City Council approves 2023 budget with 27 amendments...
City lawmakers in Jamestown have approved a 2023 budget that includes no tax rate increase... but, included 27 amendments. The City Council approved the $38.6-million spending plan unanimously... after much discussion about several additions... and, some other reductions. Council President Tony Dolce explained the rationale behind some of the changes... noting they did want to include some additional equipment to what they were able to do with American Rescue Plan funding. Dolce and other lawmakers praised Council Finance Committee Chairwoman Kim Ecklund for her hard work and due diligence in making sure the budget was accurate and balanced. The budget does include some additional revenue... including $75,000 more in anticipated sales taxes. She says it's a bit of a gamble" because you don't know what the economy and inflation are going to look like. Ecklund is refering to the $3 cap on county and state motor fuel taxes... with the county one coming off this Wednesday. One of the biggest changes approved was eliminating the 100% increase in parking meter fees for next year. That took $127,000 -thousand dollars out of the spending plan... and, came after council members said they heard a lot of public opposition to that increase. The changes also include using another just-over $54,000 from the undesignated fund balance to offset additional spending. Mayor Eddie Sundquist has five business days to sign, or veto the budget or parts of it.
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City lawmakers last night did introduce two local laws... which were automatically tabled for 30 days. One sets new ward district boundary lines in the city. Council also tabled a local law authorizing the use of video conferencing for city government meetings.
Jamestown man arrested for fleeing accident scene from city police...
A city man is accused of fleeing police after he was involved in a motor vehicle accident in Brooklyn Square last Sunday night. Jamestown police on patrol were at the intersection of Harrison and Institute Streets about 7:30 p.m. when they witnessed the accident in front of the patrol car. Police say the striking vehilce pushed through the accident... and, sped off east on Harrison Street. Officers immediately followed the fleeing car with their emergency lights and sirens on. However... the vehicle continued to drive away. Police say the car eventually stopped in a business parking lot on Water Street... and, the driver -- identified as 40 year-old Jamie Warner -- was arrested. Warner faces several charges including third-degree unlawfully fleeing police in a motor vehicle... leaving the scene of a Property Damage Accident... and, nine other traffic violations. Warner was arraigned... and, released with appearancet tickets as per the state's Bail Reform Law.
Wendel says upper floors of HRC Building to remain closed this week...
Chautauqua County's Department of Health and Human Services operations at the Hall R. Clothier Building in Mayville will remain closed to the public for at least this week. That from County Executive P.J. Wendel Monday morning. Wendel says crews continue to make repairs from a major water leak that occurred earlier this month. He had hoped to be open this week, but, says crews wanted a few more days to make sure the work was done properly. Wendel says the employees have returned to the building as crews continue their work. Meanwhile, he says cost estimates from the damage continue to rise to nearly $500,000. The water line to an HVAC unit broke on Nov. 2... forcing the closing of the second through fourth-floors to the public.
Geise says County IDA working to package more property for new "Shovel Ready" development...
Chautauqua County is running out of "shovel ready" commercial and industrial sites for new development. However... the county's Industrial Development Agency is moving to acquire new properties that will attract new companies to the area. That from IDA Director Mark Geise... who says they are using more than $3-million to acquire a significant amount of land to development. Geise says $2.5-million is coming from the county's American Rescue Plan Act allocation... along with $600,000 from Capital Projects money. He says they're "very close to pulling the trigger on a large parcel." However... Geise says they're not quite ready to announce the new development site. As for the present... he says only have a small amount of property left in the north and south county industrial parks. He says there's about 30-acres of land in the Mason Industrial Park, and a small parcel left in the Chadwick Bay park. Geise did say the new "shovel ready" site is in a "really good location..." but, says they are still in the process of signing land contracts, and getting the infrastructure put in for the site.
City man arrested for allegedly threatening woman, and stealing merchandise from Big Lots...
A Jamestown man has been arrested for allegedly pulling a knife on a woman... and, then stealing merchandise from the Big Lots store in Brooklyn Square. City police were called to the scene on Harrison Street shortly before 4 p.m. Saturday on a report of a person with a weapon. Officers say their investigation showed that 29 year-old Zachary Wilson displayed the knife to the victim causing her to fear for her safety. They also found that he had the stolen store items. Wilson was found, and taken into custody without incident. He's charged with second-degree menacing... and, petty larceny and was released with an appearance ticket for City Court.
