Chautauqua County committee approves sewer budget fixes, airport projects and $8.2 million bond resolution

The Chautauqua County Public Facilities Committee on Aug. 18 approved a package of resolutions to amend 2025 budgets for local sewer districts, authorize leases and maintenance contracts, accept federal and state grants for airport design and construction, and adopt a bond resolution showing the county’s intent to finance about $8.2 million in North Chautauqua Water District improvements.

The bond resolution, introduced as a late item, was described by Kitty Crowe, Chautauqua County director of finance, as a procedural step to support grant applications for phase 3 of the North Chautauqua Water District. “This bond resolution is needed for phase 3 of the North Chautauqua County Water District,” Crowe said, adding that the measure shows the county’s intent so the county can apply for WEA grant funding and that a finalized bond resolution would be adopted if grants are awarded.

Committee members approved a series of airport-related acceptances of funds and project steps. John McNamara, Jamestown Airport manager, described a 10-year lease renewal with the Federal Aviation Administration for equipment and antenna space in the terminal building and said the FAA would pay roughly $5,000 annually for the space. The committee also approved accepting federal- and state-share funding for design work on the reconstruction of the terminal apron, for the construction phase to replace 34 airfield guidance signs, for design of Taxiway A West rehabilitation and for design work to remove obstructions in runway approach paths. McNamara said the typical funding split for those airport projects is 95% federal, 2.5% state and 2.5% county.

On airport obstructions, the committee voted to amend the resolution’s wording to clarify the scope is the approach paths, not only obstructions located on airport property. McNamara explained the work includes easement and title research where obstructions lie off airport property and that clearing or mitigation protects required FAA approach angles for safe aircraft operations.

Committee members also approved multiple sewer- and water-related budget fixes and contracts. Chad Marks, deputy director of finance, said one resolution moves leftover grant-funded project money from 2024 into the 2025 budget to cover expenses that carried over: “We’re just looking to move the money from the leftover money from ’24 to ’25 to be able to cover the expenses,” he said. The committee approved an amendment to correct a payroll misallocation between the Portland/Pomprit/Dunkirk Sewer District and the North Chautauqua Lake Sewer District and approved restoring a contract to provide payroll services; the measure was amended and then adopted by voice vote.

The committee approved a resolution to pay for replacement of an urgent transfer switch at one pump station in the Portland/Pomprit/Dunkirk Sewer District. Lisonbee Vento, administrative director for the North Chautauqua Water and Sewer Districts, told the committee the board wants to replace the most urgent transfer switch first and that the district would draw an estimated $18,000 from its unrestricted fund balance to pay for the work: “The 18,000 would come from our unrestricted fund balance, and that is an estimate,” Vento said.

Tim Carter, director of public facilities, briefed the committee on authorizing the Brockton–Portland water system to perform pump-station maintenance in the town of Portland. Carter said the county’s arrangement with Brockton–Portland — including plowing and mowing — would cost about $2,000 per year and is cheaper than the previous vendor.

The committee also approved a municipal cooperation agreement with local fire companies to clean county bridges in the spring, a program Carter said has operated more than three years and provides training for fire departments. Carter read the fee schedule used in the program, which ranges by bridge length (examples provided at the meeting included $125 for up to 25 feet, $235 for 25–35 feet, $300 for 35.1–100 feet, $500 for 100.1–200 feet and $1,000 for larger spans).

Two lease resolutions for office space for the Department of Mental Hygiene (one with Thomas Chautauqua and one with the City of Jamestown) were approved. Committee members asked questions about whether the relocations involve moving from one floor of city hall to another and whether rates had changed; the presenters said the rate remains the same and the Jamestown lease item will also appear before the Human Services and Audit & Control committees for further review.

Most motions were approved by voice vote and carried. For one airport item (replacement of 34 airfield guidance signs) a recorded “nay” was audible from the floor but the motion still carried. The committee adjourned after the last item.

Next steps: the bond resolution is intended to enable the county to apply for WEA grants and will be revised if and when specific grant awards are received; several airport projects will proceed through design and construction phases with federal and state partners; lease and relocation questions for the Mental Hygiene office will also be considered by other committees.