Category: Recent Posts

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Thank You Amber and Gerry!

Gerry served as Rush’s Building Inspector, Code Enforcement Officer, Town Council member and as Rush Town Supervisor for the past four years. His amiable manner and willingness to listen endeared him to all who worked with him. Gerry is a people person who brought the highest integrity to his years of public service.

Amber devoted the highest level of technical skills to her role as Deputy Town Supervisor and diligently researched all her assignments. Whatever the task, her attention to detail resulted in flawless work. Listen to her comments on the YouTube recording of their last Town Board meeting together on 12/27/23. 

Having Gerry and Amber’s dedication leading the Rush Town Council has resulted in great progress in the town, including the updated Comprehensive Plan and a 25-year lease for 1911 house as a permanent home for the growing Rush Historical Society.

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Meet the Candidates Night 2021 sponsored by Rush RPA

WHAT: Meet the Candidates Night for those running for office to represent Rush, including candidates for Monroe County Legislature
WHEN: Thursday, October 14, 6:30 to 7:30 PM
WHERE: Rush United Methodist Church, 6200 Rush-Lima Road, in the sanctuary
SPONSORED BY: The Rush Recreation and Park Association (Rush RPA)
The candidates will be given up to 5 minutes to introduce themselves. There will not be any Q&A or debate of specific issues at the event. The goal for the forum is to help members of the community meet the candidates who are seeking local office and learn more about their ideas and vision for our community.
There will be light refreshments in the area outside the sanctuary after the candidate introductions, and casual conversation with candidates who choose to participate.

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Kusse & Corbin Sworn In on Jan. 2

Gerry Kusse and Amber Corbin formally became, respectively Town Supervisor and Councilwoman at a well-attended official swearing-in ceremony at Town Hall on January 2, 2020.  A reception with refreshments followed, and after that came the Town Board’s organizational meeting.

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Gerry’s League of Women Voters Interview

If you could achieve one major improvement for our town, what would it be and how would you accomplish it?

I would like to see the long abandoned former Big M site in our hamlet developed with a service (food store, coffee shop, deli, etc) that will benefit our residents.

This site is privately owned. Development may be possible if the present owner can be convinced that his participation would be of benefit to him and a great value to our town. I would appoint a citizens group and also include the property owner to brainstorm for possible solutions to try to make development a reality.

What are your views on housing issues such as affordable housing, code enforcement, and zoning?

Our population is aging. Younger people do not settle here. We do not have a sufficient stock of affordable housing to accommodate either group. Taxes must be kept in control to prevent the further escalation of cost to reside here.

Zoning codes were established years ago to maintain and preserve the quality of all property. Reasonable code enforcement efforts must be practiced to ensure that all property owners find property value maintenance and comfort in their neighborhoods.

Our forefathers established our town as a rural residential community many years ago. That has served us well for the most part. As we progress into the future we may need to look at the overall Master Plan to determine if adjustments will be of benefit

How would you balance the promotion of development in our town with protection of the environment?

Preservation of our natural environment will escalate as global warming concerns continue to surface. Smart growth development must be integrated with any residential, commercial and industrial development. Individuals who can commit to both economic development and maintain environmental standards will be of great value as members of our planning, zoning and conservation boards. Continuous monitoring of best practice actions by other communities will be paramount as we grow in the future.

What other issues do you think are important to residents and how will you address those issues?

We do not have a good record for inclusion of all. We do not have a good record for transparency. We do not have a good record for communicating. We need to listen to all stakeholders. We need to commit to two way communications with all residents. We need to involve any and all residents in our planning and decision making processes. We need to develop and maintain a welcoming and non-threatening atmosphere in our facilities and our meetings. This town belongs to it’s residents. They will be invited to participate.

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Rush Parks & Recreation Assoc. sponsors Meet the Candidates Night

Please mark your calendar!  And click here to download a PDF flyer.

WHAT: Meet the Candidates Night for those running for office to represent Rush, including candidates for Monroe County Legislature
WHEN: Tuesday, October 15, 6:30 to 7:30 PM
WHERE: Rush United Methodist Church, 6200 Rush-Lima Road, in the sanctuary
SPONSORED BY: The Rush Recreation and Park Association (Rush RPA)

The candidates will be given up to 5 minutes to introduce themselves. There will not be any Q&A or debate of specific issues at the event. The goal for the forum is to help members of the community meet the candidates who are seeking local office and learn more about their ideas and vision for our community.
There will be light refreshments in the area outside the sanctuary after the candidate introductions.

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Republican leaders, why so afraid?

Rush citizens:
I write this as one person working with others to elect a Rush Town Government that is open and responsive to us all. It is my belief that The Hometown Team of Councilman Gerry Kusse for Supervisor, Amber Corbin and Chaz Rorick for Council and Kathy Hankins for Town Clerk will provide dynamic leadership that will bring fresh ideas and new vigor to Rush.

As part of the team working to elect these quality people, I called the candidate running for Supervisor as a Republican and asked her if she and her party’s candidates would meet with us in a public forum to discuss issues important to Rush.  I expressed my willingness to get together with her designated person or persons and discuss the format and assured her that we would have a respectful, civil exchange of ideas.  I also stated my belief that such a forum would be helpful to the voters and helpful to the leaders who will be elected.   She said she would get back to me.

After waiting one week with no response, I  called again.  The decision after talking with her people was, “No they would not take part in a joint forum.”

The Hometown Team believes in government that is open and freely exchanges ideas and thoughts with all citizens.  Why do Republican fear debate?  A closed-off government of the few, unwilling to respectfully listen to and discuss the views of others, can only result in a stagnant government unrepresentative of the community.  I respectfully ask the Republican candidate to reconsider her decision and join us in a friendly discussion of the challenges facing our town and how best to meet them. The good people of Rush deserve open, right-sized, respectful and effective government. Let’s make it happen!
Respectfully,
Donald Scheg 979 Rush West Road