Dunkirk Senior Center houses the Office for the Aging at the moment. P-J photo

DUNKIRK — Though the city of Dunkirk is significantly increasing the rent for the Office for the Aging, Chautauqua County — which is responsible for the fee — is years behind in its payments.

During the recent Legislature meeting, county lawmakers approved a new lease of $850 a month for the Office for the Aging at the Dunkirk Senior Center building, located at 45 Cliffstar Drive.

That building is owned by the city of Dunkirk and the Office for the Aging is in process of leaving by summer.

Dunkirk had been charging the county $875 a quarter for rent.

With the rent nearly tripling, before the legislature meeting Legislator Marcus Buchanan, D-Dunkirk, spoke with Mayor Kate Wdowiasz to get some background.

It was there he learned Chautauqua County hasn’t been holding up its end of the deal. “She said to me, ‘Marcus, they make it sound like we’re money hungry, but they haven’t paid us since 2021.

They paid the first quarter, but they haven’t paid since then. It’s $3,500 a year. They haven’t paid 2022, ’23 or ’24,'” he said in an interview.

After hearing of this, Buchanan went and informed County Executive PJ Wendel.

In an email, Wendel confirmed that Wdowiasz is correct. “It is in fact true and I was made aware recently and we are looking into the matter. We will make sure the rent is paid in full for all monies owed the city of Dunkirk. Sadly enough this was the first time this was brought to my attention,” he said.

Dunkirk has its own fiscal issues, borrowing up to $18.5 million from the state. It has also increased property taxes by 84% this year.

The Office for the Aging is relocating its Dunkirk office to 51 E. Third St., across from The Chautauqua Center’s main building.

TCC owns the new location and is currently doing some remodeling before the move can take place.

Office for the Aging Interim Director Dana Corwin told county officials in committee meetings that they hope to move within the next four to six months.

Even though the new rent at the Dunkirk Senior Center is much higher, Buchanan said he felt it is a fair rate. “They wanted a new lease because they haven’t gotten paid since 2021. I feel $850 a month is reasonable for that amount of space. It’s only going to be temporary, for like six months or something like that,” he said.