MAYVILLE – Chautauqua County is moving ahead with plans to upgrade two runways at the Dunkirk airport, with the federal government picking up most of the cost.

It appears they are required to do so by the federal government.

During the recent county legislature meeting, lawmakers approved a resolution for them to apply for and accept funding from the Federal Aviation Administration and the state Department Of Transportation to rehabilitate Taxiway B North at the Dunkirk airport.

The total cost of the design of the project is $290,000. Of that amount, the federal government would pay $275,500, the state would pay $7,250 and the county would pay $7,250.

The legislature also approved a resolution for them to apply for and accept funding from the FAA and the state DOT to rehabilitate Runway 15-33.

The total cost of the design of the project is $166,000. Of that amount, the federal government would pay $157,700, the state would pay $4,150 and the county would pay $4,150.

Legislator Bob Scudder, R-Fredonia, voted against both resolutions.

During a committee meeting the week before, John Machemer, who manages the Dunkirk and Jamestown airports, said the runways were 20 years old and needed to be replaced.

Scudder, who historically votes against any airport projects that require funding from the federal government, asked Machemer what would happen if the full legislature voted against making the repairs to the runways.

Machemer said the runways would likely continue to deteriorate to the point that they would be unusable and the FAA would want them fixed. “As part of our grant assurances, we’re obligated to maintain a safe airfield,” he said.

Scudder questioned why the county must operate one or both airports. He later added, “If the feds require us to do all this, then they should pay for it.”

In other county legislature business:

– Scudder was appointed to the North Chautauqua Water District;

– Dr. Laila Denoya of Fredonia was appointed to the county Office for the Aging Advisory Council.

– The county agreed to be a co-applicant for the Bemus Point School District as it seeks $500,000 to decommission the school’s wastewater treatment plant and connect to the South and Center Chautauqua Lake Sewer District. The school must pay 10% matching funds for the grant.

– The county agreed to spend $37,000 to help the city of Dunkirk install six public safety cameras that the city had previously purchased. The money will come from the District Attorney’s Office.