Health Department officials said because water levels have been depleted, all non-essential water use must be discontinued immediately including that used for manufacturing and other industrial purposes until further notice.

All water customers who still have water service must boil their water before using. The boil water order and water conservation order is expected to be in effect through the next several days.

According to a media release sent out on Tuesday, those who helped during the emergency were the Village of Fredonia, City of Jamestown, City of Dunkirk, Village of Brocton, Towns of Portland and Pomfret, New York Rural Water Association, Clark Patterson Lee Engineering, Chautauqua County Office of Emergency Services, our area fire departments, and all others who provided assistance.  In addition, the Chautauqua County Department of Health and Human Services kept its water laboratory open over the weekend to process water samples and to provide a quick turnaround of results. 

Chautauqua County Commissioner of Health and Human Services Christine Schuyler said, “All of the cooperation provided during the water emergency was monumental and helped reduce the impact and duration of the water emergency.”

On Sunday the Chautauqua County Department of Health and Human Services lifted the Boil Water Order and Mandatory Water Use Restrictions issued last week for the Village of Brocton and Town of Portland water customers. The water leak that caused the problem was found and fixed on Friday morning.  Water samples collected on Friday afternoon and Saturday morning showed the water was safe to drink and water levels in the Water District’s water storage tank were back to normal.

For more information about drinking water, call the Chautauqua County Department of Health and Human Services at (716) 753-4481 or visit us on the web at www.co.chautauqua.ny.us and click on Public Health / Environmental Health, or visit www.drinktap.org , www.epa.gov , or www.health.ny.gov .

 The North Chautauqua County Water District received $3 million through the drinking water grant of the WIIA for its North Chautauqua County Regional Water Project.

The project, which is estimated to cost $6 million, would provide a transmission main in the Town of Sheridan and a water storage tank in the Town of Dunkirk to benefit the District and allow for an interconnection with the Village of Fredonia.

The South and Center Chautauqua Lake Sewer Districts also received $2,972,000 through the clean water grant for its West Side Sewer Extension Phase 1 project.

This project, which is estimated to cost over $11 million, would provide public sewers to a portion of the unsewered west side of Chautauqua Lake in the Town of North Harmony.

By removing all septic systems in the area and providing a public collection system, this project would reduce the amount of nutrients entering Chautauqua Lake and address cyanotoxins associated with harmful algal blooms.

The recent awards for Chautauqua County were among over $270 million in grants that were awarded to projects across New York State.

Local officials and dignitaries break ground on the North Chautauqua County Water District in the town of Dunkirk, NY.

DUNKIRK – The long-awaited North Chautauqua County Water District broke ground Friday in the Town of Dunkirk. Officials say once completed, the $15 million regional project will provide reliable clean water from the City of Dunkirk to the participating communities in Northern Chautauqua County, all at a lower overall cost to consumers.

In December 2015 the county established the North Chautauqua County Water District, which is responsible for purchasing water from the City of Dunkirk and then selling and distributing it to the Village of Brocton, North County Industrial Water District, and Towns of Sheridan, Pomfret, Dunkirk and Portland.

The District will also be responsible for the construction of storage tanks and approximately 12 miles of water main that will result in a continuous water main from the Village of Silver Creek to the western town line of Portland.  The project is anticipated that the project will be completed in the summer of 2018.

The project is being funded through bonds that will be paid back by the district, along with $2 million in grant funding from Empire State Development.

This is Horrigan’s final year in office, as he has decided not to run for reelection in November.

Once the 2018 executive budget is presented, county legislators will begin their review of it by meeting with department heads and determining if any additional modifications are needed. They will then need to pass a final budget on or before December 1, 2017.  In recent years they’ve been able to adopt a budget well in advance of the deadline, typically during the October voting session.

Tonight’s presentation will begin at 6:30 p.m. in the Legislative Chambers of the Gerace Office Building, Mayville.

 SALE OF PROPERTY HIGHLIGHTS VOTING AGENDA

The Legislature will also consider selling three county-owned buildings, including one in downtown Jamestown, to a private business.

The three properties involved with the proposed sale are the South County Office Building on East Fourth Street in Jamestown for $1.7 million, the Frank W. Bratt Agricultural Center on Turner Road in Ellicott for $75,000, and the Sherman Shop Maintenance Facility on Route 430 for $750,000. All three would be sold to Jamestown Rental Properties, LLC.

According to officials, the South County Office Building in Jamestown is being considered for sale due to needed repairs to the structure and a desire to place the building back on the tax rolls.

The County Health and Human Services would continue to use the building, with rent costing $591,000 and an annual increase of 4 percent each year over the 10 year period.

The proposal has drawn criticism from some, including Chautauqua County Legislature Candidate Frank Besse of Jamestown, who says there is no long-term plan for the county’s social service operations in Jamestown – with only a 10-year lease agreement. In a post on his campaign facebook page, Besse says the county would be better suited to continue to run its social services operations out of facilities that it owns, especially since it already has spent money to provide some upgrades to the building.

PUBLIC HEARING ON NORTH COUNTY WATER DISTRICT FUNDING

The legislature will also host a public hearing on the adoption of the modified Map and Plan that includes changes to the improvements and financing of the North County Water District’s initial capital improvements.

The estimated maximum cost of the improvements as modified would increase from $11,750,000 to $15,068,000, but due to an increase in grants, contributions, and subsidized financing, the estimated annual District debt service of $292,500 is approximately the same as the original estimated annual debt service amount of $292,030.

All District costs are to be paid by municipalities receiving water from the District.

The public hearing will begin at 6:45 p.m. following the county executive’s budget presentation.

MAYVILLE, NY – Chautauqua County Executive Vince Horrigan has strong optimism and pride in the county, saying it will continue to celebrate success in 2016 while also tackling various challenges along the way.

On Wednesday night Horrigan delivered the 2016 state of the county to the Chautauqua County Legislature, spending half an hour detailing recent successes while also outlining his agenda for the current year.

• MOBILE APP USERS: LISTEN HERE
• STATE OF THE COUNTY: FULL TEXT

Chautauqua County Executive Vince Horrigan delivers his 2016 State of the County report to the Chautauqua County Legislature in the legislature chambers in Mayville, NY on Wednesday, Feb. 24, 2016.

Some of the highlights of the past year include returning the sales tax to 8 percent, which allowed the county to then cut the property tax by 6 percent. He also focused on the creation of the Criminal Justice Coordinating Council, which helped to find ways to reduce the local inmate population at the county jail. Other highlights included the finalization of the countywide shared services plan, the Northern Chautauqua County Water District, various economic development efforts, and continued work to improve the health of Chautauqua Lake.

But Horrigan also focused on several major challenges, including the mothballing of the NRG power plant in Dunkirk which could lead to the combined loss of up to $8 million in tax payments for the county, city of Dunkirk, and Dunkirk school district. Horrigan said NRG has already planned to reduce its PILOT payments, although he’s confident it wouldn’t have an immediate impact on local government.

“At this point I feel very confident that should NRG’s PILOT drop by $6.8 million as NRG has told us, we will be assisted through the state budget process to reduce the impact on the delivery of our critical services,” Horrigan said. “However, help will be transitional. It will be short term in nature and we have to have an endgame where we come out the other end of this with the right size structure.”

He also pointed to the current financial challenges of nearly every municipality in the county, including Jamestown, saying now more than ever the county needs to focus on shared services. As a result, he said he’ll create a Regional Solutions Commission, chaired by legislator George Borrello and including representatives from both local and state governments as well as the public and private sectors, to identify ways to share services and reduce the cost of running local government.

“The commission will be charged with facilitating public forums, identifying regional initiatives and then developing those initiatives into specific proposals for implementation. We will be tapping into the Governor’s municipal consolidation incentive funding which has been very helpful in achieving the successes we have seen in our 2015 regional solutions,” Horrigan said.

And Horrigan also pointed to the continued social and health challenges – including the heroin and opioid epidemic as well as poor nutrition and overall health for many residents. During his address, he acknowledged that more needs to be done if the county is to turn the corner on the drug crisis.

“In spite of progress in treatment, education, law enforcement, and mobilizing the public, we are struggling to find real progress,” Horrigan said. “I will continue to do everything I can in partnership with our health care providers, our law enforcement agencies, our judges, and our state and federal leaders to continue to fight this enemy of our community. We need all hands on deck including our families and faith based institutions to win this fight here in Chautauqua County.”

Horrigan also hinted at another major economic development opportunity, saying there have been talks about the possibility of bringing a major commercial vehicle parts manufacturer to the county. However, he also said that right now that project is in the early discussion phases and there’s no guarantee it will be a reality.

• VIEW DISTRICT POWER POINT PRESENTATION (PDF)

The action came a public hearing on the district was held and project engineer Rick Henry from Clark Patterson Lee provided the details. Henry explained that the city of Dunkirk will supply the water to the district, which will cover approximately 50,000 acres and include areas in the towns of Portland, Pomfret, Dunkirk and Sheridan. He also said that only costumers connected to the district will pay for it. The water will be sold to the district from the city of Dunkirk at a rate of $3.57 for every 1000 gallons. The district will then add $1 to the rate and sell it to participating municipalities, which will then set their own final rates and sell to residents who are connected to the district.

County executive Vince Horrigan said the approval clears the way for bonding for the project, which is expected to cost $11.75 million – although some of the cost will be covered through state grants. Henry said that 90 cents of every 1000 gallons of water purchased by customers would go toward paying off the debt. Horrigan says borrowing for the project will likely take place in the spring of 2016.

• VIEW DECEMBER MEETING AGENDA

Among the items on the agenda are two public hearings – one dealing with the establishment of the North Chautauqua County Water District and the other focuses on a lease agreement with Hertz Rental Car at the county airport.

Other items including approving environmental review studies for several development projects including the creation of the Lucy Trail between Celoron and Jamestown, which would run along Jones and Gifford Ave. The legislature will also act on shared services agreements with several municipalities, involving enhanced police services for 2016.

Wednesday’s meeting begins at 6:30 p.m. in the legislative chambers and is open to the public.

The public hearing will begin at 6:45 p.m. and is required as part of the formation of the North Chautauqua County Water District.

The public hearing will give individuals the opportunity to voice their comments and questions about the formation of the North Chautauqua County Water District. The district boundary will include properties within portions of the Town of Portland, Pomfret, Sheridan, and Hanover and also includes the Villages of Brocton, Forestville, and Silver Creek and the Town of Dunkirk.

If formed, the district would purchase water from the City of Dunkirk and provide the wholesale distribution of water to other municipalities. In addition, it would help with the construction of water transmission facilities with a maximum of $11,750,000 to be expended.

The estimated cost to the typical property within the proposed district is zero. All district costs are anticipated to be paid by the municipalities receiving water under contract with no assessments by the proposed district upon properties.

For more information, call the Legislature Office at (716) 753-4215.

• PUBLIC FACILITIES AGENDA – 4 p.m. Dec. 7, 2015
• ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES AGENDA – 5 p.m. Dec. 7, 2015
• PUBLIC SAFETY AGENDA – 4 p.m. Dec. 9, 2015
• HUMAN SERVICES AGENDA – 5:15 p.m. Dec 9, 2015
• P&E DEVELOPMENT AGENDA – 6 p.m. Dec. 9, 2015
• AUDIT & CONTROL AGENDA – 8:35 a.m. Dec. 10, 2015

At 4 p.m. the county’s Public Facilities Committee will meet and among the items on the agenda are the review and approval of several Environmental Quality Review reports involving upcoming projects in the county. They include the creation of the Lucy Trail on Jones & Gifford Avenue that will serve as a bike and pedestrian path linking Celoron and Jamestown. A second bike & pedestrian trail for Mayville will also be reviewed. And the committee will also focus on an environmental review report for the North County Water District.

The county’s Administrative Services Committee will also meet Monday at 5 p.m. and among the items on the agenda are a review of the proposed salary increases for several non-union positions.

Both meetings are in room 331 of the Gerace office building and are open to the public.