County advances multiple Chautauqua Lake sewer steps: public hearings, grant applications and $35.59 million bond authorization

Chautauqua Countylegislators approved a package of actions to study and pursue funding for sewer upgrades and expansions around Chautauqua Lake, including a public hearing for upgrades at the North Stock Lake Sewer District plant, formal steps to extend the Center Chautauqua Lake Sewer District bounds, and authorization required by lenders to issue bonds for a proposed extension.

County and district officials told the Audit & Control Committee they discovered the North Stock Lake wastewater treatment plant in Mayville is capacity constrained and needs significant infrastructure updates in addition to capacity work. Matt Oldick, director of the North Stock Lake Sewer District, said the plant is rated for 0.5 million gallons per day (MGD) with an average annual flow about 320,000 gallons per day and spikes to multi-million-gallon inflows during heavy rain events; inflow and infiltration is a known issue. Administrative-board members for the district voted unanimously to ask the legislature to call a public hearing so the county can pursue state funding opportunities with a May application deadline.

Separately, Tom Walsh, director of the South and Center Chautauqua Lake Sewer Districts, described a parallel plan to extend public sewers on the east side of Chautauqua Lake from Midway State Park through Point Chautauqua. Walsh said the extension would serve about 500 customers currently on septic systems and would route the flow to the South & Center districttreatment plant in Celeron. Walsh and other officials said an engineering planning grant is needed to study whether the South & Center plant could accept additional flow or whether the North Stock Lake plant must be expanded.

As part of the funding pathway, the legislature approved a resolution authorizing the county to issue bonds in the amount of $35,590,000 to cover the project's full cost in grant/loan applications. District and county staff said Environmental Facilities Corporation (state) rules require the county to authorize bond issuance even when grants are sought; if adequate grant funding is not secured the project could be unaffordable to users and would not proceed.

On cost and funding: North Stock Lake district staff estimated potential upgrade costs could be in the millions (an engineering planning estimate cited a conceptual $10,000,000 figure as a ballpark), and the district reported a current capital fund balance of about $800,000. Officials said they expect to pursue grants and aim for a minimum of 50% grant coverage; prior larger state and federal programs for other lake-area sewer projects have funded significant shares in the past.

Committee action: Resolutions calling a public hearing on North Stock Lake plant upgrades, determining extension of Center Chautauqua Lake Sewer District bounds, establishing capital accounts for the extension, authorizing bond issuance of $35,590,000, and authorizing grant applications for the Center district extension were all approved in committee by voice vote.

Why it matters: County and district officials said extending sewer service and upgrading plants is central to addressing nutrient and contamination risks to Chautauqua Lake, to reduce septic-related groundwater impacts, and to enable future shoreline development that meets environmental standards. Officials noted the projects rely heavily on state grant programs; past attempts to expand sewers stalled when outside funding was not available.