Son of man killed in mishap sues county

Last July, William Bartoo died in an accident that occured at the landfill on Webster Road in Pomfret. He died suffering extreme injuries after his wife released her foot from the break of their truck, William Bartoo was thrown into a garbage pit near the incident, as well as the truck.
The Dunkirk observer states, “Wesley Bartoo, William Bartoo’s son, was named administrator of the estate of his father on Oct. 7, according to the lawsuit filed Feb. 7 in the Chautauqua County branch of the New York State Supreme Court. Wesley Bartoo is suing the county as a whole, its Department of Public Facilities Solid Waste Division, the county’s Landfill Commission, and the Webster Road landfill itself.”
The website also shares the court filings suggesting: William Bartoos death was a cause of, the negligent, careless, reckless and/or unlawful conduct on the part of defendants… in the ownership, operation, maintenance, management, construction, control and design of the said premises. The garbage pit area and its allegedly “dangerous and hazardous condition” is a specific focus.

Mason Industrial Park Expansion Moving Forward

The proposal to further develop an industrial park in the town of Ellicott is advancing at this time.
The Dunkirk Observer states, “During the Chautauqua County Industrial Development Agency meeting, board members approved a negative declaration for the State Environmental Quality Review at the Mason Industrial Park. By issuing a negative declaration, board members are saying that they believe the proposed project will not have any significant adverse environmental impacts.”
IDA Chief Executive Officer Mark Geise would like to have both phase 1 and 2 of the development ready by May, 2026. Phase 1 is getting the site read for development-The chautauqua county officials would like to have the 66 acres of the property shovel ready.
While the second phase is getting the right infrastructure in place to proceed.
The money for this development is coming from the American Rescue Plan Act funds it received from the federal government following the COVID-19 pandemic which totals to $500,000.
The observer mentions, That the money will be used to extend sewer, water, natural gas to the property, as well as address erosion control and storm water management.

Chautauqua County stories written by Maisie Strader