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Additional Details Provided on Private Security for Trails
Proposal to be Considered at June 7 Meeting of
Lewis County Board of Legislators
Published: June 06, 2022 at
08:30 p.m.
By: Nick Altmire
Lowville, NY- In an update on our article
earlier today regarding the private security proposal
for recreational trails to be considered by the Lewis County Board of
Legislators during their June 7 meeting, additional details regarding the
proposal were provided late this afternoon.
Lewis County
Manager Ryan Piche tells us that two firms were interviewed this morning
regarding proposals to provide private security services for recreational
trails located in Lewis County. Mr. Piche said the final proposal will be
presented as a late resolution for legislators to consider during the June
7 meeting. The committee wanted to
include the recommended firm in the proposal, which wasn’t determined until
after this morning’s interviews with the two firms, so the final version of
the resolution was not ready in time to include with the packet of proposed
resolutions provided on Friday, according to Mr. Piche.
According to the
final version of the resolution provided this afternoon, the intention of
the proposal is to “supplement law enforcement presence on the trails with part-time
private security services, to assist in surveillance and safety on the
trails in order to remind riders to abide by the laws and regulations set
forth for safety for trail riding, and to protect landowners’ property.” The
proposed resolution notes that Lewis County “is a predominant New York
State location for outdoor recreational activities, including its
snowmobile and ATV/OHV trails,” and that the proposal is a result of “concern
for those who are failing to ride safely and respectfully, including but
not limited to unsafe speed, off-trail riding, drinking and riding, which too
often result in injuries, deaths and property damage.”
The proposal
under consideration would be for an initial four-month period, with the
selected firm to “provide recreational compliance and safety services on
the County trails, commencing Mid-June through Mid-October, 2022 at a cost
not to exceed $100,000.00, for four (4) NYS certified security guards on
duty every Thursday through Sunday from 4:00 pm to 9:00 pm, using UTVs
provided by the company; with the guards to focus on protecting landowners’
property abutting the trails, to provide safety and prevention detail, to
work cooperatively with local law enforcement agencies by referring enforcement
matters and incidents, and to provide general trail education and etiquette
reminders to riders.”
If approved, the
cost of the proposal will be taken from contingency funds.
Mr. Piche said
that if the proposal is approved, he would coordinate with the Parks, Recreation
and Forestry department at the county to determine which locations in the
county to deploy the security guards each weekend during the contracted
period, focusing on “hotspots” on the trail system.
Gold Star
Security, LLC , of Watertown, is the firm the committee
has selected to perform the private security services if the proposal is
approved.
Sheriff Mike Carpinelli stated his opposition to the proposal during
the May 17 meeting
of the General Services committee, suggesting the
money could be better used if provided to the Sheriff’s office.
The Lewis County
Board of Legislators will hold their regular monthly meeting on June 7,
beginning at 5 p.m., at the courthouse in Lowville. Resolutions proposed
for action can be viewed here. The late
resolution for private security for trails can be viewed here.
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