A mechanic works on a plane engine parked at the Jamestown airport. P-J Photo by Gregory Bacon

Ten years ago, an emotional and financial battle was starting to ramp up regarding the Chautauqua County Home. Under the leadership of former Executive Greg Edwards, serious discussions were being held on an almost monthly basis to determine the next steps for the north county facility located on Temple Road.

Despite rampant support — from the Home staff, its residents, family members and those in the community — balance sheets for the Home would become the major factor in a Legislature’s decision. It was during this time that area residents began to understand that nursing and rehabilitative care was starting to take a toll on taxpayers.

Numbers provided by financial managers revealed that in 2010, the County Home received no Intergovernmental Transfer funds — money given to the home by the county and matched by funding from the state. That year, the Home ended with a net loss of $1,788,542.

In 2011, the home received $3,166,812 in Intergovernmental Transfer funds and ended the year with a net profit of $106,475. According to the income statement, if the home had not received the additional funds, it would have had a loss of $3,006,337.

“Nursing homes do not have full control over whom they admit,” a Center for Governmental Research report stated in 2013. “They are dependent upon referral sources such as hospital discharge planners, geography, perceptions, and many other variables over which they have little or no control.”

That center, based in Rochester, has done numerous reports regarding mergers and consolidations in the past for this county and numerous other entities across the nation. Its mission is to improve the quality of communities — through impactful research, analysis, consultation and data management for the public, nonprofit and philanthropic organizations that serve them.

Simply stated, the organization takes out the emotion that comes with most of the obvious, but gut-wrenching decisions tied to maintaining taxpayer-funded entities.

With the Chautauqua County Home, there was a personal bond. For families in Dunkirk-Fredonia, there was plenty of pride in the location being the first choice for assisted-living care.

So delicate was the issue, many north county legislators — even with documented financial losses — could not vote to sell the Home. Their loyalty was to their constituents — and many of them were unfazed about the cost to the taxpayers.

It was more about their connection to the Home and the care the staff there had given to family. Those sentiments led to rallies by staff, community members and some of the most invested individuals in the discussion: the Home residents. Ultimately, in a supermajority vote, lawmakers approved a $16 million sale to the current owner of VestraCare in February 2014.

In 2023, there is no emotion at all from residents regarding the two county airports that are based in Dunkirk or Jamestown. According to reports done in January by reporter Gregory Bacon, on finances alone, the airports are a more than $1 million drain on county finances. This year’s adopted budget includes $684,730 for the Jamestown airport, in the town of Ellicott, and $364,571 for the Dunkirk airport, which is in the town of Sheridan.

Despite continued losses — and an apathetic public regarding the two sites — Chautauqua County seems intent on pushing forth with the two locations. Its new manager, Shannon Barnhart, appears dialed in on the operations while fully supporting attempts for further growth.

“The value of having both airports does help our county,” she said. “I can’t put a number on it because these people are coming into our county and utilizing, not just the airport, but they’re buying homes here. … There’s a lot of people with homes on Chautauqua Lake, who go to Chautauqua Institution, come here for the National Comedy Center.”

Maybe. But county population, Census figures note, continues to go down — even with decades of airport service.

This week, legislators — again — agreed to an airport study regarding Essential Air Service. It’s being paid with American Rescue Plan Act funding — better known as free money that came to all governments and school districts.

Legislator Bob Scudder, R-Fredonia, is one of the most vocal opponents when it comes to these efforts. He voted against the study at a committee meeting.

Which brings us back to the Chautauqua County Home. Emotions from thousands of residents regarding the hot-button topic nine years ago were disregarded when those elected in Mayville approved the facility’s sale. Costs ultimately were the bottom line in the decision-making process. It was a business decision.

Downsizing airports in both Dunkirk and Jamestown, it would seem, would be a much easier choice. There has never been a public outcry for the facilities or the service. Many in this county willingly drive to Buffalo or Pittsburgh for flights elsewhere.

Even if air service was to return to Jamestown, customers here won’t be flocking to the service in droves. That is wishful thinking. Something, in 2014, we never would have allowed for with the County Home.

John D’Agostino is the editor of The Post-Journal, OBSERVER and Times Observer in Warren, Pa. Send comments to jdagostino@observertoday.com or call 716-487-1111, ext. 253.