The Jamestown City Council on Monday approved the use of $45,712.50 in American Rescue Plan Act funds to install lights under the North Main Street viaduct. P-J photo by Eric Tichy

Citing safety concerns, the Jamestown City Council approved the use of American Rescue Plan Act funds to install lights under the North Main Street viaduct.

Prior to Monday’s vote, the council amended the resolution that had been brought forward, opting to fund “Phase 1” of the North Main Street Viaduct Public Safety and Placemaking Project for lighting at a cost of $45,712.50. The original resolution called for full funding through the ARPA Healthy Neighborhoods program in the amount of $150,000.

“That is a known safety issue — discussed it, many of us have, with the chief, so I would like to get some safety lighting down there and address that issue,” Councilwoman Kim Ecklund, R-At Large, said during a brief work session before the City Council meeting.

Added Councilman Jeff Russell, R-At Large, “I just want to remind everyone that down in that area we’ve had numerous instances of criminal mischief.”

The North Main Street viaduct project was first discussed during a council work session earlier this month. It is being billed as a way to transform the area under the railroad tracks into a public gathering space and to serve as a “gateway into Jamestown’s vibrant Downtown Historic and Central Business District.”

Nonetheless, lighting has been noted as the viaduct’s most pressing need.

“The No. 1 priority with this project is public safety — lighting up the North Main Street viaduct area,” Crystal Surdyk, city director of development, said previously. “We’re at a point now where, I think we’re all in agreement, that public safety is paramount.”

Council members were provided with conceptual images of what the area under the viaduct could look like if fully formed. Described as a “public parklet,” Surdyk said the area could feature seating, landscaping and public art as a means to turn what has been a dark and underutilized area into a gathering place.

Surdyk said the lights will be mounted high under the viaduct, possibly inside a hard casing to prevent damage. “Obviously, we can’t guarantee that somebody won’t find a way to damage it,” she said. “But I think the benefits certainly outweigh potential risk that it’s damaged.”

Tony Dolce, R-Ward 2 and council president, was asked about possible funding for other phases in the future. “We just wanted to go with one phase at a time,” Dolce told reporters after the meeting. “I think we all agree that lighting and security are the No. 1 priorities there.”

In other business Monday:

¯ City Council members approved a Jamestown Local Development Corp. loan request to Fun Foods NY LLC. Andrew and Amber Carlson outlined their plan to JLDC members last week to develop 100-120 N. Main St. into the Ballroom On Main, an extension of the Chop House on Main that the pair own next door.

Andrew Carlson said the plan is to construct a banquet hall on the building’s second floor large enough to seat 300 people.

The “jobs and private investment” loan will go toward the purchase of the building, currently owned by the United Christian Advocacy Network. Because the request topped $100,000, the loan needed City Council approval.

¯ a resolution was approved for engineering design drawings not to exceed $4,000 for emergency structural roof repairs at Fire Station 5, 195 Fairmount Ave.

The resolution further states, “This is an emergency bid for services to reconstruct the Station 5 roof due to partial collapse.”

¯ $261,199 in Gun Involved Violence Elimination funds were accepted for the Jamestown Police Department. The county had applied for the funds from the state Division of Criminal Justices Services for 2023. With approval, the county is required to share funds with Jamestown.

The prevalence of gun crimes led to the city being named a participant in the state’s Gun Involved Violence Elimination (GIVE) initiative, which brings the city state funding and cooperation between the Jamestown Police Department, Chautauqua County Sheriff’s Office, county District Attorney’s office and County Probation Department.

¯ City Council members were introduced to Carol Malek as the city’s new deputy comptroller. Today will be her first day on the job.

¯ the hirings of a part-time senior account clerk, crime analyst and GIVE coordinator, as well as a clerk in the police department and an engineer and laborer in the DPW were approved.