Chautauqua County is declining a request by a Jamestown company for a new access road to replace a failing bridge, stating that the county can’t do the work to benefit a private business.

David Dawson, president of Dawson Metal at 825 Allen St., said in a letter to the county that the bridge to their business has deteriorated and is a safety hazard.

“Its continued degradation threatens access to the site, creating serious risks for employees, visitors, suppliers and emergency response services,” he wrote.

Dawson noted that over the years, his company has met with various city and county officials multiple times, but no resolution has been put in place.

“Meanwhile, the condition of the bridge continues to worsen, increasing both risk and potential liability,” he wrote.

Instead of asking for the bridge to be replaced, Dawson requested a new 700 foot access road to replace reliance on the failing bridge.

“This is not a discretionary improvement – it is a necessary infrastructure solution for Dawson Metal, Dawson Doors, Spray Tech Finishing and Emco, Inc.” he stated in the letter.

County Executive PJ Wendel and Mark Geise, deputy county executive of economic development, met with members of the legislature’s Planning and Economic Development Committee to discuss the issue.

Wendel said back in 2020 he met with Dawson officials regarding the bridge that goes across the Chadakoin River off of Allen Street.

“It’s a bridge that leads to a private business,” Wendel said.

According to Wendel, the company has a second access on Chandler Street.

In 2020, Wendel said he put Dawson Metal in touch with bridge manufacturers for them to replace it but that work never happened. Now the company wants an access road instead, something that Wendel doesn’t believe is appropriate and questioned if it’s even legal.

“It is a private business on private property. This would be the first time the county, if it were to pass, would be funding an access road for a private business,” he said. “If we were to vote and pass a resolution to fund this via the county, this would be the first time and you would be opening a Pandora’s Box.”

Wendel said he could foresee many businesses in the county seeking assistance for infrastructure that benefits them alone.

Geise said it would cost about $4 million to replace the bridge. The access road would cost around $1 million.

According to Geise, the state said it would cover 20% of the cost of the bridge, but not the access road. The federal government offered no financial assistance.

Geise said Dawson has met with city officials but they declined replacing the bridge as well.

Geise, who is also the chief executive officer of the Chautauqua County Industrial Development Agency, said he doesn’t believe IDAs can offer grants either.

The county IDA does have money available for low interest loans and Geise said Dawson could apply for that, although the IDA probably wouldn’t fund the entire project with a loan.

“I think that’s a path forward, but I can’t think of any other path based on all the conversations I’ve had at the state, federal, county, city, IDA level,” he said.

Legislator Fred Johnson, R-Westfield, said he supports the county not funding an access road.

“I am absolutely dead set against government paying for private sector stuff,” he said.

Wendel said he believes the bridge is currently being used by employees but tractor trailers don’t use it anymore. He doesn’t know how long the bridge will last before it needs to be shut down completely.