LOOKING BACK

At the beginning of 2024, Chagnon, R-Ellery, had six goals:

– Successful management of the 2024 Budget through the oversight of the Budget & Finance Committee, with the challenges of inflation and new state mandates.

– Initiate construction of next South & Center Chautauqua Lake Sewer District extension from Stow through Prendergast Creek, completing public sewers on the west side of Chautauqua Lake.

Pictured is the proposed JCC-YMCA project. The gray is the existing space. The blue would be space that YMCA would use. The yellow is new space for JCC.

– Continued proactive management of the American Rescue Plan Act projects to bring them to completion at or under budget, as quickly as possible.

– Manage the lawsuits against the county to the most fair and favorable conclusion.

– Provide support and guidance to the county districts, boards, and commissions.

– Support and assist the county fiscal reorganization.

Each one of the goals, in Chagnon’s opinion, have been met.

He noted how 2024’s budget results have yet to be finalized but he does not expect a large budget deficit.

The new sewer district expansion is underway.

The ARPA funds, which were given to the county by the federal government following the COVID-19 pandemic, have been either spent or have been obligated to specific projects as required.

He added that he felt the county managed lawsuits successfully, provided the necessary guidance to various boards and commissions, and supported the county’s fiscal reorganization.

2025 GOALS

For the upcoming year, Chagnon has outlined six goals:

– Successful launch of the administrative director for the North Chautauqua County water and sewer districts.

– Support and assist efforts to restore essential air service to the Jamestown airport.

– Pursue extension of Center Chautauqua Lake Sewer District to complete public sewers around the entirety of Chautauqua Lake.

– Support and assist JCC and Jamestown Area YMCA for the Community Wellness Center.

– Support and assist the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Chautauqua Lake Aquatic Ecosystem Restoration project.

– Refocus discussions centering on what is wrong, to discussions of what can be done to improve policies, programs, and procedures that need improvement.

ADMINISTRATIVE DIRECTOR

For the administrative director position, Chagnon noted that Allison Vento took over that position effective Jan. 1. She was previously the Pomfret Town Clerk.

Chagnon noted this is a new position and was created after Kathy Tampio announced she would be retiring after assisting the North Chautauqua Water District since its inception.

Along with overseeing the North County Water District, Vento will be overseeing the Portland-Pomfret-Dunkirk Sewer District, the North County Industrial Water District and North County Industrial Sewer District.

SEWER DISTRICT EXPANSION

For the goal of pursuing extension of the Center Chautauqua Lake Sewer District, Chagnon said that future district will run from Midway State Park and Galloway Road in the town of Chautauqua, which includes the Hamlet of Dewittville.

Chagnon said a contract is in place for a preliminary engineering report to decide how the waste should be transported to a treatment plant.

Next is the required map and plan report, which will be presented and reviewed by the county Sewer Agency before making a formal recommendation to the county legislature for expansion and district boundaries.

Once the county legislature creates the district and has a cost for what it will be, the county will be pursuing grant funding. “What we’re optimistically thinking is that if we meet the funding deadlines for applications by June 1, we will hear the results of those applications” by the end of the year, Chagnon said.

If the funding comes in, the county would be looking at 2026 or 2027 for construction.

AIRPORT

In December, a presentation was made to the county legislature about challenges and opportunities regarding bringing commercial air service back to Jamestown.

The federal government ended the Essential Air Service designation in Jamestown in 2018.

According to Legislator Fred Larson, D-Jamestown from 1978 to 2018, only five cities in the United States were stripped of their Essential Air Service designation.

Chagnon noted that the consultant who made the presentation in December is trying to find an airline. Meanwhile the county is going to try to get the EAS designation returned. One of the requirements was the market study, which was presented last month. “Now we will be pursuing the Federal Aviation Administration and Congress to restore the Essential Air Service subsidy for the Jamestown Airport. Having an airline express an interest in providing the service really enhances that application,” he said.

Chagnon admits it’s unknown how long it might take to get the subsidy back if ever. “What we’re thinking is we would like to have the application in, in the next few months. Whether we get a positive result in months or years, I really don’t know,” he said.

Chagnon said at some point the legislature will need to decide how long it’s willing to keep pursuing Essential Air Service funding. In the market study that was presented, there were other options to bring commercial air service back to Jamestown, but those appeared to be more challenging and expensive from local tax dollars.

JCC/YMCA PROJECT

For a number of years, JCC has been trying to upgrade its sports fields, but in order to do so, the county must fund one-third of the cost. Twice the county had rejected JCC’s project requests before giving its backing in November. That project, which includes a portion for the YMCA which has been looking to do an upgrade of its own for a number of years, will cost around $43 million. Of that amount, the county will have to fund $6 million.

Before the project can move ahead, JCC needs to make sure the state agrees with the project and the YMCA must get its funding in place.

Once both entities get the other necessary funds in place, Chagnon said the county will need to decide how it will pay for the $6 million. Right now, he said he expects the county will borrow that money, although he would be open to the possibility of the county using its reserves to cover the costs.

Chagnon said he’s not expecting the project to start before 2026.

CHAUTAUQUA LAKE PROJECT

In October, the county formally signed an agreement with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to do a three-year project on the lake called the “Aquatic Ecosystem Restoration Feasibility Study.” The study is meant to provide a guide to both improve and maintain the health of the lake.

Chagnon said for two days in January a meeting will take place involving the Army Corps of Engineers, representatives with the state Department of Environmental Conservation, municipalities around the lake, and various lake groups to share and discuss information. The meeting is called a “charrette” and a summary of the charrette is expected to be presented at a public forum sometime in the next two to three months.

Chagnon also said the Army Corps has also formed a core team which is meeting weekly. “This is just to give the county an opportunity to understand how things are developing and proceeding, and to lend our guidance when it’s requested,” he said.

IMPROVING POLICIES AND PROCEDURES

Chagnon noted that this final goal is in regards to how the legislature operates.

He did not name any specific people, but said there are times when legislators or members of the public voice complaints without offering a solution. “This is something I want to focus on in the coming year … not to just tell us what’s wrong, but tell us what we can do to improve,” Chagnon said.

During his acceptance speech at the legislature’s organizational meeting Thursday, Chagnon said he is “committed to refocus discussions centering on what is wrong to discussions on what can be done to improve policies, programs, and procedures that need improvement.”