MAYVILLE — There is a new fixed based operator for the two county airports.

During the Chautauqua County Legislature meeting, county lawmakers approved contracts with Centric Aviation to be the new fixed-based operator for both the Dunkirk and Jamestown airports. The resolutions were passed after a public hearing was held on each proposal. No county residents spoke during the public hearings.

Earlier this month, Brad Bentley, county public facilities director, said that four proposals were received by county officials for the next fixed-base operator for the airports. He said Centric Aviation was selected because the business has experience enhancing rural fixed-base operations.

Bentley said Centric Aviation is the fixed-base operator of the Apalachicola Regional Airport, which is located west of Apalachicola, Fla., and San Luis Valley Regional Airport in Alamosa, Colo. He said, collectively, Centric Aviation has more than 40 years experience and 15 years experience as a fixed-base operator.

Some of the major points in the lease for both airports include a 20-year contract and the fixed rental fee of $2,500, fuel flowage fee of 15 cents a gallon, 5% of hanger rental revenue and 5% of gross revenue received for flight line services.

The former fixed-base operator, Dunkirk Aviation, left the Dunkirk Airport in October 2017. The Chautauqua County Industrial Development Agency has been acting as the interim fixed-based operator until a new company could be found to handle the operations. Bentley said the contract with Jamestown Aviation, fixed-base operator at the Jamestown Airport, will terminate at the end of January.

The legislature also approved a motion calling for a new state aid funding floor for Jamestown Community College. The state legislature is proposing to make changes to its state aid funding formula to community colleges. Currently, the state aid funding floor is 98% of the previous year’s funding or a $100 increase per full-time equivalent student, whichever is greater. The proposed change would be a funding floor of 100% of the previous year or $100 increase per full-time equivalent student, whichever is greater.

Daniel DeMarte, JCC president, attended the meeting and thanked the legislature for their support. Chuck Nazzaro, D-Jamestown, and Elisabeth Rankin, R-Jamestown, also spoke favorably about the proposed new funding formula.

The legislature also approved a resolution to fund $10,000 in 3% undesignated off-cycle project occupancy tax funding for the Chadakoin River Business Plan. Earlier this month, Mark Geise, Chautauqua County Industrial Development Agency CEO, said the IDA, along with partners the Gebbie Foundation, Roger Tory Peterson Institute of Natural History and the Jamestown Board of Public Utilities, would like to hire a business to develop a plan to allow for boat travel from Chautauqua Lake to the basin of the Chadakoin River located behind the National Comedy Center. He said around $50,000 in funding has already been acquired for the business plan.

In December, Geise said that Twan Leenders of the Roger Tory Peterson Institute was hired last spring and summer to perform a monthly bathymetric survey of the Chadakoin River between McCrea Point Park and the Warner Dam. The study concluded that the river is navigable by a majority of watercraft.

Following the bathymetric survey, IDA and Gebbie Foundation officials decided to produce a request for proposals to hire a business to develop a strategic business plan to bring the idea of attracting boaters off of Chautauqua Lake to downtown Jamestown. Geise said the business plan would include where docks would be installed, where buoys need to be located and a water barrier to keep boats from being near the Warner Dam.

Geise said, following the development of the business plan, it will take three to five years to turn the idea into a reality.

During the meeting, Mark Odell, R-Brocton, said there has been a lot of great collaboration among Jamestown agencies on the proposed plan. Rankin said she also appreciates the efforts of city agencies and that the business plan is a great use of occupancy tax money that is designated toward improving tourism in the county.