With tens of thousands of visitors expected to be in Chautauqua County during the April eclipse, the county’s Office of Emergency Services is looking to buy some new equipment.

County lawmakers appear to back the purchase but are in a debate on where the money should come from.

Noel Guttman, director of Emergency Services, appeared before the county Legislature’s Public Safety and Audit and Control committees to request $194,350 worth of equipment.

Guttman wants to purchase DisasterLAN Computer Software, a First Net Compact Rapid Deployable, two variable message sign trailers and $25,000 worth of mass casualty medical supplies.

The computer software will be used to assist in the emergency planning and execution.

The First Net Compact Rapid Deployable is described as a portable cell tower on wheels. It can accept 911 calls, including if current cell towers are overwhelmed. It can also be used if the internet goes down.

The viable message sign trailers would be used to direct traffic. The county has two already and Guttman would like two more.

Guttman said the mass casualty medical supplies would be stashed throughout the county, available to be used by Emergency Medical Services if there is a medical emergency.

Guttman said he needs the equipment and supplies to keep residents and visitors safe during the eclipse, which will take place April 8.

“It’s estimated that between 50,000 and possibly up to 250,000 people will be in our county that weekend,” he said.

Guttman said many hotels are already full, with others being advertised for $800 a night.

Guttman added that all of the equipment and supplies will be used after the eclipse; he wants it now to be ready for that event.

The money is proposed to come from the county’s unassigned fund balance. Guttman said he made that request after speaking with County Executive PJ Wendel.

During the Public Safety Committee meeting, Legislator Terry Niebel, R-Sheridan, asked if the money could come from the county’s tourism fund or from the American Rescue Plan Act.

Guttman said he didn’t care where the money came from, as long as he can purchase the equipment. Because the resolution had the money come out of the county’s reserves, the Public Safety Committee rejected the request.

Niebel said he wasn’t opposed to the purchase, but wanted to explore other options first.

The next day, the legislature’s Audit and Control Committee took up the same resolution.

At that meeting, it was stated that there isn’t enough undesignated money in the county’s ARPA account. Also, any request to use ARPA funds must go before the ARPA committee first.

Niebel, who is a member of both committees, reiterated his support for using the county’s 3% occupancy tax. “These are tourists (who will be here April 8), they’re not buying houses, they’re tourists,” he said.

Legislator Bob Scudder, R-Fredonia, said he is concerned about using tourism money since the equipment will be used in the future for purposes other than tourism.

Legislator Dan Pavlock, R-Ellington, agreed, saying the tourism account isn’t for equipment that will be used by police and fire departments year-round.

“We do have a healthy fund balance, and that’s why we have the fund balance,” he added.

Niebel responded that many of the hotels in the county will be full, so the county will generate a lot of occupancy tax that weekend, which is why he supports using the occupancy tax reserves.

Mark Geise, deputy county executive of economic development, said he opposes using occupancy tax for these purchases.

“It’s to encourage tourism, and I hate for this legislature to get criticized for spending occupancy tax money reserves on equipment that has a long life,” he said.

County Attorney Patrick Slagle said he’s concerned that if they use occupancy tax funds to purchase the equipment, the state could come back in the future with further restrictions or even deny the county to collect occupancy tax, if the state feels the county is using the money inappropriately.

“If there’s a question about it, I’d rather the general fund be used,” he said.

Legislature Chairman Pierre Chagnon, R-Ellery, read the law to the committee. After reading it out loud he stated, “The point I’d like to make is, the purpose is to promote tourism. This equipment will not be promoting this event,” he said.

When the time came for the Audit and Control Committee to vote, Niebel still voted against it, with other committee members voting in favor.

The full legislature will need to approve the resolution at its meeting Wednesday for it to be finalized.