MAYVILLE – Chautauqua County Executive George Borrello used his annual State of the County report to emphasis a need for continued collaboration within the county.

On Wednesday night Borrello appeared before the Chautauqua County Legislature to update lawmakers on his vision for 2019 while also highlighting accomplishments from 2018, his first year in office.

“There is a positive energy and attitude that can be felt in our communities throughout the county. This past year we started changing our attitude and improving our collective self-confidence and we will continue to raise the bar in 2019 and beyond. 2018 was about communication and now, in 2019, we will take what we learned to enhance collaboration,” Borrello said.

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Some of the collaborative efforts Borrello focused on included increasing collaboration and communication in local and regional public safety via the CAER (Countywide Alliance for Enforcement and Rehabilitation) Initiative, getting various communities to work together to improve economic development, identifying and working toward consolidation and shared services efforts between various communities in the county, and improving the connection between the local job market and education institutions to ensure a ready workforce.

CHAUTAUQUA LAKE REMAINS A KEY FOCUS

County executive George Borrello delivers his 2019 State of the County to the Chautauqua County Legislature on Wednesday, Feb. 27, 2019.

Borrello also spent time focusing on Chautauqua Lake, saying his goal in 2019 is to create a consensus between all stakeholders that will be highlighted in an official memo of understanding and which would be used to help steer funding for lake management.

“Despite the divisiveness we may see among the passionate lake organizations, I’ve found that there is more common ground than it may appear, especially after personally meeting with these groups,
individually, and listening to their concerns. What I saw was a series of puzzle pieces that could make up a strategy to break the gridlock and move us forward,” Borrello noted. “The Consensus Strategy will involve a series of action steps and tenets that will be outlined in a Memorandum of Understanding. We will be asking all of the major stakeholders to sign onto this M.O.U., which will essentially be a ‘ceasefire agreement’ that the lake groups and municipalities would participate in so that we can move forward, together, with an action plan for in-lake weed management while not losing sight of the long-term strategy needed to truly cure the disease that the lake suffers from.”

Following the Legislature Meeting, County Legislature Chair Paul “PJ” Wendel (R-Lakewood) said he was happy to see Borrello further elaborate on his plan for the lake.

“I really commend George…. He used the term ‘cease fire.’ You don’t like to use those terms, it’s a little tough, but on the other hand it’s a great point that everyone needs to bury the hatchet and move forward. They are very passionate people who care about Chautauqua Lake and are involved in its maintenance and survivability, but realistically we have to work together and that collaboration effort is a huge piece,” Wendel said.

GATEWAY CENTER IN RIPLEY

Another major highlight of his report was Borrello’s vision to create a Gateway Center in the town of Ripey on I-90, at the entrance to New York State. He said the center would be patterned after a similar welcome center facility in West Virginia called Tamarack and would be used to highlight all that the region has to offer.

“This will not be a place where you simply stop to use the restroom and get a coupon book or a map. It will be a truly functional and fantastic place that will feature the best of what Western New York and the Southern Tier has to offer,” Borrello noted. “From local artisans showing and selling their wares to a place where many of our region’s agricultural and manufacturing are not only represented but will have their products available for sale. It will be a place where our prospering beer, wine and spirits businesses can feature their brands and encourage people to explore our breweries, wineries and other unique food and beverage options. This Gateway Center will be a place where the history and natural beauty of our county and region is highlighted for those who have never experienced all there is to do and see in the beautifully unparalleled place that we call home.”

Borrello also cautioned that it will take time to develop a plan for the gateway and it’s not something that will be created overnight, but also said he hopes that it can be something that would be completed within the next 5 years. The county IDA just hired the consulting firm Clark Patterson Lee to produce a feasibility study for the gateway study.

COUNTY AIRPORT NOT MENTIONED

One of the items that was omitted from Borrello’s State of the County was the Chautauqua County Airport in Jamestown, which took a hit earlier this year with the announcement it wouldn’t be granted federal funding to help subsidize commercial passenger service.

Borrello told WRFA that while he omitted the airport from his state of the county, it’s still something that remains on his radar.

“The Department of Transportation gave us some good feedback. We’re now working with Boutique to modify the application and resubmit it. So there wasn’t much information to give tonight but I think soon we will be able to resubmit a modified application and return commercial service to the Jamestown airport,” Borrello said.

The county airport has been without passenger service since January 2018. Since then the county has partnered with air service provider Boutique Air to put a plan together for commercial service but it hasn’t been enough to bring back the necessary federal subsidies.

The Chautauqua County Airport, just north of Jamestown. (Image via Google)

WASHINGTON – The federal government has denied an application seeking federal funding to help subsidize commercial air service at the Chautauqua County airport in Jamestown.

County officials say the county and the city of Jamestown were notified on Friday by the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) that the joint proposal by Boutique Air and Chautauqua County to re-establish commercial air service between Jamestown and Pittsburgh was not approved for Essential Air Service (EAS) funding.

In justification of the decision, DOT officials cited the underwhelming performance record of commercial air carriers to the Airport in recent years and the availability of commercial air service alternatives at public airports in Buffalo, N.Y. and Erie, PA.

In its order rejecting the proposed route between Jamestown and Pittsburgh International Airport, the Department of Transportation did not foreclose other commercial air service options and expressly left the docket open for future action.

According to a release from County executive George Borrello’s office, county and city leaders are actively engaged in dialogue with airline and commercial aviation advocacy groups to consider alternate approaches and other options for restoration of passenger service to the Jamestown regional airport.

Congressman Tom Reed also held a phone call with EAS program officials about a new, revised application being submitted as soon as possible.

In January 2018 it was announced that commercial air service would be leaving Jamestown but by the Spring of last year, a new air service provider – Boutique Air based out of San Francisco, announced it would be working to serve the area if EAS funding could be made available. According to county officials, Boutique remains committed to the effort of developing routes that are economically viable under the EAS program and has signaled its intention to redouble its efforts.

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JAMESTOWN – Commercial air service could be returning soon to the Greater Chautauqua-Jamestown Airport in Jamestown.

On Monday Chautauqua County Executive George Borrello’s office sent out a media release updating the public on the status of air service at the airport.

The release said that the county is continuing to work with Boutique Airways to restore commercial air and is awaiting authorization from the federal Essential Air Service (EAS) program.

The area has been without passenger air service since January when Southern Airways Express – the previous airline serving the county – abruptly halted service in Jamestown.

In May, Chautauqua County announced it had partnered with Boutique Air, a commuter airline based in San Francisco and had submitted a joint proposal to the U.S. Department of Transportation to reestablish commercial service between Jamestown and Pittsburgh under the EAS program.

In October the DOT extended the EAS program for five years. That meant funding would be available to bring back service to Jamestown if the proposal is approved by the DOT.

In November, Boutique Air was awarded an EAS route contract with Johnstown, Pa. that connects with both Baltimore-Washington International Airport (BWI) and Pittsburgh.

“With a newly established operating base at the Pittsburgh airport, Boutique is able to offer greater operating efficiencies in its planned service to Chautauqua County,” said Ron Almeter, Chautauqua County Manager of Airport and Parks. “This presents Chautauqua County and the U.S. Department of Transportation with a more attractive business plan that leverages the economies of operating multiple routes from a common hub.”

Not only is Boutique proposing to bring down the cost of the potential service between Jamestown and Pittsburgh, but the airline continues to improve and expand its portfolio of interline and code share agreements with United Airline and other major carriers. Officials say this will provide travelers connecting on flights beyond Pittsburgh to have an extensive range of travel options available through their network of airline alliances.

“We recognize in Chautauqua County and Western New York State, a community that has a demonstrable growing need for commercial air service,” said Shawn Simpson, CEO of Boutique Air. “The synergy between the County’s economic development trajectory and Boutique’s unique capability to bring high-quality passenger service to emerging markets gives us high confidence that we can be successful in this endeavor.”

“Returning commercial air service to the Jamestown Airport is critical for our county’s residents, visitors, and established multinational companies with visiting clients and management teams,” Borrello said. “We are working with Congressman Tom Reed and his team to further engage with officials of the USDOT’s EAS program. I believe this latest improvement to our joint proposal with Boutique has strengthened our plan and improved our strategy for a successful operation at the Jamestown Airport.”

The revised route proposal is now under review by EAS program officials. Boutique Air and County leaders await the U.S. Department of Transportation’s decision on approving Jamestown Airport’s return to the EAS Program.

The Chautauqua County Airport, just north of Jamestown. (Image via Google)

WASHINGTON – Senators Charles Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand say a new, five-year Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) reauthorization bill has been passed in congress and signed into law by the president.  The new bill includes funding for both the Essential Air Service (EAS) program and the Airport Improvement Program (AIP).

Five airports in New York receive EAS funding, while Chautauqua County Jamestown Airport is in the process of reapplying to regain its EAS status.

In January, the U.S. Department of Transportation terminated the EAS agreement in Jamestown due to a lack of passengers. Shortly after, Southern Airways left the Chautauqua County Jamestown Airport because of the funding cut.

In May, it was announced that Boutique Airways had submitted a proposal to the U.S. Department of Transportation to provide air service to the Chautauqua County Jamestown Airport under the EAS program, which provides essential funding for small airports.

With the new funding secured for five years, officials now anticipate a ruling on that request for a return of the EAS status in Jamestown in the coming weeks.

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JAMESTOWN – Chautauqua County executive George Borrello is hoping residents who travel a lot for business and/or pleasure will consider using Boutique Air when it comes to the Chautauqua County Airport.

Both Borrello and Congressman Tom Reed recently announced that the county has reached a deal with the California-based airline to provide commercial air service to the Chautauqua County airport through the federal Essential Air Service program. That program provides funding to communities that wouldn’t be able to support commercial air service on their own.

Borrello recently told WRFA that unlike previous airlines that have operated at the Jamestown airport, Boutique Air should be far more reliable and convenient. Specifically, Borrello says the type of aircraft Boutique uses will be able to fly at higher altitudes, meaning the flights will be less affected by weather that has become problematic at times for previous air services. He said the airline will also have a permanent aircraft presence in Jamestown, meaning it won’t have to rely on planes flying in to the County in order to provide a flight.

As for when the airline will begin operation, that all depends on the federal department of transportation and when it will be able to sign off on EAS funding. Borrello added that there is no increase in local tax dollars funding the airport. Instead, the airport will be better off financially because Boutique Air would pay rent for using the airport.

JAMESTOWN – Commercial air service will soon be returning to the Chautauqua County Airport.

On Friday, Congressman Tom Reed and Chautauqua County Executive George Borrello announced that Boutique Airways has submitted a proposal to the U.S. Department of Transportation to provide air service to the Airport under the Essential Air Service (EAS) program, which provides essential funding for small airports.

Chautauqua County’s Jamestown airport has been without a passenger service provider since Southern Airways Express pulled out at the start of this year after federal funding was cut.

The EAS program, which is under the DOT, provides subsidies for flights to smaller markets, like Jamestown, that airlines would not otherwise serve.

The DOT has said it would withhold EAS funding from the county airport because it didn’t meet the minimum number of daily passengers required to qualify. However, Reed – along with both Senators Charles Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand – have requested the DOT still provide the money, blaming the low passenger service on poor operations by the previous air service provider.

Congressman Reed said in a media release sent out on Saturday that without air service in Chautauqua County, Jamestown could feel the effects of lagging behind a rapidly changing economy.

Details of the air service, including how many flights would be provided along with where they would go to, were not immediately provided.