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WJTN Headlines for Tuesday Dec. 12, 2017

Most of Western New York is now under a Lake Effect Snow Warning through 7 p.m. Wednesday, including Chautauqua and Cattaraugus Counties. 
 
That from the National Weather Service in Buffalo, which issued the warning early yesterday afternoon.  A general snowfall began last night and, will change to Lake Effect today.  By Wednesday night, Forecaster Jon Hitchcock in Buffalo says we may see upwards of a foot of new snow inland from Lake Erie.
 
Hitchcock says,  after about 2-inches of general snow overnight, and another 2 inches this morning, we'll see the Lake Effect machine start up, with enhancement from Lake Huron.  Due to that, he says the lake effect totals could be significant in some places. 
 
 
A proposal by the city of Jamestown to sell it's wastewater treatment plant to the city's Local Development Corporation to raise about $16-million in capitol for the city is meeting with some resistance. 
 
The proposal was discussed at the Finance Committee meeting last night and later at the City Council's work session.  Resident Greg Lindquist says he has serious concerns because the JLDC is the "lending arm" of the city, and that could jeopardize it's $3.3-million in lending funds.
 
Lindquist adds that while he wants lower property taxes, he doesn't want to see the city's future "leveraged" to accomplish that.  Executive Director Todd Tranum with the Manufacturer's Association of the Southern Tier called the move a "reckless scheme " and, says their lawyer believes there would have to be a public vote on the proposal. 
 
Tranum also noted that state courts several years ago, struck down a similar move proposed for New York City.  City lawmakers were given a lengthy presentation at last week's meeting by Bond Counsel Kenneth Bond about the plan.
 
 
After the Manufacturer's Association noted that their legal counsel is looking at whether the city needs to hold a public vote on selling the wastewater treatment plant, council members were advised not to speak about the matter last night. 
 
City Corporation Counsel Marilyn Fiore-Lehman noted that MAST Director Todd Tranum had brought up that their legal counsel was involved, and would be talking with the city soon.  She recommended against commenting at last night's meeting.  With that, council members moved on to other business on their agenda.
 
 
A lot of water was lost during last Saturday morning's major water main break in downtown Jamestown. 
 
That from Board of Public Utilities Spokeswoman Becky Robbins, who says the break was first discovered about 7 a.m. when water broke through the pavement at the intersection of Third and North Main Streets. 
 
Robbins says temporary repairs were made by late Saturday on the break, which also caused the Smith Avenue Pump Station to shut-down.  She says that caused low water pressure in the downtown especially the south side for several hours. 
 
Robbins says they received several calls about water in the street, and some flooded basements.  The water was reportedly running downhill from Third Street to Harrison Street in Brooklyn Square.  
 
 
The county lawmakers will consider a measure to create a new umbrella organization to oversee efforts to get funding to help with weed control on Chautauqua Lake. 
 
Legislature committees meet this week and, will consider creation of a Chautauqua Lake Rehabilitation and Improvement Agency.  County Executive Vince Horrigan says the agency would then move forward on creating a "lake district". 
 
Horrigan says there are currently "many not-for-profits and other organizations" that peform weed management work and, other tasks.  However, he says there needs to be a "central agency" that has the ability to go out and get "dedicated funding" for their work. 
 
Horrigan says, given the difficulties on the lake this past Summer, the time is right.  He says he's talked to both lake property owners, and members of local lake organizations.  Horrigan says the proposal to creat the Rehabilitation and Improvement Agency will go before the Planning and Economic Development Committee on Wednesday
 
The full legislature meets for the final time in 2017 on Wednesday, December 20.
 
 
Voters in the Southwestern Central School District are voting today on a proposed, $12.6-million capital project to make several improvements and upgrades to all three educational buildings. 
 
School Supeintendent Maureen Donahue says there would also be upgrades to the district's bus garage.  Donahue says two parts of the overall project include new facilities or additions to the elementary school, including a cafateria addition.  She says there'll also be plumbing and heating work done.
 
An energy efficient lighting portion will be part of a $1.3-million Energy Performance Contract that's included in the referendum.  Donahue says most of the lighting fixtures will be retrofitted for LED lighting.  However, she adds some may be so old they can't be. 
 
Donahue adds that in the middle school, there would be upgrades to the athletic fields and, new student lockers.  She says the district wants to take advantage of 95% state aid for the construction work, and 90% for the energy efficient projects.  Voting today runs from 7-9 a.m. and, 2-8 p.m.in the high school auditorium.
 
 
A woman had to be flown to an Erie, Pennsylvania hospital with serious injurues after being dragged by a vehicle during a domestic dispute in Falconer early Sunday night. 
 
Ellicott Police say they responded to a report that a female victim had been struck by a car in the area of South Work and East Main Streets.  On arrival, officers found 38 year-old Shawn Arnold was involved in an argument with the 38 year-old victim.  During that, the victim tried to get into the vehicle Arnold was driving when he back up and dragged her a short distance. 
 
The victim then fell to the ground and he ran her legs over with his vehicle.  The woman was treated at the scene by Falconer Fire rescuers for several serious injuries and she was flown to UPMC Hamot Medical Center. 
 
Officers say Arnold left the scene, but was later found and arrested.  He was arraigned and sent to County Jail without bail.