MAYVILLE – While there is no evidence anything is going to change, a few county lawmakers are expressing concerns about the federal government’s commitment in funding some local bridge repairs.

During the Chautauqua County Legislature meeting, lawmakers were asked to “renew and amend” some resolutions approved in 2024. The request was due to minor changes in the wording of the resolutions.

One resolution was for a bridge replacement on Frew Run Road in the town of Carroll. The bridge work is expected to cost $375,000. The county has agreed to pay for the work and then get 95% reimbursed from the federal government.

A second resolution was for a bridge replacement on Summit Avenue, Lakewood. That replacement is expected to cost $360,000, with the county paying for the work and the federal government reimbursing the county 95% of the cost.

During the full legislature meeting, Legislator Fred Larson, D-Jamestown, questioned if the county will get paid back. “Sadly, we have to consider the possibility that we don’t get the whole 95% federal reimbursement, based on the way federal promises of federal money, employment, and whatnot are being jeopardized at this time,” he said.

Larson voted against the resolution for the Carroll bridge.

When the time came to discuss the vote on the Lakewood bridge replacement resolution, Legislator Fred Johnson, R-Westfield, asked about the possibility of the federal government backing out of reimbursing the county.

Steve Abdella, former county attorney who was at the legislature meeting, noted that the federal government is actually giving the state Department of Transportation and they’re the ones who will reimburse the county.

At the same time, reimbursement is never guaranteed. “It has to be said there is some risk,” Abdella said.

Abdella noted that the legislature has the option of moving forward with the promise to get reimbursed or postpone the work.

For the vote on the Lakewood bridge, Larson and Legislator Tom Carle, R-Fredonia, both voted against the resolution.

Because both resolutions passed, the work will move forward.

A third resolution which is to replace a Central Avenue bridge in Dunkirk over Crooked Brook was unanimously approved. Larson said he was voting in favor of that one because the reimbursement is coming directly from the state and not the federal government,