City Council approves application for Restore-NY grant to support Furniture Mart project...
City lawmakers in Jamestown have given the okay to apply for a 500-thousand dollar Restore-New York grant to help redevelop the former Furniture Mart Building on the city's westside. The City Council unanimously approved the application last night following a public hearing on the proposal. City Development Director Crystal Surdyk says the nine-story structure on West Second Street is currently less than 50% occupied... so it meets the requirements of the Empire State Development Corporation for the grant. Surdyk says this isn't the first time mixed, commercial use has been proposed for the structure... including housing, boutique hotel facilities, professional offices, and retail and restaurant facilities on the first-floor. The city has used Restore New York funding for other projects in the past... including redevelopment of the Wellman Building on West Third Street. Surdyk says the building is currently owned by local developer Art Bailey... and, is on a tight timetable because the money has to be used within 12-months. The approximately $40-million project will include a mix of housing, boutique hotel, professional office and all retail and restaurant use on the first-floor.
Dolce appointments to Salary Review Commission approved unanimously...
The City Council last night approved the final three people for a bi-partisan Salary Review Commission that will look at chages to elected leaders salaries. Council President Tony Dolce appointed Pat Smeraldo, Mike Lorin, and Tage Hall to be on the panel... and, each was approved. Dolce says he looked for more "citizen" members of the panel after Mayor Eddie Sundquist made his appointments... including two former department heads. He says they'll begin meeting in about a month... and, make recommendations by the end of the year. The former department heads chose by Sundquist were former City Comptrollers Joe Bellitto and Ryan Thompson. If City Council approves any salary changes... they would not take effect until the next term in 2024. The mayor's annual salary is currently $72,000, which is where it's been for more than two decades. City Council members make $5,000 a year... and, it's been at that figure since 1984. The council president does make an additional $1,000 stipend.
Silver Creek man arrested for damaging property during altercation...
A north county man has been arrested for allegedly damaging another person's property during an altercation in the town of Hanover Sunday night. Sheriff's deputies and State Police in Jamestown responded to an address on Hanford Rd. shortly before 8:30 p.m., and found that 38 year-old Justin Legere of Silver Creek allegedly damaged the person's property. Officers arrested Legere for fourth-degree criminal mischief... and, he was taken to the Hanover Substation for processing. He was taken to the county jail pending centralized arraignment.
Wendel set to present 2023 County Budget proposal Wednesday night...
Chautauqua County's top elected official is putting the final touches on his proposed 2023 budget proposal to be presented at this week's County Legislature meeting. County Executive P-J Wendel said Monday that the proposed spending plan will be on the "lean side." Wendel adds the county is is very good shape heading into the new year... with the focus on a "structurally-sound" spending plan and building the fund balance to 7% to 15% of revenues. At the same time... Wendel says having a lean budget is good because there are a number of unknowns including stubborn inflation... and, recent increases in interest rates. However... the Lakewood Republican says that county taxpayers will be pleasantly surprised by the approximately $270-million spending plan... and, he's excited about making the presentation this Wednesday night. He'll do that near the beginning of the legislature's monthly meeting at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday in the Gerace Office Building in Mayville.
Gun found at site of PA amusement park shooting stolen from Ohio...
Authorities say a gun found after a weekend shooting at a western Pennsylvania amusement park that wounded three people had been reported stolen in Ohio last year. Allegheny County police said Monday that a trace of the weapon found after Saturday night's shooting at Kennywood Park indicated that the firearm had been reported stolen from a vehicle in Columbus, Ohio in August 2021. Witnesses told investigators that two groups of teenagers were involved in an altercation in front of the Musik Express ride and shots were fired shortly before 11 p.m. Saturday. Police said a 39-year-old man and two 15-year-old boys sustained leg wounds.
"Visit the Farm Day" set for this Saturday at Brehm Farm...
Local residents are invited to 'Visit the Farm Day' this Saturday from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Brehm Farm on Dry Brook Road near Kennedy. Cornell Cooperative Extension... Chautauqua County plans the event. Extension's Agriculture Program Coordinator, Cassie Skal, says there will be all kinds of fun things to do... including cheese and milk tasting, and see a cow milking operation. The farm is located at 3456 Dry Brook Rd, just off Route 394. The Brehm family milks 155 cows on the farm which they have owned for six years. Prior to that, the farm was in the Kimball family for over 150 years. The event is completely family-friendly, but Cassie Skal asks that you wear the proper clothes... and, parking will be available. Guided tours of the farm are expected to take about 40 minutes.
