The Lewis County Legislature on Feb. 12 approved resolutions 17 through 35, voting to audit and allow claims totaling $3,400,486.79 and approving a slate of appointments, highway design contracts, bridge and culvert project steps, and a request to the state to continue a county sales-tax increase.

The board voted by roll call on Resolution No. 17 to audit and allow claims totaling $3,400,486.79; that motion carried with one abstention recorded. Subsequent resolutions were moved and seconded and carried by voice vote or unanimous consent, according to the meeting record.

Why it matters: the claims audit clears payment of more than $3.4 million from county accounts; the highway and bridge agreements set design and right-of-way work in motion for local infrastructure projects that could trigger state and federal funding and future construction contracts. The sales tax request asks the state Legislature to renew a local sales-tax increase the county has had for decades.

Votes at a glance

- Resolution 17 — Auditing and allowing claims in the amount of $3,400,486.79. Moved by: (committee). Second: (record). Outcome: carried. Roll call recorded; Legislator Mosher abstained; Legislator Osborne excused; remaining present legislators voted yes as recorded in the meeting roll call.

- Resolution 18 — Appointing the Director of Community Services. Moved by Andrea; second by Herb. Outcome: carried.

- Resolution 19 — Appointing member to the Lewis County Ethics Board. Moved by Jessica; second by Tom Kalmus. Outcome: carried.

- Resolution 20 — Authorizing agreement between County of Lewis (Highway Department) and Barton & Loguidice for design and right-of-way professional services; authorize RFP for culvert replacement project, Fazart Road over Huffcutt Creek. Moved by Andrea; second by Vince. Outcome: carried.

- Resolution 21 — Agreement with Barton & Loguidice for design and right-of-way professional services and RFP for bridge replacement, Eatonville Road over Otter Creek. Moved by Josh; second by Andrea. Outcome: carried.

- Resolution 22 — Agreement with Barton & Loguidice and RFP for culvert replacement, Pine Grove Road over Harvey Creek. Moved by Andrea; second by Jessica. Outcome: carried.

- Resolution 23 — Authorizing supplemental agreement No. 1 for right-of-way acquisition to contract No. D040774 between NYSDOT and Lewis County for the County Road 17 (Wood Battle Road over Cob Creek) federal-aid bridge replacement project. Moved by Jessica; second by Andrea. Outcome: carried.

- Resolution 24 — Naming Lewis County lead agency under the State Environmental Quality Review Act (SEQRA) for the Bailey Road over Independence River capital bridge replacement project. Moved by Josh; second by Andrea. Outcome: carried.

- Resolution 25 — Reappointing member(s) to Lewis County General Hospital Board of Managers. Moved by Tom Kalmus; second by Vince. Outcome: carried.

- Resolution 26 — Authorizing bid award and agreement between County of Lewis and Logical Operations for information-technology training services. Moved by Andrea; second by Herb. Outcome: carried.

- Resolution 27 — Requesting New York State home-rule legislation to continue sales-tax increase (renewal of existing local sales tax). Moved by Vince; second by Andrea. Discussion clarified the request is a renewal, not a new tax. Outcome: carried.

- Resolution 28 — Authorizing application for 2025 NYS Empire State Development County Infrastructure Grant Program funds. Moved by Niska; second by Herb. Outcome: carried.

- Resolution 29 — Setting a public hearing on inclusion of agriculturally viable land into Certified Agricultural District No. 6. Moved by Tom Kalmus; second by Vince. Outcome: carried.

- Resolution 30 — Awarding bid and authorizing agreement with S and O Engineering Inc. (d/b/a SE Group) for design services and development of a winter recreation master plan for non-motorized recreation. Moved by Andrea; second by Jeff. Outcome: carried.

- Resolution 31 — Amending the county compensation plan as it relates to Recreation, Forestry & Parks and Highway departments. Moved by Josh; second by Andrea. Outcome: carried.

- Resolution 32 — Appointing members to Region 6 Fish and Wildlife Management Board. Moved by Vince; second by Josh. Outcome: carried.

- Resolution 33 — Authorizing acceptance of bid and purchase of a 2025 Can-Am Defender Max Limited Crew Cab side-by-side UTV. Moved by Jessica; second by Tom Kalmus. Outcome: carried.

- Resolution 34 — Standard work day and reporting resolution (Board of Elections involvement required; one legislator recused from voting). Moved by Jessica; second by Herb. Outcome: carried; one legislator recused.

- Resolution 35 — Appointing members to the Traffic Safety Board. Moved by Andrea; second by Josh. Outcome: carried.

Meeting context and process notes: The Finance and Rules Committee reported examining the claims and recommended audit/allowance. For Resolution 17 the Legislature conducted a roll-call vote in which one member abstained and one member was excused; for many subsequent resolutions the board handled items individually rather than as a consent calendar, and most carried by voice vote after a motion and a second.

The meeting record does not list detailed vote tallies for every resolution beyond the roll call for Resolution 17; the minutes record the mover and seconder and that the motion “carries” or “carried” in each case.