County Legislature approves $150,000 in GRI funds for town... and, municipal merger studies and initiatives...
The Chautauqua County Legislature has unanimously approved two grants... totaling $150,000 to evaluate local mergers and consolidations. Lawmakers approved providing $100,000 from the undesignated fund balance for a Government Reduction Initiative for the proposed merger of the Clymer, Sherman and Panama School Districts. Project Coordinator Shelly O'Boyle, who is a retired school superintendent, is leading that effort. O'Boyle says each district faces projected budget gaps of $2-million over the next five years... and, is being fueled by increasing costs, and declining enrollment. O'Boyle says all three districts have each put money up to help pay for the comprehensive study... which drew praise from lawmakers... including Jamestown Democrat Fred Larson who says he appreciates the fact this is a "bottom up" request. However... regarding the $50,000 sought by the town of Pomfret... he's not sure about talks between Pomfret, the town of Dunkirk, city of Dunkirk, and village of Fredonia can go forward without clarifying whether Dunkirk could dissolve into the two surrounding towns. Fellow Jamestown Democrat Vince DeJoy says some more financially-strapped communities can't put "skin in the game." He added, though, that providing "in-kind" services could definately help. As for the school merger study... Westfield-area Republican Fred Johnson said he wanted to see a full evaluation on how "distance learning" could help reduce costs.
Dunkirk man arrested for fraudulently receiving more than $11,000 in COVID unemployment funds...
A Dunkirk man has pleaded guilty to stealing more than $11,000 in COVID-19 Pandemic Unemployment Assistance program funds. U.S. Attorney Michael DiGiacomo has announced that 42 year-old Jesus Ramos -- also known as "Manny" -- entered the plea before U.S. District Court Judge John Sinatra, Junior to theft of government funds. Prosecutors say that during the pandemic... co-defendant Lamont Brown recruited others to apply for unemployment assistance through the PUA program they weren't entitled to. In July 2020... they say Ramos provided his identification information and social security number to Brown... knowing it would be used to obtain money fraudulently. After that... Ramos received a check for $11,454 from the Puerto Rico Department of Labor and Human Resources, which he deposited into a checking account at bank -- owned by Lamont Brown. The funds were later withdrawn and spent. However... Ramos did not live in... nor had he resided in or worked in Puerto Rico. DiGiacomo says the fraud totaled more than 67-thousand dollars. Brown was previously convicted and is awaiting sentencing. Ramos faces up to 10 years in federal prison... and, a $250,000 fine.
Geise says county looking to local producers in wake of Refresco cancelling contracts with local grape growers...
The demand for Concord Grapes is down... and, there right now appears to be no significant recovery in the marketplace. Those are the feelings of Deputy Chautauqua County Executive for Economic Development... Mark Geise... regarding Refresco's decision to cancel local contracts with grape growers. Geise says he spoke with the head of communications for the company shortly after Refresco's announcement. He says they looked at supply needs... and, there's an imbalance of more supply than they need. Geise adds they also don't feel it's going to change in the foreseeable future. He says county officials are still trying to find out if all local growers have been impacted by the decision. He says, though, they are working with three entities to get those grapes back into the marketplace. One is AgriAmerica in Fredonia... which they're working with to try and build more capacity to handle more supply. Geise says his department has also been in talks with Westfield Made on Route 20... and the Grower's Co-Op -- just west of Westfield -- about taking some of the grapes if they have the capacity to do so. County Executive P-J Wendel says they've also been talking to FeedMore Western New York about a deal to ship grapes to them for local food pantries.
IDA Board gives go-ahead on two industrial park projects...
The Chautauqua County Industrial Development Agency has taken action to advance two projects to expand, or develop a pair of industrial parks. IDA Chief Executive Officer Mark Geise say the board Tuesday approved a contract with Dirt Worx Excavating for just over $196,000 to make infrastructure improvements for the new, 40-acre site at the Mason Industrial Park in the town of Ellicott. Geise says that work will make the additional acreage ready for development with a 100-foot access road, water, sewer and other actions... and, "by June that site will be shovel-ready." Geise says Durwood is general contractor for the project. As for the other action... he says the IDA board opened bids for the development of the new, 150-acre "shovel ready" site in the town of Ripley... which will now be evaluated. Geise says the effort to acquire the land... and, begin getting water, sewer and electric service to the location off Shortman Road in Ripley began a few years ago.
City man arrested following domestic incident...
A Jamestown man has been arrested for allegedly damaging another person's property during a domestic incident Tuesday afternoon. City police say they were called to a northside address shortly before 4 PM... and, their investigation found that 30 year-old Robert Kennedy VI... had damaged some of the victim's property during the dispute. Officers say that... when they told Kennedy he was under arrest... he actively resisted. He's been charged with fourth-degree criminal mischief... and, resisting arrest... and, was held pending arraignment.
