September 2025 Citizen’s Report Supplement

At the September 2, 2025 meeting of the Corning City Council, several residents appeared to ask questions about possible coordination between City of Corning officials, the Steuben County Sheriff’s office, or the County Legislature regarding the two agreements that County Sheriff has signed with the federal Department of Immigration and Customs and Enforcement (ICE).

One speaker added concern about costs. He claimed that the federal government pays for only certain parts of these agreements. The salariesand overtime of local officers performing ICE duties are not federally reimbursed, he said. He fears that the expanded role of the Steuben County Sheriff’s office will put an increased burden on all county taxpayers and potentially city taxpayers as well. He requested information about whether the Steuben County Sheriff’s Office has been in contact with City of Corning officials to discuss coordination and funding when ICE activities occur in overlapping jurisdictions.

Each citizen asked for full disclosure of texts, email communications, notes, and minutes of meetings between the city and the county on these topics.

Mayor Boland said that the City of Corning will reply to the requests within 10 days. Here is a summary of the written replies:

•​The City of Corning is not a party to the Steuben County Sheriff’s agreements with ICE.

•​The City of Corning does not provide services in support of the Steuben County agreements with ICE either directly or indirectly under the City’s 2017 Intermunicipal Agreement for Police Protective Equipment grant.

• Neither the City Manager nor his staff have had any conversations with Steuben County officials aboutthe Steuben County Sheriff’s agreements with ICE.

• There has been no discussion between Mr. Ryckman or his staff with the Steuben County Sheriff’s Office concerning funding to support the Steuben County Sheriff’s agreements with ICE.

• The City Manager is unaware of whether other city officials, such as members of the City Council, have had conversations with Steuben County officials about the Steuben County Sheriff’s agreements with ICE.

• Citizens should direct questions concerning the contacts of other city officials, like City Councilmembers, to the officials themselves.

• Citizens should direct questions concerning the agreements with ICE to Steuben County.

At the September 2, 2025, meeting of the Corning City Council a citizen claimed that the City of Corning’s drinking water supply contains more carcinogenic “forever chemicals” known as PFAS than the EPA considers acceptable. She asked how long the City of Corning has known of this and whether it has plans in place to remediate the drinking water supply. If it does not have plans, she wanted to know why.

This same citizen expressed concern for the recent report that the New York State Department of Environmental Control (DEC) found various compounds that the speaker claims are known carcinogens on certain city property, particularly in Denison Park. Again, she asked how long the City of Corning has known of this and whether it has plans in place to remediate the park. If it does not have plans, she wants to know why.

Mayor Boland said that the City of Corning will reply to the requests within 10 days. Here is a summary of the City’s written response:

• The City of Corning is in compliance with the Environmental Protection Agency’s PFAS contamination standards.

• DEC conducts all environmental remediation efforts at the Fire Department and Denison Park. Citizens who have questions concerning public health matters related to these efforts should direct themto the DEC.

• Even though there are contaminants in soil and groundwater, the City of Corning’s drinking water meets EPA standards.

NOTES

•​The writer of this report has synopsized the written questions of the concerned citizens speaking on September 2 and the City’s later written responses thereto.

•​The writer believes that copies of the complete questions and responses are available to the public through the Office of the City Clerk.