Gov. Hochul announces fast-tracking of $30-million in Emergency Food Aid with SNAP benefits running out...
New York's governor is "fast-tracking" $30-million in state emergency funds to help provide more than 16-million meals to people lossing SNAP benefits later this week. During a rally yesterday with people impacted by the cuts... Democrat Kathy Hochul said the funding would help the 3-million New Yorkers who receive help from the federal Supplimental Nutrition Assistance Program... which runs out of money November 1st. It's one of the direct impacts of the federal government shut-down... which is into it's fourth-week... and, still shows no end in sight. Hochul's office says the $30-million dollars is in addition to last week's announcement of more than $11-million to support local emergency food relief. The governor's funding announcements come as federal administrators at the U.S. Department of Agriculture have refused to unlock the funding needed to ensure SNAP recipients receive their November food assistance.
Sellstrom named by BPU to succeed Leathers as utilities' new GM next January...
A Jamestown native who's worked at the Board of Public Utilities for nearly the past 14 years has been appointed as the BPU's next general manager. The board announced late Monday that Kristofor Sellstrom had been approved by the board to replace Dave Leathers... who is retiring next January. Mayor Kim Ecklund... who serves as BPU President by virtue of her office... says the Personnel Committee approved Sellstrom from a field of four finalists. Ecklund says they started with 60 applicants before the field was cut to six... and, four were called back for second interviews. A group of employees also did interviews. Sellstrom is a lifelong city resident and a New York-licensed professional engineer... who had advanced to senior leadership roles... most recently as Deputy General Manager for the Electric Division. He began at the BPU in 2011 as a Junior Engineer. He was named as Deputy GM in June of last year. Eckund says there were other "strong" internal candidates, as with Sellstrom. She says he now has the benefit of working directly with Leathers before the current GM retires to get a better feel for the entire operation.
County announces that Water Conservation Order in Ripley is now lifted...
Officials with Chautauqua County and the town of Ripley have announced that the water conservation order issued for Ripley Water District customers on Oct. 10 has now been lifted. The good news was announced this afternoon by the County Health Department... which reports that town water operators have confirmed that the Ripley Reservoir has returned to near normal levels for this time of year, and the creek that flows into the reservoir is no longer dry. With that... they say it's no longer necessary to conserve water. Town Supervisor Laura Pless says "the town would like to thank all of our customers for doing their part to conserve water while this order was in effect. We would also like to thank all of the volunteer fire fighters and Companies that helped us with trucking water and North East Township for allowing us to draw water from their system." With that... residents may return to normal water use at this time.
City Council hears about increasing costs for DPW and Parks budgets...
There are a number of increasing expenses in the city of Jamestown's Public Works... and, Parks Departments in the proposed 2026 budget. However... the increases are due mainly to increased costs for items... and, due to a longer Winter season this part year. That from Acting DPW Director Mark Roetzer... who told City Council during last night's budget hearing that Snow and Ice Removal are up about 20% to just over $1-million. In addition... Roetzer says the cost for road salt in 2026 has gone up 41%... and, that's for all municipalities in Chautauqua County because they all buy their salt through the county. He says another area of increases... due to an aging fleet of vehicles... is parts. He says all of those are going up in price -- some due to new tariffs imposed by the Trump administration. Roetzer says he and his department inventoried $7.6-million worth of vehicles and equipment in the DPW... and, says they need to start looking at replacing about $5-million worth of that because they have exceeded their anticpated life span. Budget meetings on Mayor Kim Ecklund's $45.5-million budget plan continue next Monday night.
Wendel happy to see 2026 spending plan approved; still concerned about what 2027 may hold...
Chautauqua County Executive P-J Wendel says he's excited about the passage of his 2026 budget that lowers property taxes by 54-cents per $1,000 assessed value. Wendel says the $309.7-million spending plan also marked the fifth straight year that the county's tax rate has been decreased. The Lakewood Republican says that decrease was made possible despite the declining number of residents and businesses in the area. Wendel says, even with those losses, they've been able to hold the line on taxes while still providing the services people need. The budget was passed last week along party lines, with County Legislature Democrats wanting to use $2-million of the county's fund balance to offset a $1.7 million increase in the tax levy. That proposed amendment was defeated. Wendel feels the fund balance is at a good level... because they need to keep a close eye on 2027 when provisions of President Donald Trump's "Big Beautiful Bill" will take effect.
