Councilman Jeff Russell, R-At Large, listens as Elliot Raimondo, city corporation counsel, answers a question about a proposed sidewalk plowing collaboration with the Jamestown Public Schools District. P-J photo by John Whittaker

City Council members still have a few questions about a plan to plow city sidewalks with help from the Jamestown Public Schools District.

The plan was discussed briefly during Monday’s City Council work session.

As proposed on June 6, the agreement would cost the city about $675,000 over the course of four years to hire two Parks Department laborers to run two additional sidewalk plows, while the school district would pay for most of the two additional sidewalk plows required for the work. The city would maintain the new sidewalk plows.

One question on council members’ minds is the money coming from the Jamestown Public Schools District. As originally discussed, the district was paying for the sidewalk plows, which will cost $306,000. During Monday’s meeting, Jeff Russell, R-At Large, asked if the school district was paying the entire cost of the plows — and the city will end up paying a little less than 20% of the sidewalk plow costs as well as the costs of additional manpower.

“The school would be paying $250,000 (for the plows),” said Ryan Thompson, city comptroller. “The city’s going to have to contribute $56,000.”

Russell and Ecklund also asked if there were any potential legal issues if the school district gives money to the city to purchase equipment.

“When we first discussed this I asked the question of the legality of this, the city accepting money from the school,” Russell said. “I don’t know if you talked more about that. Maybe Mr. Raimondo can comment on that, the legality of the city accepting money from the school district to buy equipment.”

Elliot Raimondo, city corporation counsel, said there don’t appear to be any legal issues. The city has partnered with the school district to pay for school resource officers in the past as well as with Jamestown Community College on projects, including the operation of Russell E. Diethrick Park. But Ecklund suggested the city take a second look at the legality of using ARPA funding for the sidewalk plows, if that is how the school district intends to pay for the plows.

“You brought up a point,” Ecklund said. “If they are using ARPA funding is there a stipulation with that being used to purchase versus normal funding of the school. I’d suggest looking into that. Like you I’m not real sure how that’s going to work.”

American Rescue Plan Act money would pay for part of the city’s cost, according to Mayor Eddie Sundquist. If approved by the school district and the City Council, the partnership would be reviewed in 2026. The cost of the two plows is about $306,000.

There would be three routes — primary, secondary and tertiary — with early proposals having the work done from 4 a.m. to noon, though that could change if the sidewalk plowing is too early for residents in some neighborhoods. Primary routes have been identified by the school district as areas most of the school’s students are using to walk to school and would be plowed first. Secondary routes are areas that would have been plowed in years past but typically weren’t plowed because there wasn’t time in the Public Works’ crews shifts. Tertiary areas are areas near the outskirts of the city that would be plowed last.