City police and fire budgets discussed during city council meeting Monday...
New vehicle requests by the Jamestown Police and Fire Departments highlighted some of the first night of budget deliberations for the City Council. Lawmakers reviewed both public safey budgets prior to Monday night's work session. Fire Chief Ryan Rousch noted that while it's not in the budget plan... the department needs a new fire truck. Current costs are estimated at about $1-million dollars... but, Rousch adds there's also a significant waiting period. He says it'll take about a year to "spec out" a new truck, and, then place the order and about 3 years later take delivery of the truck. Rousch was asked if any grant funding may be available for a new truck... but, said he says they haven't received any guidance for seeking grants yet. Mayor Kim Ecklund included one new police cruiser for the department in 2026... but, Chief Tim Jackson requested two of them... along with more money for repairs to keep the current fleet on the road. Jackson says the motor vehicle line in the budget was cut by about $50,000 in next year's budget. Ecklund's 2026 budget totals $45.5-million... and includes a 7.5% property tax increase. The tax rate would increase by just over $2 per $1,000 assessed value if no changes are made.
City Fire Chief says second ambulance helps to bring in $272,000 to date for city coffers...
More revenues are coming in from the Jamestown Fire Department's second ambulance... but, that revenue has not been consistant. That from City Fire Chief Ryan Rousch when discussing revenues that his department has brought in during the course of 2025. During Monday night's budget session at City Hall... Rousch told the City Council that they had brought in just over $272,000 through insurance billing from both ambulances. With this year's trends... Rousch says City Comptroller Ericka Thomas noted they were on pace to collect just under $340,000 from the program.
Ribbon is cut on new, BPU, high-speed fiber optic project...
The Jamestown Board of Public Utilities and it's partners in developing it's new, high-speed fiber optic network celebrated it's launch Monday afternoon with a ribbon cutting at the BPU. City leaders were joined by Chautauqua County... state and federal officials for the event... which BPU General Manager Dave Leathers called both "exciting and meaningful" to he, and his Deputy GM for the Electric Division, Kris Sellstrom... and, others. He says Sellstrom has "really been the point (person) for the project." Sellstrom rom noted that it's been a team effort to get the infrastructure installed... but, adds there's still plenty of work yet to do. He thanked partners -- including New York state's "Connect All" program -- which funded the city's project. That's headed up by Senior Vice-President Joshua Breitbart... who praised the local effort to get the project moving. Breitbart says in less than a year... they had gone from a concept, to infrastructure being installed, and people getting signed up. He says "it's incredible to see." Two internet providers -- Fiberspark from Ithaca -- and SumoFiber of Utah -- will be providing the low-cost internet connections for local users. They have been working with EntryPoint Networks... led by Jeff Christenson... who says they started with more than 300 applicants...but, adds the BPU's project is one of only 11 to have gotten this far.
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BPU officials noted that more than 900 customers have already signed up for the high-speed internet connections... which will be up and running in the city by the end of 2026. For more information... call 661-1633... or go on-line to Jamestownbpu.com/fiber.
County kicks off National Lead Poison Prevention Week in Jamestown...
The threat of lead poisoning in Chautauqua County has not gone away. However... there are preventive measures that families can take to keep children safe from lead poisoning. The county's Lead Poison Prevention Team Monday hosted a press conference at Jamestown City Hall to mark the start of National Lead Poisoning Prevention Week. County Public Health Director Lacey Wilson commended the team for it's efforts... and the progress they've made in recent years. However... she added that... they reality is that it remains a "pressing threat in communities like ours." Wilson noted that most of the city of Jamestown's housing was built prior to 1978 before lead paint restrictions were enacted. She says lead poisoning is one of the most preventable, environmental issues residents face. However... she says Chautauqua County -- and mainly Jamestown and Dunkirk -- have a large amount of housing stock built before 1978... when regulations took effect to eliminate use of lead paint in homes. Dr. Paul Robbins from The Chautauqua Center noted that they can do a blood test that indicates if a child has an "elevated" lead level... and, they can then intervene.
Several fire departments called to put out Ellery Center house fire Monday afternoon...
Several local fire companies responded to a house fire in the town of Ellery early Monday afternoon. Chautauqua County fire dispatchers say Ellery Center firefighters were called to the scene on Pickard Road just after 1 p.m., and, were later joined by Sinclairville, Stockton, Maple Springs, Bemus Point and North Lake fire crews... and County EMS. Firefighters were at the scene about 2-and-a-half hours. No injuries were reported. No cause has yet been released.
