City's nearly-completed DPW Fleet Maintenance Building looking at $390,000 overrun...
It appears that once all costs are considered... the new Jamestown Public Works Fleet Maintenance Building on Washington Street will be just under $390,000 over budget.  That's according to a report given to City Council last night by retired DPW Director Jeff Lehman... who is still overseeing that project.  Lehman says the city was slated to receive a half-million dollar grant from the New York State Energy Research and Development Administration for heating with electric.  However... the city was not approved for that, so Lehman says they decided to go back to heating with gas, and that will save about $290,000.  The original budget... which also included a $1-million state grant... was projected to cost $5.3-million... because it was going to be built new.  However... the city acquired the former Hartley Buick dealership building... which is being renovated.  Lehman says one of the remaining items -- not originally in the plans... is a $150,000, 5-ton crane.  He says that was not in the original budget, but, he says city leaders may want to consider adding that to any further borrowing "because it's never going to be cheaper" for that piece of equipment.  Lehman says there's also $170,000 for one new lift, and moving two existing lifts at the DPW building at 155 Steele St.  He says the total, current budget is $5.1-million with remaining work items totaling $577,000.

Man arrested after allegedly leading Lakewood-Busti Police on high speed chase...
Police have arrested a man following a high-speed chase early Monday morning that began near Ashville... went through the village of Lakewood before ending in West Ellicott.  Lakewood-Busti Police say they saw Izaiah Clark run the stop sign at Route 474 and West Fairmount Ave. shortly after 2 a.m., and, tried to make a traffic stop.  However... officers say Clark sped off east on Fairmount reaching a "very high rate of speed."  Police continued with the pursuit until Clark stopped at the corner of Woodworth and Chicago Avenues -- near the Jamestown City line.  He was arrested on several charges...including: third-degree unlawfully fleeing a police officer in a motor vehicle... reckless driving... speed in zone... unsafe turn with no signal... and, speed unreasonable and purdent.  Clark was issued appearance tickets for Busti Town Court.

Ribbon is cut on completion of Phase-One of Chaut. Lake Westside Sewer Extension project...
The first-phase of the nearly $17-million dollar Chautauqua Lake Westside Sewer Extension project has been completed... and, the ribbon was cut on it Monday.  The project is the culminiation of many years of effort by several people to stop sewage from getting into the lake... and, local residents water wells.  County Executive P.J. Wendel says it's just the start to completing the entire project... and, adds favorable weather helped contractors to help complete the project on time.  Former South and Center Chautauqua Lake Sewer District Board Chairman... and, current Legislature Chairman Pierre Chagnon... recalled the efforts of late North Harmony Town Supervisor, Sally Carlson, to get closed sewers on that side of the lake. Current and long-time sewer district board member Tom Erlandson also spoke... adding that he did a survey around 1980 of home owners with water wells and septic systems... and, found that 41% of the homes on the westside of the lake with septics had well water contaminated by those septic systems.  Among those on hand for the ribbon cutting were former State Assemblyman Rolland Kidder, and former Legislature Chairman Lance Spicer... both long-time proponents of the extension.

Borrello gives mixed review to just-concluded end of NYS legislative session...
Chautauqua County's representative in the New York State Senate has a mixed reaction to this year's legislative session... which wrapped up in Albany over the weekend.  Sunset Bay Republican George Borrello believes additional measures that passed during the session will only further hurt public safety.  As an example... he cites is the recently-approved "Clean Slate Act," which will automatically seal certain convictions from a New Yorker's criminal record when they become eligible.  He says that way, anyone interviewing such a person for a job, or to rent an apartment, would have no knowledge of that person's criminal past.  However... at the same time, Borrello says a key achievement was the recent conceptual agreement on a new 20-year gaming compact between the state and the Seneca Nation of Indians. 

Jamestown woman arrested after allegedly leaving her young child wandering outdoors...
A city woman has been arrested for allegedly allowing her 3-year-old son to wander unsupervised outside their home on Jamestown's westside Monday afternoon.  City police were called to the scene to check on the well-being of a child shortly before 3 p.m., and, found the toddler had been located by a Good Samaritan on a busy roadway.  Officers took custody of the child... and a short time later found the mother... identified as 32 year-old Brandi Haight.  They found that the child had apparently been gone from the residence for more than an hour before Haight realized he was gone.  Police say they turned the child over to a family member and Haight was arrested for endangering the welfare of a child.  She was jailed pending arraignment.