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Committee advances airport FAA agreements, easement authority and budget amendments
Summary
Chautauqua County’s Public Facilities Committee on March 16 reviewed FAA renewals and amendments, authorized navigation-easement measures, confirmed an airport commission appointment, and approved a $15,000 occupancy-tax budget amendment to pre-plan a 2027 air show.
Chautauqua County’s Public Facilities Committee on March 16 discussed a package of airport-related items including FAA contract corrections, navigation easements and a budget amendment to prepare for a 2027 air show.
John Mackur, deputy director for public facilities — airports, told committee members the first pair of renew-and-amend resolutions (Res. 185-25 and 202-25) simply adjust state and local share figures by one dollar so the recorded contract and reimbursement documents match. He said the discrepancy arose after the county received the formal contract and the New York State Department of Transportation requires those amounts to be identical.
Mackur also described two additional amendments (9-26 and 10-26) to add an administrative-expense line to previously filed grant estimates. "That administrative expense is actually eligible for reimbursement" because it covers independent fee assessments for projects over $100,000 and airport administrative time, Mackur said.
The committee confirmed a proposed appointment to the county airport commission, approving Britney Beckmrom as a prospective member. Beckmrom was presented as a hospitality-sector executive and the committee supported the appointment by voice vote.
On a separate resolution, Mackur outlined a proposal to authorize acquisition of navigation easements on properties near county airports to remove or mitigate obstructions in runway approach paths. He said easements typically compensate landowners for rights to airspace above property and that the work ties into ongoing capital improvement projects.
Mackur also described a proposed supplemental agreement with the Federal Aviation Administration for Jamestown Airport that would renew FAA access to construct, operate and maintain navigational aids for a 20-year term. "We have things like the instrument landing system on runway 25 — that system provides vertical as well as lateral guidance to aircraft landing under instrument conditions," he said when asked for examples.
The committee approved an amendment to the 2026 budget to accept a $15,000 occupancy-tax award to support pre-planning for a 2027 air show; Mackur said staff hope to hold the event in August 2027.
All airport items reviewed by the committee will appear before the full legislature for final consideration.
