Island Dispatch, 1992-03-06

              ISLAND DISPATCH I£e*teco- If out SufaoUjtti** Z<**bt /i*U S*<ac $5. See 7>*?e 22 SERVING THE GRAND ISLAND COMMUNITY SINCE 1944 With The GRAND ISLAND NEWS GRAND ISLAND, NY (716) 773-7676 s«< 20 PAGKS VOL. 48 • NO. 49 MAR. 6, 1992 Isle Seeks To Tax State Property COLLECTING town and school taxes on state-owned land on the Island is the goal of the town board. If achieved, it could result in revenue on 2500 acres of parks, parkways and the Thruway, removed from town lax rolls in the past. Councilwoman Marion P. Fabiano, who presented a resolution at Monday's board meeting, calling for legislators' assistance in initiating a Bill to allow the tax collection, estimated there are now about 2500 acres of tax-free land here. Beaver Island Slate Park. Buckhorn State Park and Big Six boat h.-irbor cover about 1828 acres while parkways and the Thruway account for another 683 acres, she said. The resolution, agreed to in a 4-0 vote, states, in part: "The Grand Island Town Board requests that Senator John B. Daly and Assemblyman William B. Hoyt initiate a Bill that would amend the real property tax law. Sec. 532 in relation to certain state lands subject to taxation that would add to the list of state lands subject to taxation for all purposes those located on Grand Island in the Town of Grand Island in F.rie County." Copies of the resolution will be sent to both Stale officials. Although the town in the past has attempted several times to have similar legislation passed without success, having more than S3 million worth of property added to tax rolls now would boost the town's economy as never before. MEK Electronic Bridge Toll Collection To Begin Here THE ELECTRONIC bridge toll collection, tested by 200 Islanders earlier this year, has been successfully completed, according to Assemblyman William B. Hoyt. "Grand Island residents who prepay their lolls on a monthly basis next year will be able to drive through toll booths without having to stop and pay for each trip," Hoyt said. The program will begin in 1993, according to the New York State Thruway Authority, he said. "and the 'Iliruway is appreciative of the help of Grand Island volunteers." About the electronic devices, he said they will save time and energy. "Traffic tie-ups should be greatly reduced since the average number of cars that can pass Uirough a toll in an hour will increase from an average of 250 with the current stop and pay system to nearly 1500 with die electronic one." Grand Island Bridge Committee Learning About The Environment With CWM Science mid technology enable us to live longer, be healthier and enjoy life more. But during production of life and labor saving devices, waste is produced. Some of it is hazardous and must be disposed of properly in order to minimize and eliminate potential harm both to individuals and die environment. Hands on lab experiments demonstrating all this Kxik place at die Grand Island Memorial Library last Friday as personnel from CWM Chemical Services worked with Middle School students who were off due to a half day of SCbOOI. The event, sponsoied by die Friends of the Library, featured carbon infiltration (shown left) as one of the experiments. Photo by Harbl Lare CONTINUED ON PACE 4 6 -I < s