LOCKPORT — The Niagara County Legislature on Tuesday called on the New York Power Authority to reserve any increase in power production at the Niagara Power Project for the county’s use.

The resolution by Legislator John D. Ceretto, R-Lewiston, said the $460 million, 10-year upgrade of the Lewiston Pump Generating Plant, announced June 29, will impact the county and the Town of Lewiston, and thus compensation is deserved.

“Do not send this extra power downstate. Keep it in Niagara County,” said Ceretto.

His resolution said any power increase should be turned over to the county’s Empower Niagara program, which has aided local companies with some of the electricity the county was allocated in the Power Project relicensing deal.

“While we don’t anticipate the project will produce a substantial amount of new electricity, NYPA is always committed to providing as much energy as we can to Western New York,” said Michael Salzman, a Power Authority spokesman. “We’ll consider [the county’s request] after the project is completed.”

The Legislature passed a resolution endorsing a Western New York Economic Development Fund. Majority Leader Richard E. Updegrove, R-Lockport, said bills to create it have passed both houses of the State Legislature and await Gov. Paterson’s signature.

Also approved was the scheduling of an Aug. 24 public hearing on a local law that would have the county treasurer turn over all statutory commissions for handling estates without wills to the county.

In exchange, Treasurer Kyle R. Andrews would be paid a $25,000 annual stipend for estate work.

Andrews said he would sign a contract with the county specifying that the stipend wouldn’t count toward his state pension credit. The stipend would come in addition to his $82,775 salary.

The lawmakers also approved a settlement of a lawsuit against the Town of Niagara over unpaid claims predating the town’s 2001 withdrawal from the county-run workers’ compensation insurance pool. The town will pay the county $500,000.

tprohaska@buffnews.comnull