Editorial illustration for the Watertown Post Daily Brief.
Micron foundation work advances as construction rail spur nears completion
Construction at Micron’s chipmaking campus in Clay is moving deeper into foundation work, with crews installing concrete pilings that will support the fabrication buildings. A rail spur is nearing completion and is intended to bring sand, stone and other construction materials to the site while reducing pressure on surrounding roads. The company plans to use 60-car trains, with each car carrying roughly five dump-truck loads of aggregate. The work follows the first concrete pour on July 9, which arrived ahead of the original schedule. The first fabrication plant is expected to be operating in 2030, while the broader campus buildout is expected to continue through 2045.
Oneida County proposes $577 million budget with a flat property-tax levy
Oneida County’s proposed 2027 operating budget totals just over $577 million and would leave the county property-tax levy unchanged. The plan, presented October 8, includes a new housing division within the Planning Department and a $2 million restricted fund for housing initiatives. Infrastructure allocations include $27 million for the Water Pollution Plant and $24 million for the County Road Fund. Some outside agencies would face reductions of up to 12%, while the capital plan would retire nearly $19 million in debt and add about $17.9 million in borrowing. Legislators will review the proposal in the coming weeks; it has not yet been adopted.
Plattsburgh budget proposal sets October 29 public hearing
Plattsburgh’s proposed 2027 city budget calls for a 2% increase in the general-fund tax levy, with the proposed property-tax rate rising by less than 1%, from about $8.75 to $8.83 per $1,000 of assessed value. Priorities identified in the spending plan include aging infrastructure, sidewalks and trails, waterfront areas, parks and public spaces. The proposal now moves to the Common Council for review and possible changes. Residents can comment at a public hearing on Thursday, October 29, at 5:30 p.m. in City Hall’s Common Council Chambers. Budget copies are available through the city clerk and the Plattsburgh Public Library.
Jefferson County adds disposable vapes to Saturday’s hazardous-waste collection
Disposable vapes will be accepted at Jefferson County’s free household hazardous-waste collection on Saturday, October 10, from 8 a.m. to noon. The event takes place at the Jefferson County Highway Department, 21897 County Route 190, with advance registration through the North Country Recycles program. Special collection bins are part of a disposal effort involving the Development Authority of the North Country, PIVOT and Jefferson-Lewis BOCES. Funding from New York’s 2023 Juul settlement helped purchase the bins. The addition gives residents a way to keep devices containing lithium batteries and nicotine out of ordinary trash, alongside the event’s collection of listed paints, pesticides, solvents and other household chemicals.
Clayton Opera House starts Halloween weekend with Hocus Pocus
Clayton Opera House begins a Halloween-themed weekend tonight, Friday, October 9, with an interactive screening of “Hocus Pocus” at 6:30 p.m. The Butler Did It Players are part of the movie experience, and general-admission tickets are listed at $5. On Saturday, October 10, paranormal researcher and television host Amy Bruni brings “Walking with Ghosts” to the venue at 7:30 p.m., exploring the stories behind well-known horror films. Listed ticket prices are $25, $30 and $35, depending on seating section. The opera house is at 403 Riverside Drive, with sales handled through its box office and official ticketing service.
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