LITTLE VALLEY — Planned improvements to the Onoville Marina Park this spring including new sidewalks and the demolition of two seasonal bathrooms were approved by Cattaraugus County officials Wednesday.

The county legislature accepted the bid of $102,395 from R. Patti Concrete Excavating of Jamestown for sidewalk improvements as part of the Onoville Marina Park Redevelopment Project, as approved by the Department of Economic Development, Planning & Tourism.

Also accepted was a $13,000 bid from Geiter Done of WNY, of Buffalo, for the demolition and removal of two seasonal bathrooms located at the marina park

These projects would be funded through monies from the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 as part of the COVID-19 pandemic to offset public and economic impacts. Officials said using the funding to cover improvement and rehabilitation projects would benefit county residents.

Authorization of a contract extension with Edgewater Resources of St. Joseph, Mich., for planning and engineering services related to the Dock System Redesign Project at the marina was also approved.

FORMER U.S. Rep. Joe Sempolinski addressed the legislature on happenings in the state and his campaign for the 148th Assembly District.

“Because of certain paperwork that was filed in Albany a few weeks ago, I am no longer (Assemblyman Joseph Giglio’s) chief of staff,” he told legislators. “I was chief of staff when what should have been the end of the fiscal year, but that went a little bit awry.”

Sempolinski said things in Albany are not done as efficiently as they are in Cattaraugus County’s legislative chamber, receiving a shout of, “You can say that again.”

The Republican candidate for 148th said although the state budget did eventually pass, it came in at $237 billion, which he claimed is more than Texas ($144 billion) and Florida ($117.5 billion) combined despite both those states having a greater population than New York.

“It is a situation where I wish there was more of the good ideas that we have here in Cattaraugus County taking place and taking root in Albany than there has been,” he said.

Sempolinski also noted some of the positives to come out of the budget, such as in education funding. He said there were concerns about the removal of the Save Harmless protections and the aid cuts that could ensue.

“That would have affected about half the school districts in this particular Assembly district,” he said. “There was pushback especially from rural Republicans but also from Democrats on that front.”

Sempolinski concluded by saying it was a profound honor to represent the county as a former U.S. congressman and looks forward to continuing working with the county officials.

ALSO OF NOTE:

For the Department of Aging kitchen in Allegany, the legislature authorized purchasing and installing a walk-in freezer for $36,722.18 from Supplies on the Fly.

For the Pines Healthcare and Rehabilitation Center in Machias, the legislature authorized the purchase of two bathing tubs along with installation and maintenance services for $35,014.48 from ARJO Inc. of Addison, Ill.

Also for the Pines, the Department of Nursing Homes desires to work with Western Governors University for training and educational field experience programs for nursing students who would benefit from placement experience at both Machias and Olean campuses.

Although the approved contract was for the Department of Nursing Homes, additional contracts may be made if other county departments wish to participate in a field experience program with the university.

For the Department of Social Services, a contract with Cattaraugus Community Action for the provision of Third-Party Reviewer services in an amount not to exceed $35,082 to be paid monthly was approved. It runs from May 1 to April 30, 2025.

Third-Party Reviewer facilitates meetings between birth parents of children in foster care, the department caseworker, attorneys, foster parents and service providers to assess the efforts and progress made by the Department of Social Services and the birth parents to achieve the goal of safely returning the child to the birth parents’ care. The program is funded 62% by the state and 38% by the county.