MAYVILLE — Chautauqua County is continuing to spend its federal funds from the American Rescue Plan Act.

At a meeting of the legislature, county lawmakers unanimously approved a resolution to spend $2.5 million on the proposed Broadband Infrastructure Project. No discussion was held during the meeting.

During committee meetings the week prior, Mark Geise, deputy county executive and chief executive officer of the county Industrial Development Agency, went over the resolution. He said to start, they want to hire a consultant to figure out what’s the best way to identify which communities have the greatest need and see if there are ways they can match the $2.5 million with federal funds.

Eventually, he envisions private service providers implementing the plan by putting the cables or other devices in place. However, certain areas are rural and, without assistance, it doesn’t make sense for these providers to expand without financial incentives or partnership.

“We’re going to be looking for the best price, the most cost-effective solution that is going to serve those communities,” he said.

Legislator Tom Harmon, R-Silver Creek, expressed his support for the funding. “We need broadband and we need it in the area,” he said. “It’s very vital, it’s very critical to have this. It’s almost like water and sewer; it’s a necessity.”

The full legislature approved the spending. Last year the legislature approved a general plan of how the $24.6 million ARPA funds would be spent, but that each project would need to return to the legislature for final approval.

In other business:

¯ Shawn Smith of Irving was appointed county director to the Western Regional Off-Track Betting Corp.

¯ the county renewed its lease on Vineyard Drive for the Department of Motor Vehicles Office in Dunkirk. The lease is for five years.

¯ the legislature approved an agreement between county Emergency Medical Services and the Celoron Fire Department. The agreement allows the county EMS to bill for Advanced Life Support and Basic Life Support calls on behalf of Celeron.

¯ the legislature renewed agreements with Silver Creek, Forestville and Brocton school districts and BOCES for the county to provide deputies to serve as school resource officers. Each school will pay $100,847 per officer. Silver Creek, Forestville and Brocton will each have one SRO while BOCES will have two officers — one for its alternative education school in Cassadaga and one split between Ashville and Fredonia.