Lansing residents say yes to Prop. 1, no to Prop. 2

On Nov. 1, Lansing residents approved the Lansing Central School District’s (LCSD) Non-Alternative Pipeline Project (NPA) but voted against the Building Opportunities for Branding, Capital improvements, Athletics & Teaching (BOBCAT) project.

The NPA is expected to cost Lansing taxpayers $1.89 million, and work is projected to start between 2023 and 2024 and be completed within a few years. The BOBCAT project, which aimed to improve some of the athletic facilities, was expected to cost $22.8 million.

LCSD Superintendent Chris Pettograsso did not respond to multiple requests for comment on the vote.

On its Facebook page, LCSD said it appreciated residents completing exit surveys at the poll but ultimately expressed its disappointment that both propositions weren’t passed.

“Though this is disappointing, as [the BOBCAT project] includes much needed improvements that remain, we are happy to move forward with the NPA,” the statement said. “There seems to be misconceptions regarding the actual condition of our athletic facilities as well as the process of capital projects. In addition, we will provide the community with greater details regarding the financial impact of the BOBCAT Project.”

The NPA is a project that started in 2019, when NYSEG requested proposals to ensure that Lansing would not be as reliant on natural gas. LCSD sent multiple proposals to NYSEG focusing on improvements to the middle school, which is close to the end of a natural gas pipeline.

Pettograsso said in a recent interview with Tompkins Weekly (tinyurl.com/29fkgllw) that the middle school is the largest user of natural gas to heat its building in the district. In the same interview, she said NYSEG will support $710,000 toward the project, which would put the tax burden on Lansing residents at $1.18 million.

The improvements will feature two boiler replacements ($420,000), 42 classroom unit ventilators ($840,000), a rooftop unit for the auditorium ($280,000), two gymnasium rooftop units ($320,000) and a new cafeteria furnace ($25,000).

In the election to approve NPA, 1,004 residents voted, with 509 (50.7%) voting to pass the project and 495 (49.3%) voting against.

As explained in a release from LCSD, 9.1% of active Lansing voters decided to support the proposition, and 8.8% of active Lansing voters were against.

The voting was more lopsided when it came to the BOBCAT project, with 1,002 residents voting and 634 (63.3%) choosing to shoot down the proposal. The “yes” votes were tallied at 368 (36.7%).

The release said that 11.3% of total possible active voters voted against the proposal, while 6.6% of active voters agreed with the proposal.

BOBCAT was a project that would feature improvements to the district’s athletic facilities. It included refurbishing the gymnasium floor, putting in a turf field at Sobus Field, removing and replacing the track at Sobus Field and more.

The project was going to be rolled out in two phases: one costing $19.2 million and another costing $3.6 million.

On its Facebook page, LCSD said that despite the public voting down the BOBCAT project, it saw that voters in the community were energized in deciding how taxpayer money is spent in the school district.

The statement continued to say that the Capital Project will evolve based on what LCSD has heard from residents.

“Prior to this capital vote, we were experiencing very low levels of engagement,” the statement said. “We are grateful for the renewed involvement and hope you continue to remain involved as we move forward with our capital improvement planning. Please continue to check our Capital Project website and stay tuned for updates.”

Lansing at Large appears every Wednesday in Tompkins Weekly. Send story ideas to editorial@VizellaMedia.com.

In brief:

Board of Education to meet

LCSD’s Board of Education is scheduled to meet Tuesday at 7 p.m. Meetings are held at the Lansing High School LGI room. The meeting will be available on LCSD’s YouTube channel: youtube.com/user/lansingschoolvideos.

Cheerleading program starts Dec. 5

The Lansing Parks and Recreation Department is offering a basketball cheerleading program for children in third through sixth grades.

Practices start Dec. 5, and the program fee is $50. Participants will learn cheers, dances, stunting and tumbling and will support the basketball players.

Starting the week of Dec. 5, grades three and four will practice Tuesdays and Thursdays from 6 to 7:30 p.m. Grades five and six will practice Wednesdays and Fridays from 6 to 7:30 p.m. The program requires athletic attire, sneakers and hair being pulled up.

Participants can sign up at lansingrec.recdesk.com/Community/Home. Questions about the program can be directed to Lansingcheer1@gmail.com or Lansingcheer2@gmail.com.

Busy week ahead at Lansing Town Hall

The Lansing Town Hall will host three public meetings next week.

On Monday, the Lansing Planning Board working meeting will meet at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, the Town of Lansing Open Space Index and Conservation Plan will host its first public meeting at 7 p.m.

According to the Lansing Town Hall website, the organization is hosting the public meeting to share thoughts and visions about the future of open space in Lansing.

The presentation will also be available on the town’s YouTube livestream channel, located at tinyurl.com/TownofLansing.

Wednesday, virtual office hours will be held from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. to discuss open space in Lansing. That meeting can be found at tinyurl.com/OSIOfficeHours.

The busy week concludes with a regular Town Board meeting Wednesday starting at 6:30 p.m. The town hall is located at 29 Auburn Rd.