It’s being described as a watershed moment for Chautauqua Lake. Yesterday representatives from a dozen municipalities formally met to sign off on the Chautauqua Lake Watershed Compact, an inter-municipal agreement among the communities that lie within the Chautauqua Lake watershed. By signing the document, the participating communities have created a new inter-municipal committee of the Chautauqua Lake Management Commission and will work toward implementing the recommendations of the Chautauqua Lake Watershed Management Plan.

Among the various goals of the committee, the panel will work toward implementing improved practices for highway and public works departments. Another of the compact’s primary purposes is to establish uniform land-use practices and policies throughout the many municipalities of the lake’s watersheds. The new committee’s first meeting will take place at 7 p.m. on Oct. 6.

JAMESTOWN LAWMAKERS APPROVE PURCHASE OF NEW DPW EQUIPMENT

The Jamestown Department of Public Works will soon have four new pieces of equipment in its road construction and maintenance fleet. On Monday night, the Jamestown City Council approved four resolutions that would result in the purchase of a dump truck, trackless sidewalk plow, patching truck and a pavement roller. The total cost would be $375,000, part of the $4 million bond schedule approved by the council in the spring.  City Public Works Director Jeff Lehman said the equipment will be a “shot in the arm” for the city’s aging fleet.

The council also approved two measures involving the acquisition of property on Steel Street for a proposed DPW salt barn. While both resolutions were basically a formal trading of property from one city agency to another, Councilman Steve Szwejbka voted against the measure, saying he would prefer environmental review of the project be completed before moving forward with the property transfer. However, Councilman Tony Dolce noted that the resolutions would simply help to keep the process moving forward and that another resolution would have to be approved to actually begin the project. At issue is weather any air debris from the salt barn would have an adverse impact on the Board of Public Utilities’ gas turbine, which would be located across the street from the proposed Salt barn.

In other action last night, the City Council gave its approval of a JLDC $200,000 loan to the individuals who are in the process of purchasing the Weber Knapp company. After the vote to approve the loan, city Councilman Vince DeJoy remarked that the purchase of the business by two local partners was significant to the history of Jamestown and to what the council would like to see take place more frequently in the city.

NEW LAKEWOOD BUSINESSES TO OPEN IN SEPTEMBER

Two new businesses will soon be opening in the former Quality Markets Plaza in Lakewood. The Jamestown Post-Journal is reporting this morning that T.J. Maxx and Michaels, along with a Pet Smart, will open sometime in early September. Much of the space in the plaza has been empty since Quality Markets was closed in April 2010. The owners of the Plaza – Widewaters Construction of Dewitt, N.Y. – have invested $3.5 million into the property to prepare it for the new tenants. Other new businesses to be located in the plaza include Olympia Sports, Five Below, Sally Beauty and Gamestop.

WNY REGIONAL ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COUNCIL TO HOLD PUBLIC FORUM

A public forum designed to gain input on a regional economic development plan will take place Tuesday, Sept. 13 in Jamestown. The event is being coordinated by County Executive Greg Edwards as part of the Western New York Regional Economic Development Council. The purpose of the forum is to receive crucial input from citizens on economic development goals that should be included in the Council’s Strategic Plan, which will help guide economic development and job growth in Western NY for the next five years.  County residents and business leaders are encouraged to attend. The forum will take place on September 13 at 6 p.m. at Jamestown Community College’s Scharmann Theatre, located at the Arts & Sciences Center on James Ave in Jamestown.