Fredonia has approved a comprehensive study of its water issues that will consider doing business with Dunkirk.

The village Board of Trustees approved the study by a 3-2 vote Monday night. Voting in favor were Republican Trustees David Bird, Jon Espersen and Nicole Siracuse. The “no” votes came from Democrat Trustees James Lynden and Michelle Twichell.

The village’s engineer of record, LaBella and Associates, will conduct the study and a cost-benefit analysis of water options. The cost is supposed to not exceed $144,000.

Fredonia will use American Rescue Plan Act funding to pay for it, as suggested by Mayor Douglas Essek. That’s “minus any contributions made from other localities,” as the resolution to pass the study puts it. Dunkirk Mayor Wilfred Rosas has offered city funding for up to 20% of the study if it considers Dunkirk as a water source.

Essek virtually demanded Monday that the trustees get moving on the study, so the village can get all the information it needs on its water infrastructure. Noting that the issue has been heavily debated before, Essek pressed trustees to stop talking about the study and approve it.

Lynden and Twichell, however, read statements expressing opposition to the study.