A resolution for the culvert replacement project in the city by Minnow Creek was discussed during the most recent city council work session. Screenshot courtesy of the City of Jamestown’s website

A state grant that will replace a culvert above Minnow Creek on Water Street is generating questions from City Council members.

A resolution from the city’s Finance Committee detailed the project, which is eligible for reimbursement from Bridge NY. Brent Sheldon, R- Ward I and Finance Committee chair, presented the resolution to the council, saying a grant was received for $1.5 million and that the city will have to pay $350,100 to cover their section of the cost.

Mark Roetzer, director of public works, noted that the project was still in the design phase and that there might be some work the city could do to decrease the cost, but that most of the work will be done by contractors. The project will take place during construction season 2026 at the earliest.

“The engineering and design work and property easements will be done next year ahead of 2026,” Roetzer said.

Councilman Jeff Russell, R-At Large, expressed concerns with some of the language in the contract, specifically asking if the city had to pay the $350,100 before the start of the project. Roetzer said the city is responsible for any amount over the $1.5 million grant.

“So, if we go over that amount, then we’re responsible for that?” Russell said. “I have concerns about that because, let’s face it, we’re a little gun shy over the building down on Washington Street. So, a lot of people are gun shy about having just open ended verbiage like that.”

Roetzer said the resolution itself comes from New York State, and that the state said that is the resolution that the city needs to pass. Russell asked how the council can be sure the project will fall within the parameters of those numbers and Roetzer said his office will be working closely with those doing the project.

“Once we have engineers and it is designed and we have a project budget, then it will go out to contractors for bid and it’s going to be the lowest cost bids,” Roetzer said.

It was also noted by the council that if the resolution with this language was not approved, then the city had to pay for the entire project. Roetzer said this culvert has had a hole in it for a year and a half in St Susan’s parking lot. Additionally, once the design phase is done there will be some exact numbers and council members asked to be kept up to date to avoid any surprises.

The state grant is awarded through the Bridge NY program. According to a news release earlier this year when the grant was awarded, the project will replace a rusted, perforated and high-maintenance culvert to maintain access to a heavily traveled city street and the UPMC Chautauqua Hospital. The culvert lies in an area that includes the St. Susan Center, Mental Health Association, Community Helping Hands, Western New York Urology and Jamestown Electro Plating. Failure of the culvert would significantly affect access to UPMC Chautauqua, Western NY Urology, and other facilities on Water Street, potentially leading to flooding, water damage to nearby facilities and homes, infrastructure disruptions, and compromised traffic flow.