-County Land Bank.”

Employment that pays a living wage:
Our Job Development Bureau has hundreds of jobs waiting to be filled. This is another County Department that many people don’t know exists. Programs like GLOW With Your Hands and Camp Hard Hat help prepare our high school-age students for careers that don’t require a college education but are available and well-paying. The Genesee County Economic Development Center (GCEDC) has done an outstanding job. The GCEDC is a multifaceted organization that has had great success in attracting economic growth and the jobs that go along with it. I’m not going to get into the many programs they provide and the businesses they have attracted. Sometimes people don’t realize all the great jobs that the GCEDC has helped bring to Genesee County because, unfortunately, many of these individuals reside outside of our County, further highlighting the need for a greater focus on housing in our County. I support GCEDC and highly encourage you to take the time to visit their website: https://www.gcedc.com/gcedc It will be well worth your time. The STAMP project has been a work in progress for the past 15 years. The GCEDC has worked with the Town of Alabama Board, State officials, met with the Seneca Nation, submitted reports, obtained licenses/permits, held public meetings, attended meetings, made concessions, changed plans and followed the process/requirements every step of the way. The GCEDC’s board members are a mix of professionals, successful business people and everyday citizens.”

Laurie Mancuso:
“Housing – The challenges facing housing in our County are multifaceted. According to Cornell University’s Program on Applied Demographics, the population in Genesee County, based on historical data, will continue to decrease steadily and lose approximately 2,828 people between 2025 and 2040, heavily weighted in the more productive years, between 55 and 74. (The graph below shows the projected change by age group between these years.) The housing needs of these populations are quite different and need to be understood to help prepare the future housing plan for the county.”

“There has been particular attention given to increasing the availability of housing for our senior population, and rightly so, as the green trendline above indicates.”

“Another factor is the increasing need for low-income housing. The diversity of housing available for this community varies broadly and would benefit from a cohesive strategy that considers the needs of this community and the services required to support them. I think that all our districts would benefit from a collective effort to work together to bring the housing needs of our communities forward to a County Housing initiative to map a plan for the future. The Genesee 2050 Plan proposes bringing on a ‘Housing Development Officer’ to support something like this, and that would be a positive step in the right direction.”

Solar:
We need to address the spread of solar fields in our county. This was recently recognized by the County Legislature on 9/10 when they put forward the resolution to “Halt the proliferation of utility-scale solar projects by the Office of Renewable Energy Siting, which overrides the local land use policy, causes loss of farmland and the collapse of the Genesee County Agricultural Economy.” It is evident that solar development and the preservation of productive farmland are competing priorities.

“There are issues surrounding this resolution, one of them being the landowner’s rights. The main issue here, from my perspective, is the subsidies provided to developers by the state to achieve its ‘clean energy goals.’ They are attractive to landowners and offer a path for diversification that can offer a steady stream of revenue for them.”

“Changing Albany’s direction on this will require a new administration, so in the interim, we can learn from surrounding communities that are also dealing with this issue. Case in point, the Town of Avon. Their Comprehensive Plan addresses this topic in detail. They currently have a Solar Committee that defines and enforces specific zoning rules for solar development, both large and small scale. Learning from others who are tackling the same issues that we are, may help us bring about solutions for our own towns and county.”

Water:
Completing the County Water Project is key to the quality of life and economic development of our county. Phase 2 is wrapping up, and Phase 3 is starting with a projected cost of $150M. Funding is key to keeping the project on track, and this is one project that I want to learn as much about as I can from direct sources. It is important to keep the community updated on the progress and challenges that the project team is experiencing and if selected to serve as legislator for Le Roy District 5, that will be a priority.

“Locally in Le Roy, the District 12 Water Project in the Town is progressing. This initiative will close the gaps for public water in our district, with one exception — there are residents in the Vallance Road area who will still need a solution. I will work with our Town Board and the County to resolve this issue for all in my District.”

Michael Plitt:
1. Property Taxes:
The burden on residential taxpayers is too heavy. When Federal, State or County decisions shift costs downward, it’s homeowners and small businesses who end up paying more. We need a fairer balance in how revenue is shared between the county and local towns and villages. Reassessing how sales tax and other revenues are distributed can help ease that burden. It is time to examine the ‘always-saying-yes’ mentality and spending at GCEDC. We also need to look closely at county spending — focusing on priorities that serve residents directly and cutting back on wasteful or unnecessary expenses.

2. Cuts to Social Services:
Federal budget cuts to social services, primarily Medicaid, create a severe and costly crisis for Genesee County, NY. This is far more than an administrative issue; it’s a direct threat to community stability.

“The reduction of funding for safety nets like SNAP and mental health services leads to an escalation of human crises, which immediately translates into increased demands on law enforcement and emergency services. Police become de facto social workers, diverting resources and inflating local costs.”

“The most critical impact is often on healthcare for the most vulnerable. Since Medicaid is the main payer for long-term care, funding cuts directly threaten the viability of nursing homes in the county. Facility closures or reduced quality of care would displace elderly and disabled residents, creating an overwhelming, high-cost burden on the county’s social services and local hospitals. These federal cuts ultimately force the county to shoulder the costs through either higher local taxes or putting people at risk.”

3. Emergency Services and Public Safety:
The recent Pembroke bus crash was a reminder of just how vital our first responders are — and how stretched thin they’ve become, especially during daytime hours. Volunteer departments across the county are facing real challenges in recruiting and retaining members. Genesee County must continue to show leadership by supporting regional coverage models, expanding training opportunities, and making sure resources are available around the clock. Public safety isn’t optional — it’s a core responsibility of government.

“In all three areas, the path forward is about balance and leadership: managing our finances responsibly, protecting our most vulnerable neighbors, and keeping our communities safe. These challenges are solvable if we work together, listen to local voices, and make decisions that put residents first.”