County discusses grant for Bemus Point-Stow Ferry
By DENNIS PHILLIPS OBSERVER Mayville Bureau
12/5/2006 - MAYVILLE — With financial assistance from the county and Sea Lion Ltd., the Bemus Point-Stow Ferry cable was insured and up and running again toward the end of last summer.
Now, thanks to a $15,000 initiative grant from state Sen. Cathy Young, R-Olean, the two groups will be reimbursed and there will be money to help with future ferry expenses.
On Monday, the county’s Public Facilities Committee discussed the grant and the repairs to the ferry.
Darin Schulz, county finance director and Bemus Point resident, said the Chautauqua Lake Historic Vessels Company didn’t want the ferry to go another season without running, so the county fronted the money to do the repairs — which cost about $8,000 — with Sen. Young’s office promising a future grant for reimbursement.
Legislator Joseph Trusso, D-Jamestown, asked Schulz why the legislature didn’t approve this resolution prior to the ferry’s cable being fixed. Schulz said approval wasn’t needed at that time because the money was allocated from the Chautauqua County Visitors Bureau.
However, he said approval is needed now to secure the loan for the reimbursement. Robert Anderson, D-Frewsburg, said he agreed with Trusso that the legislature should have approved the action of loaning the money to fix the cable first, even with the promise from Young’s office for financial reimbursement.
Richard Babbage, R-Bemus Point, said the group’s primary goal was to get the ferry running and its next goal will be to get the Chautauqua Bell running.
The Chautauqua Belle — the steamship drydocked at Mayville Lakeside Park — has not operated since the 2003 summer season.
The Bemus Point-Stow ferry finally resumed regular operations in late August after repairs and upgrades had been made, largely thanks to Ellery resident John Cheney, a longtime advocate for the attraction. Eager to see the ferry running again, Cheney had the paddle covers replaced, the deck refurbished, the ramps fixed and the tank chambers cleaned out, as well as other labor-intensive upgrades.
Now, thanks to a $15,000 initiative grant from state Sen. Cathy Young, R-Olean, the two groups will be reimbursed and there will be money to help with future ferry expenses.
On Monday, the county’s Public Facilities Committee discussed the grant and the repairs to the ferry.
Darin Schulz, county finance director and Bemus Point resident, said the Chautauqua Lake Historic Vessels Company didn’t want the ferry to go another season without running, so the county fronted the money to do the repairs — which cost about $8,000 — with Sen. Young’s office promising a future grant for reimbursement.
Legislator Joseph Trusso, D-Jamestown, asked Schulz why the legislature didn’t approve this resolution prior to the ferry’s cable being fixed. Schulz said approval wasn’t needed at that time because the money was allocated from the Chautauqua County Visitors Bureau.
However, he said approval is needed now to secure the loan for the reimbursement. Robert Anderson, D-Frewsburg, said he agreed with Trusso that the legislature should have approved the action of loaning the money to fix the cable first, even with the promise from Young’s office for financial reimbursement.
Richard Babbage, R-Bemus Point, said the group’s primary goal was to get the ferry running and its next goal will be to get the Chautauqua Bell running.
The Chautauqua Belle — the steamship drydocked at Mayville Lakeside Park — has not operated since the 2003 summer season.
The Bemus Point-Stow ferry finally resumed regular operations in late August after repairs and upgrades had been made, largely thanks to Ellery resident John Cheney, a longtime advocate for the attraction. Eager to see the ferry running again, Cheney had the paddle covers replaced, the deck refurbished, the ramps fixed and the tank chambers cleaned out, as well as other labor-intensive upgrades.
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