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Work Underway

Crews Begin Cleanup Of Former Mayville Diner

MAYVILLE — Work began Friday to clear debris left from the Mayville Diner that was destroyed in a fire late last year.

J&J Abatement Services has been tapped by the Mayville Village Board to remove the debris at 7 W. Chautauqua St. in the village at a cost of $11,500. The Jamestown business was the lowest bidder for the project.

In addition, Neeson-Clark Associates Inc. of Olean was approved to complete the required third-party air monitoring for the asbestos abatement at a cost of $525 per day.

“It’s good that it’s cleared up, but unfortunate that the village got stuck paying for it,” Mayville Mayor Ken Shearer said. “Once it gets totally cleaned up and grass growing on it it’ll look good again.”

The former Mayville Diner was leveled following a fire that broke out around 10:30 p.m. on Dec. 9. The eatery had been a staple in the community for more than 70 years.

The board in August declared the site a danger to the community’s safety and health and ordered the property to be cleaned up by either the owner or by the village, which would in turn place a lien on the property. Shearer confirmed earlier this month the cost will be placed as a lien against the property.

The board also approved the use of the village’s landfill credits for the project.

The owner, Michael S. Ellis, was charged two weeks after the fire with third-degree arson, a class C felony. Ellis operated the diner and was reportedly making payments on the property to the previous owner Bob Bonar.

Ellis has not yet been indicted on the charge, a county court clerk said Friday.

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