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Oct. 28, 2017
’Burgh/North Countryman
suncommunitynews.com
• EDITION •
SHINE ON LADIES pg. 2
Comptroller offers North Country economic forecast Local sales tax collection strong, but job creation remains sluggish, says Thomas DiNapoli in Plattsburgh By Pete DeMola EDITOR
PLATTSBURGH | Th e unemployment rate in the North Country is higher than the state average.
» Comptroller Cont. on pg. 14
County legislator candidates ELECTIG N underscore broadband needs COVERAGE 2017
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TWO VIE FOR CHAMPLAIN SUPER SEAT
pg. 4
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BEEKMANTOWN SUPERVISOR INTERVIEWS
pg. 18
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TWO RUN FOR PERU SUPER
pg. 13
Butler, Waldron vie for Area 6 By Elizabeth Izzo STA FF W RITER
SARANAC | Bringing broadband to rural Clinton County, combating the opiate crisis and promoting bipartisanship at the county level. These are three things that both County Legislator Patty Waldron (Area 6) and her opponent, former legislator Robert Butler, say are among the top priorities of their respective campaigns. According to Waldron, the primary difference between their campaigns lies in a cultural divide. “(Butler) lives less than a mile from the Town of Plattsburgh and has been sheltered from the challenges just 10 miles west into areas that have not had basic utilities such as broadband and cell service.”
Area 6 encompasses the towns of Saranac and Black Brook. “I live on the Standish Road in the hamlet of Clayburg. Myself, my neighbors, and three quarters of Area 6 are paying satellite companies far too much for far too little,” she said. “I completely understand these issues because I live in the unserved area.” At a press conference last Wednesday, Butler said that much still needs to be done to improve cellphone service and bring broadband into the area. “This area has so many dead spots, it’s incredible,” Butler said. The state aims to fully wire the state with high speed broadband by the end of 2018 using a combination of private and public funding. Providers won bids to provide broadband to homeowners in Altona, Mooers, Black Brook and Chazy as part of the second round of state grants announced in February — but not Saranac. Bidding for the third and final round
closed in September. “We have had success with broadband companies bidding our area under the Phase 3 initiative from the governor,” Waldron said. “We are now waiting to see if a broadband company will awarded the bid.” The proposed $500 million in statewide investment joins at least $170 million earmarked by the Federal Communications Commission. Bombay-based Mohawk Networks has submitted a Phase 3 bid to serve Clinton and Franklin counties, according to Marketing and Sales Supervisor Claudia Tarbell. “We applied for the area within those counties that are unserved,” she said. “The bid was submitted on time — now we’re just waiting to hear back.”
‘IT’S A HEALTH AND SAFETY ISSUE’
As a direct result of spotty cellphone service, a lot of people find themselves in unsafe situations, Butler said. “It’s a health and safety issue.”
» Broadband Cont. on pg. 7