主页My WebLink关于1999-03 f A Newsletter or .v. yyy �t'3ry}ii.' u ;:375]'. In .: iii tii ?': :: ?: i::�:i�:� i:) }:it, v:?:7'ii: :: ::. and Retirees Employees t k � r , R i'ly : is �: }. }:��� -"...4, in a of Tom k s County } P Y o ' .. - <:> ;..: MARCH 1999 Volume 12 Number 3 GEOGRAPHIC INFORMATION SYSTEMS by Jacquie Bow, Planning Department GIS is more than maps though, it's analysis. Different digital data sets can easily be compared using GIS • I - software to quickly answer complex geographic questions. t .•' 1 t , . Does a tax parcel fall within a flood zone? Do any - ' <' ' ''° wetlands fall within 100 feet of a proposed housing ti -- - ' • development? Which roads are unpaved /seasonal use ''s only? -- - Several county departments currently use GIS to produce custom maps and conduct spatial analysis for their : j _ own project work. The Information Technology Services 1 y _ . GIS Division and Planning Department provide GIS project t" support to other county departments, local municipal : • , ,b: governments, councils, and advisory boards. If your ' �`` t . ' department would like to be introduced to the concepts of GIS or has an interest in custom spatial analysis or map Picture by Vickie Wagner, Assessment work for a particular project contact Greg Potter (ITS -GIS Division) at 274 -5416 or Jacquie Bow (Planning A series of maps produced by the Planning Department, Department) at 274 -5560. Information Technology Services - GIS Division, the Assessment Department, and the Ithaca Tompkins County Thank you Donna Transportation Council are on display at the Tompkins County Trust Company on the Ithaca Commons until by Ruth Pond, Finance; Corridors Editor March 26. These maps were produced using sophisticated computer software called GIS (an abbreviation for Geographic Information Systems). GIS data has two elements: a map - and a related database. The digital map represents the `�` actual geographic location of a feature, while the database _ provides a variety of information about the feature. For example, Tompkins County roads are mapped as a series of lines while information about the road name, surface - type, and speed limit is stored in a related database. Currently, Tompkins County digital GIS data sets include: ',-" "� Agricultural Districts Bedrock Geology Surficial Geology Building Footprints Donna at work in the lunchroom of The Old Jail. Census Boundaries Contours Did you know each month 285 Tompkins County retirees DEC Regulatory Wetlands Election Districts from as far away as Hawaii receive a copy of County Flood Zones Generalized Land Use Corridors? We would like to introduce the person who Municipal Boundaries Nat'l.Wetlands Railroads does that mailing. She is Donna Deputron, B &G. who Roads Percent Slopes routinely does this on her own time (breaks and lunch) Soil Associations State Lands and does so faithfully and happily. She deserves at least Tax Parcels Trails 285 thanks! (286 with mine). Unique Natural Areas Watershed Boundaries County Administrator's Report Tales from the Bush by Rick Erb by Dave Bush, Sheriff's We were very pleased to Ahh yes, another message from announce that direct up on the hill... I hope that you deposit of paychecks is 1 all enjoyed the snow storm of now available to r employees of Tom Tompkins , March 12 and 13. It really gets a l b .„.. P ,, V hectic here in dispatch when it • County. I know that �I' ` < -: seems that everyone in the 1 many of you are eager to filiV r �� i Y world calls to find out "How are 4' . '` begin using this service, the roads ?" Little does the which promises to be a ,' , general public know but we are real time saver. Greg locked in communications in the Potter and Angie White = ; . middle of the building and I have di all■ at ITS are to be yet to look out my window and congratulated for their see a blizzard in the lobby! It work with the Finance was a very busy day for the road patrol also. It always � a i =l am Department to bring this about. happens after we have no snow for awhile - people forget ' M > ��E 17 Details on signing up for direct to slow down a little and give themselves some extra time deposit have been circulated to to reach their destination safely. employees. Please read this material carefully to be sure I know that some of you are very interested in our that it is an appropriate option for you before selecting it. department so I thought this would be a good avenue to let you know what happens here with a few selected stats for ' I would like to touch (carefully) on another matter that is the month of February 1999: (from 2/1/99 to 2/28/99) especially close to all of us working in the downtown D.W.I. arrests 14; Alarms 81; Property damage I complex, parking. Following the Board's action on the MVA 123; Personal Injury MVA 24; Traffic tickets issued parking proposal, there has been some confusion on the 548; Vehicles checked for any violations 2,210. These status of parking rules and enforcement. Let me clarify that represent only a portion of the 770 calls handled in the regulations in effect at the end of December 1998 are February. virtually unchanged as of today. This includes the responsibility for monitoring compliance, which still rests in �� ;' In other news from the department, the the hands of the Personnel Department. Does anyone �' ;, '' Sheriff has posted notices that we will be getting 1 doubt that this is an unenviable task? Please give them =,. Helicopter, a horse patrol, and a mobile your cooperation by complying with the rules — they didn't I , ' command center in the near future. These items , make them up, but we all have to work with them. Work on will be put to great use as the helicopter has no parking issues still remains and I would welcome any . -_ i rotor blade (but a good conversation piece for in suggestions you may have on how to improve the current front of the PSB) and the horse patrol is very much situation. Even without soliciting comments, you can needed as the mobile command center needs to be pulled probably imagine I have received a number of creative (it has no motor, but was very cheap that way). Sorry, had suggestions over the past several weeks. There needs to to throw in a little April Fools humor! be an avenue for employee input on this subject and for now at least, I can serve in that role. Anonymity The following is this month's selected "funny guaranteed. bone" of the day: On a special Teacher's Day, a kindergarten teacher was receiving gifts from all her little I The weather here continues to confound me. Who knew charges. The first was the local florist's son who handed that winter didn't start until March? In Maine we had a her a gift. She shook it, held it up and said, "I bet I know much simpler schedule of the four seasons: Tourist, what this is.... some flowers." "That's right" the boy said, Foliage, Ski, and Mud. See you next month. "but how did you know that ?" "Oh, just a wild guess ". The next pupil was the candy store owners daughter. The teacher held her gift overhead and said, "I bet this is a box of candy." "That's right, but how did you know ?" asked the Y2K ALERT little girl. "Oh, just a wild guess," said the teacher. The by Will Fence next gift was from the son of the local liquor store owner. The teacher held it aloft, but it was leaking. She cupped - -` I. r her hand to capture some of the leakage and drank it. "Is '! I : e Having completed extensive it wine ?" she asked. "Nope" the boy replied. The teacher ?.k- , research, the ITS Department repeated the process and asked "Is it champagne ?" "Nope" ; =_1.„ �i has determined that all said the little boy. After tasting again for the third time the %., County Compaq computers teacher finally said, "O.K. I give up, what is it ?" The boy _ are not and can not be stopped and looked at his teacher with a proud smile and compliant with Y2K issues. Therefore, it is the stated "a puppy!" responsibility of each Department Head to raise the funds needed to replace all Compaq computers. Happy April Fool's Day to one and all Dave • „.� . t / Dear Danielle, ' My son is 8 years old and one night not too long ago Q9� when I went in to tuck him in his bed, he had big crocodile tears ` `, k -bb in his eyes. When I asked him what was wrong, he responded -J) 1 heo. de that he doesn't want me (his mommy) to die. I am almost 32 / years old. I don't smoke, don't drink alcoholic beverages, and S ,� 0� � am really pretty healthy. � I really didn't know what to tell him. I assured him that I am healthy and that I don't think he needs to worry about that right now. But I really didn't know what to say to him. Now I am wondering if my other two children are having the same Dear Danielle, feelings. I don't know what to say. Speechless in the country I have a job which doesn't keep me busy all the time, Dear Speechless, and I don't know what to do when I don't have anything to do. What do you think I should do? You handled the situation perfectly. Things pop in and Not Lazy out of children's heads constantly. All of a sudden, your son Dear Not Lazy, thought he might lose you and became scared. You assured him You should report to your supervisor that everything was alright. whenever you are "caught up" and are unaware of tasks that As for your other children, I wouldn't worry. The best need to be done. Your supervisor will appreciate this greatly, thing about kids is that they generally say whatever they're and you will demonstrate true integrity for not wanting nothing thinking. If they don't say it, you can often tell by their actions to do. Not having enough to do is worse than having too much that something is on their minds and you try to get them to talk to do. The hours drag on, and, trust me.... Others DO notice it out. Don't ever assume you know what they're thinking. when someone doesn't have anything to do. They need to tell you or clue you in and then you can respond. For anyone who might think that this is an indicator of an unnecessary position, and that this person risks having their position abolished, think again. Due to high and low activity Dear Danielle, periods, it can and does happen. There are times when one person is burdened with a workload greater than one person can I have more of a statement than a question, but it is handle, and, at other times, there may be a lull in the activity something that I think your readers would feel better informed level. if they knew about this situation. The new parking rules in the You will be MUCH more valuable to the organization Courthouse Complex parking lots allow for designated if you go to your supervisor and ask for work rather than to handicapped parking spots for employees who have been issued pretend you're busy when you're not. It's good for the County, a handicapped parking permit so that they are guaranteed a spot it shows you are ambitious, and you will feel much better about near the building they work in. your value to the organization. However, this new rule, though it was meant to be a good thing, seems to have turned into a bad thing. My co- workers who park in these spots are continually Dear Danielle, embarrassed by other employees who see them parking in these designated spots. Remarks are made in a joking manner by these Am I the only one who is troubled by all the casual sex folks who, if they took the time to think about it, would realize in what are supposed to be situation comedies on TV? I just that just because a person does not have a visible handicap, does don't fmd it very funny, and I feel like an outcast when the rest not mean they do not have a legitimate reason to park in a of my family is yukking it up. designated spot. Sick of being the Stick in the Mud I also feel bad for my co- workers because I feel they Dear Stick, are forced into the position of making private business known to everyone who sees them park in these spaces because of the new You don't have to condone it, but to be troubled by it parking rules. is another thing. Sex in the media is here to stay. You have a — Signed, a caring friend few options: (1) Try not to dwell on it (2) Become an advocate Dear Caring, for "cleaning up" television programming (3) Quit watching TV or (4) Go with the flow and turn it into a positive experience by Thank you for raising the topic. I could not agree more talking about it with your children. You can explain what your with your observation and assessment. personal belief system is about exactly how casually sex should To re- emphasize: No one can just go to the Department be regarded. of Motor Vehicle and get a handicapped permit. A physician's certification is required. Most medical conditions are not obvious. Do not make assumptions. It is none of your business. Send questions to Danielle c/o Ruth Pond, Finance One day, it may be you who requires the permit. -- ******************* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * ** Direct Deposit Be Prepared for Meetings by Pat Nowakowski, Finance submitted by Michael Koplinka- Loehr, Bd. Of Reps. Most meetings are twice as long as they should be because people don't prepare properly. Always know the 'rrsr; ,�t� Direct Deposit is now purpose of a meeting, have a clear agenda, hand it out in l ;' u �'I' available to Tompkins advance and expect people to be prepared. Meetings '''..' ' ' " a Count employees. You aren't for sharing information; they are for coming up with 74 ' - - may deposit your net ideas jointly for how to solve problems. Compose minutes '• Q� ,l^ paycheck amount into any on one page following the meeting, including follow-up o �` bank or credit union that assignments based on decisions made during the meeting. allows direct deposit Chaleff's survey found that people reported spending an through ACH (Automated Clearing House.) This includes average of 2.1 hours a week in meetings for which they the majority of banks, and the three local credit unions. weren't prepared. If people took the time to prepare, the You may choose only one bank or credit union, length of the meetings would be cut in half, saving roughly and you must deposit the entire amount. 9 minutes a day. (from USA Weekend 1/22 - 24199 from an Due to the ACH requirements for processing, your article by Stephen Covey). paycheck funds may not be in your account until the day after the physical paychecks are issued. Please be aware of this when you are making your decision whether to TRIPS - TRIPS - TRIPS choose direct deposit. To sign up for direct deposit (or to stop direct Bowling Party in the future), fill out a Tompkins County Direct g y Deposit Change Form (available from your department head or on the County's web page), and send it to Fran Armstrong in Finance - Payroll. Forms received by noon on the second Tuesday of a pay period will be processed for that payroll. Forms received after that date will not be processed until the following payroll. If you will be choosing direct deposit to the ell Tompkins Employees Federal Credit Union, you must sign up with them first. TEFCU recommends that you maintain your current payroll deduction to the credit union, and deposit the remainder in your checking account. Bowl - Drome, 401 3rd St., Ithaca If you close your account at the bank or credit Saturday, April 10 at 2 p.m. union, you must also fill out a Tompkins County Direct $5.00 /pp Deposit Change Form to stop direct deposit to that Includes 3 games of bowling, shoe rental and snacks. account. If you have any questions about direct deposit, please Pocono Nascar contact Pat Nowakowski in the Comptroller's Office at pnowakowski @einstein.co.tompkins.ny.us or 274 -5403. Winston Cup Changed Your Identity? "' Mvx by Anna Smith, Personnel = __---e- When you change your name or personal mailing address, please notify the Personnel ,. `43541'n' - Department RIGHT AWAY so your employment records can be Sunday, June 20 S ® . updated. A 428 -A Form should be $75 -O0 _ sent from your department to Reserve your seats now... Personnel to specify the changes. When you change your More details to follow. name or office telephone number, be ": sure to notify lretta Ellis in the If more interest isn't expressed for these .___. i nformation Technology Department two events they will have to be cancelled so so she can update the county's on- SIGN UP NOW!!! line Staff Directory. Many of us rely on that directory to locate fellow employees and to redirect phone calls. Iretta's e-mail address is <iretta @tompkins- co.org >. For more information, call Pete Coats - 274 -6688, Patty Stamm - 274 -6674 or Lynda Rose - 274 -5553 To: All County Employees and Affiliates From: Charlie Evans, Board of Representatives and Greg Potter, Information Services Date: March 5, 1999 A County -wide Project Team has been created to develop recommendations for "the development of standards and protocol" for County Government Web Pages. Over the next five months, the team will review, discuss, plan guidelines and write recommendations for web page design, content, administration, oversight, maintenance, resources, technical support and training. Special provisions for "grand- fathering in" existing pages and work will be included. Our final recommendations will be submitted to the Government Operations Committee of the Board of Representatives for endorsement followed by a formal resolution to the Board of Representatives. Along the way, we will be requesting information and your ideas and suggestions. Please stay tuned for surveys, phone calls or reports from your liaison or representative. If you would like more information about the team purpose, charge, goals, or projected timelines, please contact Diane Bradac or a team member. * * ** *Coming Soon * * * ** Changes and improvements to the County Home Page Design and Employee /Services Directories The new version of the County Home Page will soon be posted. It will not be the final version. We are implementing the new format to solicit ideas and responses to be followed by a survey for your ideas, questions and suggestions. Department web pages below the main County Home Page will not be altered, however some links will be re- organized. We hope you find these changes helpful. If you have questions or ideas about these changes, please contact a team member or write to us at the address noted on the County Home Web Page. Name E -mail Address Representative/Liaison Group Diane Bradac diane bradac0.einstein.co.tompkins.ny.us Personnel/Team Leader Jim Blizzard jblizzard@tompkins- co.org Public Information Paul Cowles paul cowlesna ..buttermilk.co.tompkins.ny.us Public Works Kathleen Drew kdrew(a,tompkins- co.org Administration Iretta Ellis iretta @tompkins- co.org Information Technology Steve Estes steve estes(d einstein.co.tompkins.ny,us Personnel Charlie Evans cevans @einstein.co.tompkins.ny.us Board of Representatives /Guidance Team/Electronic Futures Committee JJ Franklin ji franklin@asm server.co.tompkins.ny.us Assessment Theresa Lyczko tlyczko @Aompkins- co.org Health/Public Awareness Committee Cheryl Nelson cnelson @mail.co.tompkins.ny.us Public Works/Team Facilitator Leadership Council/Information Management Committee Greg Potter ePottereeinstein.co.tompkins.ny.us ITS /Guidance Team/Dept Heads Michelle Pottorff mpottorff @tompkins- co.org Board of Representatives Office Wendy Skinner wskinnereeinstein.co.tompkins.ny.us einstein.co.tompkins.ny.us Public Information/Government Operations Committee /Administration Unclassifieds The Personal Touch For Sale: Congratulations to: Dining room set: Dark oak trestle table, 6 chairs, Lauren Dickenson, Fire & Disaster, Emergency Services glass doored hutch, pads for the table. $850.00. Dispatcher, on the birth of her granddaughter, Marissa Nicole, Call 273 -3143. Dickenson January 3, 1999. Douglas Conover, Fire & Disaster, Emergency Services Services: Dispatcher, a grandson, Sean Jeffrey Colburn born January 21, 1999. Zart Computer Services - for all of your computer needs: consulting, computers and accessories. Juanita Quaile, Mental Health, on the birth of 266 -7492. granddaughter Julia Alexis Moran, born February 4, 1999. Juanita now has eight grandchildren. Jeffrey L. Vandermark, Buildings & \ ) 1 :: \.e marriage to Elizabeth Torres March 5, 1999. : Sharon Rea in, Comptrollers, on her recent promotion to Director of Accounting Services. 468 11 Russ Klinger, Assessment on his marriage to Theresa �..�� Hurley O 'Con on ne's Day, Febry 14, 1999. Scott O dell promoted t o Sergeant in Road Patrol Unit; Brad C over t promoted nor Va to Sergeant Road Patrol Unit; Kim B promoted to Sergeant tin in the Corrections rua Division; Tom Walpole promoted to Corporal in Corrections Division; Sean Schollenberger hired as a Corrections Officer; Joseph Manning hired as a Deputy Sheriff. Articles to be considered for the April 22 issue must be received April 5 — May 15 by noon, Monday, April 5. Lengthy articles should be on disk. Send by interdepartmental mail to Ruth Pond, Finance, or 125 East 1999 Court St., Ithaca, NY 14850. Fax: 274 -5505. Everyone is welcome to participate, UNCLASSIFIEDS especially those who find it difficult to make activity Classified ads up to 25 words in length are free to County employees, retirees part of their regular routine. This year, it's all up to and their immediate families. Ads may be for any purpose except no personal ads you. There won't be teams - it will be quite simple will be accepted. No County addresses or telephone numbers may be listed in Y 4 P these ads, however we do need the full name of the person submitting the ad. Use - no baseline estimates - just keep track of your this coupon to send your ad via interdepartmental mail to Ruth Pond, County daily activity for your information and to make you Corridors Go Finance, or 125 East Court St., Ithaca, NY 14850. eligible for PRIZES. Please type or print legibly! Thanks! Call the Health Promotion Program at 274- 6710 for details and a registration form. Registration deadline is March 31. The Wellness Committee will pay the COUNTY CORRIDORS $5.00 registration for County employees. Articles and opinion pieces for County Corridors are selected by the volunteer Walk the dog, wash the car, editorial board based on their interest to Tompkins County employees and retirees. They do not necessarily express the opinions of the Editorial Board. Material is Chase the kids, rake the yard. solicited from current employees, retirees and others. If doesn't matter what you do, Material for publication is selected by the editorial board which reserves the right Al! that counts is moving you. to edit any submissions except in the instance of copyright articles. The Editorial Board is made up of: Bill Chapp, Social Services; Sharon Cooper, Sheriff's; Liz Croop, Mental Health; Lisa Eaton, (Proofreader), Finance- Purchasing; Iretta Ellis, Imagine Action is the name of the game, Information Services; Ruth Pond, (Editor), Finance; Michelle Pottorff, Bd. Of Give us 6 weeks and you won't be the same. Representatives; Judy Tynyk, (Chair), Weights and Measures; and Vickie Wagner, We made the rules, the program is clear (Artist), Drafting Technician. Start moving today, a healthy lifestyle begins here. Correspondence may be sent through County inter - department mail to: County Corridors, c/o Finance - Purchasing, 125 East Court St., Ithaca, NY 14850.