ALBION — The Orleans County Legislature moved forward with a major infrastructure upgrade Tuesday, unanimously agreeing to fund the local share of a new Emergency Operations Center (EOC) facility. During the Sept. 24 meeting, lawmakers authorized the transfer of $666,667 from the county’s Infrastructure Reserve to the Capital Project EMO fund. This allocation serves as the mandatory match for a $2 million grant awarded by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. The decision, formalized in Resolution No. 438-924, allows the county to pay for its portion of the design and construction of a new facility to replace or upgrade the current Emergency Management Office. The legislature also authorized a payment of $164,095.53 to LaBella Associates for professional design services related to the project. The vote was 7 to 0, with legislators Allport, Draper, Eick, Fitzak, Johnson, Miller, and Morgan all in favor. In other public safety business, the legislature authorized the Sheriff’s Office to apply for two separate STOP DWI grants totaling $55,650. The first grant, amounting to $24,800, is a "High Visibility Engagement Grant" from the New York State STOP DWI Foundation. It will fund increased patrols during holiday periods from Oct. 1, 2024, through Sept. 30, 2025. The second grant application, submitted to the Governor’s Traffic Safety Committee, totals $30,850. This funding covers patrols, equipment, and costs for ten town courts. It also allocates $10,500 to the Orleans County Youth Bureau for outreach and education. While the Sheriff’s Office is securing state funding, it also received a financial boost from the community. Through Resolution No. 436-924, the legislature accepted $2,475 in donations. "We are accepting the generous donations received from community members to assist the Sheriff’s Office budget," the resolution read. The funds are specifically earmarked for animal control ($75) and the K-9 Sheriff unit ($2,400). Treasurer Kimberly DeFrank provided a cash report during the meeting, noting that August numbers were slightly higher due to three payrolls being processed in the month. DeFrank also took a moment to present the county with a historical plaque listing every elected County Treasurer from 1825 to the present. "I researched back and found all elected County Treasurers," DeFrank said. She noted that the first woman appointed to the role was in 1957 following the death of Treasurer Burt Luddington. Since then, the office has been held predominantly by women. The meeting opened with several recognitions. Legislator Allport presented a proclamation declaring September as Childhood Cancer Awareness Month. Katelyn Pearl, mother of Maddox Pearl who passed away in September 2023, accepted the honor on behalf of the organization Tough2gether on the Maddox Express. Legislator Miller presented a proclamation declaring October as Domestic Violence Awareness Month. Holli Nenni, Commissioner of the Department of Social Services, also requested permission to light the county dome purple from Oct. 2-14 to raise awareness for the cause. In personnel and technology matters, the legislature approved an agreement with Dr. Cayla Guadalupe-Murdoch to provide domestic violence evaluations and treatment to offenders through the Probation Department at no cost to the county. They also authorized the Probation Department to add 10 cell phones to the FirstNet account, replacing older reimbursement models for officers. Additionally, the legislature authorized the purchase of new legal reference materials for the Public Defender's Office. The $5,898.40 purchase of a hard-bound series from Thomson Reuters will be paid for using funds from the Hurrell-Harring grant extension and is not an annual expense.