Jamestown City Council approves local law to override state's property tax cap in 2025 budget...
City lawmakers in Jamestown have approved a local law allowing them to exceed New York state's 2% property tax cap in next year's budget. The measure was approved, 8-0 with Councilwoman Regina Brackman absent. At-Large Councilman Jeff Russell gave a "very reluctant" yes vote on the measure. However... Council President Tony Dolce says cutting the mayor's 7.8% tax increase will be difficult -- at best. He adds they have to be prepared because it's not likely they'll be able to get the increase below 2%. Dolce says the council needed to approve the measure because they would not be able to vote on it the same night they vote on the $43.3-million spending plan. As for the budget... he says they reviewed three more departments before last night's voting session... the Dept. of Public Works, the Parks and Recreation Department, and Corporation Counsel. They'll wrap up the reviews next Monday night. The 2025 budget proposal... if left unchanged... would increase the tax rate by $1.82 cents per $1,000.
City lawmakers approve measures to support joint JCC/YMCA Athletic facilities proposal...
The City Council last night approved a resolution of support for state funding of a joint project to add to and improve athletic facilities at Jamestown Community College. City lawmakers voted 6-0 on the resolution to bolster the case made by JCC and the Jamestown-area YMCA to receive state and federal funding for the effort. Council President Dolce says the city is making no commitments aside from their written support. The first measure approves changing the wording on an earlier measure commiting $200,000 in American Rescue Plan Act funding for a new "Y" facility on Harrison Street. That proposal has been scrapped, and both entities are now pushing for the new, shared facility... which will cost in the neighborhood of $43-million. However... there would be funding available from SUNY, and state and federal grants. Dolce adds the other resolution is just something that will be part of JCC and the YMCA's portfolio of supporting documents for both SUNY budgeting, and grants. He says the project will include adding onto the JCC Physical Education Complex... and, neighboring athletic fields. Dolce has emphasized that Diethrick Park is not part of this proposal.
Early voting continues in Chautauqua County through next Sunday...
New records have been set in early voting across the country... and, that was also the case here in Chautauqua County his past weekend. Those numbers are also expected to climb as voting continues through next Sunday. That from County Elections Commissioners Brian Abram and Luz Torres. Abram says those numbers about doubled what was seen in the last Presidential Election in 2020. Abram says there were 2,610 voters who cast ballots at their four polling sites on the first day of early voting last Saturday. That nearly doubled the 1,372 cast the first day of early voting in the last Presidential Election in 2020. Abram says 4,551 people cast ballots on both Saturday and Sunday at their four early voting locations. Voting continues today (10/29) from Noon to 8 p.m., and, wraps up next Saturday and Sunday. You can cast your early ballot at either of the four locations... the County Fairgrounds in Dunkirk... the Chautauqua Mall... the Robert H. Jackson Center... and, the Carlson Community Center in Mayville. For more information... go on-line to VoteChautauqua.com.
Gowanda man arreested for violating order of protection, and barricading himself inside Dunkirk residence...
A man from Gowanda who barricaded himself inside an apartment in the city of Dunkirk last Saturday has been arrested on numerous charges. Dunkirk Police were called to a domestic dispute in the 700-block of Main Street shortly after 7 p.m., and, made contact with a female victim who was able to escape from the residence and have a neighbor call 911. The victim told officers that 36-year-old Edwin Chmielewski III had unlawfully entered her apartment and tried to choke her. Officers say Chmielewski, who has an order of protection to stay away from the victim and home, would not allow the woman to leave, and prevented her from calling 911. Police tried to contact Chmielewski, who also had several outstanding warrants for his arrest... but, he barricaded himself inside and refused to leave. Officers eventually forced their way in... and, he was found hiding underneath a mattress in a bedroom. Chmielewski was taken into custody on charges including: second-degree burglary, first-degree criminal contempt, and, second-degree unlawful imprisonment. Chmielewski was also arrested on the outstanding warrants... and, jailed on $50,000 cash bail.
City woman arrested after being found driving drunk for third-time this year...
A Jamestown woman faces several charges after she was allegedly found to be driving drunk for the third-time in the past year. Jamestown police say they stopped 33 year-old Krista Jones on Forest Avenue shortly after 2 a.m. Monday after spotting a suspended registration. Officers say Jones failed field sobriety testing and was taken into custody for DWI. A further check found that her operating privileges had been revoked in New York after refusing to submit to a chemical test during a previous DWI investigation. She's charged with DWI... operating a motor vehicle with a suspended registration... first-degree aggravated unlicensed operation... unsafe tires... and having an uninspected motor vehicle. She was jailed pending arraignment.
