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MAYVILLE – The Chautauqua County Legislature voted Wednesday approving an outline allocating $24.6 million from the federal government part of the American Rescue Plan Act.
The vote followed pushback from Jamestown Mayor Eddie Sundquist and Dunkirk Mayor Willie Rosas who expressed disappointment with how the county planned to spend the funding.
Specifically, the two were upset that the legislature and county executive did not including funding for projects in either of the county’s two largest population centers.
They also said lawmakers did not work hard enough to involve the public with the allocation process, something Jamestown area Legislator Elisabeth Rankin addressed.
“If somebody has idea for change, or new projects that they want to have considered, to go to your county legislator and you will have an opportunity for that input through your county legislator,” explained Rankin. “We want to make sure people know this is flexible, we have a great staring plan, and things might change, the federal infrastructure money might change it.”
A motion was put forward to table the vote until next month, however that effort failed, and the resolution passed. In total, the county is currently eyeing to fund 43 various projects.
Both cities received American Rescue Plan money, with Jamestown getting more than $28 million and Dunkirk $11 million.
To view a complete list of the projects included in the County’s approved ARPA Plan, visit the County Executive’s page of the county website.
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