City Council agrees to borrowing package for new Fleet Management Building...
The Jamestown City Council has agreed to go-ahead with borrowing up to $2.7-million to complete the new, Fleet Maintenance Building on Washington Street. In recent weeks... lawmakers have discussed the need for additional funding to finish the project at the former Hartley Buick location. Mayor Kim Ecklund hopes this is all that will be needed... adding there are projects at City Hall that also need to be undertaken... including replacement of the City Hall roof... which may cost as much at $1.5-million. The city has applied for a $1-million state grant to help defray some of the costs. However... they would probably not hear about that until late this year. At-Large Councilman Jeff Russell cast the lone "no" vote... and, expressed frustration over the numbers changing in recent months. The original cost of the new Fleet Management Building was pegged at $2.1-million in 2018-19. However... the project slowed during the pandemic, as costs began going up. The borrowing measure was approved in an 8-1 vote.
Sherman man sentenced for being in possession of "large amount" of Meth druing 2022 raid...
A Sherman man has been sentenced to seven-years in state prision after pleading guilty to being in possession of a large amount of methamphetamine in late 2022. Chautauqua County District Attorney Jason Schmidt says 42 year-old Allan Detweiler was sentenced Monday by County Court Judge David Foley to the determinate prison term... as well as two-years of post-release supervision. Schmidt says Detweiler pled guilty to third-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance... a Class B felony. He says sheriff's officers raided a town of Sherman home... and, arrested Detweiler for second-degree criminal possession of a Controlled Substance after being found with the methamphetamine. He says Detweiler pled to the lesser charge back on January 4th as a result of a plea agreement that also covered pending cases in the village of Sherman and town of Westfield. Schmidt thanked the Sheriff's Departments Criminal Investigations Division for their hard work on this case.
Brigiotta's celebrates 100th anniversary as National Small Business Week begins...
One of Jamestown's landmark small businesses is celebrating it's 100th anniversary this year... and, to celebrate... local leaders kicked-off Small Business Week at Brigiotta's Farmland Store Monday morning. Chautauqua County Chamber of Commerce President and Chief Executive Officer Dan Hetizenrater began the celebration, taking to the microphone first. One of the theme's of the program was "small business is big business... " and that was underscored by County Executive P.J. Wendel's proclamation of Small Business Week locally. He says 2019 Census data showed that the county had 2,764 small businesses that employed more than 41,000 people, and did $1.3-billion in business. The Galbato Family has run Brigiotta's store, greenhouse and warehouse for many years now. Carla Galbato says she's part of the families third-generation that operates the business... which began in Jamestown's Brooklyn Square in Nov. of 1924. Galbato says they saw the need in what is now the "Lost Neighborhood" area of the city. However... she says a major change came with Urban Renewal in 1973... and, after moving around for a couple of years... the family purchased their current location on Fairmount Avenue in the city. She says they were greatly assisted in that effort by the Small Business Administration.
Borrello says there's still plenty of work to do in Albany with the budget now behind lawmakers...
With New York State's 2024-25 budget now in place... lawmakers in Albany will get to work on passing numerous other bills during the remainder of the state's legislative session, which ends in early June. State Senator George Borrello says some of his legislative priorities for the remainder of this year's session include measures aimed at making local governments better and more efficient by giving them permission to by-pass certain old, state rules for hiring for positions, such as judges and others in short supply locally. Borrello says another priority is his measure that would require grocery stores to automatically apply digital coupons for senior citizens and loyalty program members. He believes that bill is gaining traction... with three recent trade magazine articles, and other states looking at possible legislation. Borrello says other local bills that are in the process of getting passed include dedicating parts of highways to fallen soldiers. The Sunset Bay Republican says his hopes for the bigger picture include addressing "out of control" crime and making the state safe for its residents and visitors.
