Shutdown has local impact

YATES COUNTY—Since the government shutdown began Oct. 1, several local branches of federal agencies have had their doors closed to Yates County residents.
Yates County Chairman Taylor Fitch said there have been concerns at the county level regarding federal funding  in workforce development.
“We are kind of playing it by ear right now,” Fitch said. “We are hoping things will start to be resolved sometime this week.”
County Administrator Sarah Purdy said the Workforce Investment Act funds the two staff members the county employs in the workforce development department. She said the funds for one of the positions is not jeopardized, but the second position may be reduced from full-time hours to three days per week if the shutdown continues through the end of the month.
Purdy said the Home Energy Assistance Program (HEAP) has also been impacted by the shutdown. She said the county is still processing old applications, but are not accepting new applications at this time.
The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) office located at 270 Lake St. in Penn Yan has not been open since the shutdown. The group has a sign posted on its door stating “The office will reopen when congress restores funding.”
This has caused issue with municipalities working with the agency. Dundee Village Clerk Christine Sutherland said the grant for their municipal parking lot is through USDA. She said the village is “in limbo” until the federal employees are off of furlough.