Map showing expansion of South Chautauqua Lake Sewer District

The South Chautauqua Lake Sewer District will begin the process this Spring for Phase 2 of the Westside Sewer Extension.

The anticipated schedule for the Phase 2 project is to complete a project survey and design in Spring 2023 to Spring 2024, complete bidding and award a vendor with the construction contract in Summer or Fall 2024, and have construction take place from Winter 2024 through Winter 2026.

Phase 2 of the Westside Sewer Extension involves extending the district along Route 394 from the Hamlet of Stow to approximately Prendergast Creek, where the North Chautauqua Lake Sewer District (NCLSD) service area begins, and west along Davis Road from Route 394 to Camp Prendergast.

The $24 million project was awarded a $6 million in Water Infrastructure Improvement Grants from the New York State Environmental Facilities Corporation in November 2022.

The County anticipates financing the project through a combination of state and federal grants and New York State Environmental Facilities Corporation Clean Water State Revolving Fund funding.

The sewer extension will service approximately 520 parcels along a 3.6-mile stretch of Route 394 in the Towns of North Harmony and Chautauqua.

SCLSD initiated Phase 1 of the Westside Sewer Extension in 2017 to extend the SCLSD to the Hamlet of Stow. Construction of the Phase 1 facilities is ongoing, and work is anticipated to be complete in early 2024.

For more information, visit: https://chqgov.com/water-and-sewer-districts/west-side-sewer-extension-phase-2.

WRFA’s Julia Ciesla-Hanley spoke with Chautauqua County Executive PJ Wendel about extension of the South Chautauqua Lake Sewer District passed by the County Legislature, Amtrak, Brooks Memorial Hospital, and more.

PJ Wendel

Map showing expansion of South Chautauqua Lake Sewer District

Following questions from over a dozen people at a public hearing on the expansion, the Chautauqua County Legislature approved three resolutions related to extending the South Chautauqua Lake Sewer District to include the rest of the west side of Chautauqua Lake.

The public hearing comments and questions were on the proposal to establish the new district boundaries from the hamlet of Stow to the south border of the North Chautauqua Lake Sewer District in the town of Chautauqua.

That resolution passed as well as the resolutions to bond for $24 million for the project and to establish a capital account for construction.

Representatives for the Sewer District said the timeline involves a design phase that will start in Spring 2023 that will include several opportunities for conversations with individual property owners as well as public meetings. Construction is anticipated to begin in Winter 2024 and be completed by Winter 2026.
The project will offer municipal sewer for over 500 parcels for 350 developed properties.

The Legislature also approved setting two public hearings to hear comments on two proposed reapportionment plans.

The County Reapportionment Commission recommended two plans that include a 17 Legislative district plan and a 19 Legislative district plan.

The 17-district plan hearing be held at 6:35 p.m. and the 19-district plan hearing held at 6:40 p.m. on July 27.

South and Center Chautauqua Lake Sewer District Director Tom Walsh addresses Public Facilities Committee (June 13, 2022)

The expansion of the South Chautauqua Lake Sewer District to include the rest of the west side of Chautauqua Lake has cleared the County Legislature’s Public Facilities committee.

The Committee reviewed three resolutions related to bonding for $24 million for the project, establishing a capital account for construction, and establishing the new district boundaries.

South and Center Chautauqua Lake Sewer District Director Tom Walsh, speaking to the committee, said the Phase 2 extension is a build-on to the Phase One extension that is currently being built between Ashville and Stow, “Phase 2 will approximately offer municipal sewer for over 500 parcels for 350 developed properties. By extending the district and offering sewer to the west Phase 2 customers, this will complete the sewer extension and provide sewer service to the entire west side of Chautauqua Lake itself.”

Walsh said Phase 1 construction is currently on schedule and on budget.

According to the Post-Journal, another resolution was also approved that would allow the county to acquire the Town of North Harmony Sewer District Facilities for the extension.

The legislature also approved the use of a sheriff’s deputy as a school resource officer in the Silver Creek Central School District.

The agreement allows for the sheriff’s deputy to be used as an SRO at an annual cost of about $75,800. The school district will fund the position.