County Eyes Spending $1M On Lake Equipment
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MAYVILLE -- Chautauqua County is looking to spend a little more than $1 million on equipment to harvest lake weeds.
Both the legislature's Planning and Economic Development and Audit and Control committees backed a resolution to spend $1,004,300 on equipment, planning and watershed administration for lake maintenance. The resolution did not specify Chautauqua Lake specifically, although all the discussion referred to Chautauqua Lake and did not mention any other lake in the county.
The money would come from American Rescue Plan Act funds, which the county received from the federal government.
Dave McCoy, county watershed coordinator, said in the past, foundations would purchase equipment for lake management; however, things have changed and those foundations are now paying for services, including herbicides, scientific studies and the harvesters themselves.
McCoy called the ARPA funds a "once-in-a-generation" opportunity to pay for equipment. "We would prefer to invest in durable equipment that would give a useful service for 10 years or more," he said.
Some of the equipment they currently use is from 1980. McCoy said it's time to do some upgrades. Some of the old equipment will be sold or used for parts.
The resolution did not detail what equipment would be purchased. During the discussion, McCoy said they would like to buy a 5-ton aquatic plant harvester, a 15-ton transport vessel, and a research boat for the Jefferson Project and the Alliance to share.
Legislator John Penhollow, R-Stockton, said he would have preferred to see the details of how the money would be spent, including specifications.
He also said he wants to make sure all the different lake organizations support the purchase.
"That's a lot of money and I just want to make sure … that there is buy-in and commitment of working together," Penhollow said.
McCoy said that is the case. He noted that their current equipment is owned by the county and it is loaned out to various organizations, as long as they have the necessary insurance and skill to operate it.
During the Audit and Control Committee meeting, Legislator Terry Niebel, R-Sheridan, expressed concern on the price tag. He was worried they wouldn't have enough for other future projects.
Chautauqua County was awarded $24.3 million ARPA funds, as part of the federal government's $1.9 trillion package, intended to help the country recover from the COVID-19 pandemic. The money cannot be used to pay down debt or lower taxes.
Originally Chautauqua County planned to spend $7 million of the $24.3 for the Phase 2 South and Center Chautauqua Lake Sewer District project. That project still took place, however the county was able to secure money from other sources, freeing up that $7 million.
McCoy noted the legislature planned on spending $7 million on the lake, so now they're only spending a fraction of what they originally planned. "Six (million dollars) of that is going to other places. We're only asking for $1 million for this equipment," he said.
But Niebel still felt $1 million is too high and proposed cutting the funding to $500,000 on equipment. His proposal did not have any additional support at the Audit and Control Committee meeting.
When the time came to vote on the $1,004,500 resolution on equipment, it passed by a 4-1 vote with Niebel voting against it. All members of the Planning and Economic Development Committee voted in favor.
The resolution now goes to the full legislature, which meets Wednesday, for final approval.