Bill Ward - Your Voice in Mayville

12/02/2025

If you are planning on having any insulation work done, or buying new appliances or battery-powered lawn maintenance products, make sure that you look into the IEEP rebate program. While there are standard amounts for appliances, etc, there is up to 75% rebate available through this program for insulation work.
The best way to get this process started is to call the toll-free number 833.239.0164.

The IEEP offers its New York municipal utility members the opportunity to “tailor-make” an energy efficiency program built to the specific needs of that system. The breadth and depth of the utilities’ commitment to energy efficiency grows significantly each year.

10/22/2025

I will confess to confusion as to which "trails" we are referring when the conversation turns to Lakeside Park improvements.
We had a specific conversation about them at this meeting and I was told out loud that they would not be black-topped. THE NEXT DAY, the only ones under construction were surfaced with black top. When I displayed my displeasure with that, I was told that those weren't the ones we were talking about.
I was involved in conversation about the "spur" between the Belle area and the crosswalk, and agreed that that section should be black-topped because of the snowmobile traffic, etc. but I made it clear I was against non-porous surfaces anywhere else.
This is a shame.

09/06/2025

Cute catchphrases like, "keep the lake a lake" are effective, if not completely scientifically inaccurate. I know science is hard, but my friend Twan Leenders has given us a primer on the real biology of one of our most precious resources. It's a good read, please take a moment.
Let's adopt a more accurate catchphrase:
"Keep the Lake Alive."

07/22/2025

Wednesday, July 23 | 12:15 PM to 1:45 PM | Smith Wilkes Hall at Chautauqua Institution

Host:
Mark Wenzler, Chautauqua Climate Change Initiative

National perspectives:
Erin Sprague, CEO, Protect Our Winters
Auden Schendler, former head of sustainability, Aspen One

Regional perspectives:
Barb Pump, Executive Director of the Ellicottville Chamber of Commerce
Brian Pender, President of the Mayville Chamber of Commerce
Bill Ward, Board President of Chautauqua County Rails to Trails and Chair of the Chautauqua County Visitors Bureau

07/08/2025

05/23/2025

05/16/2025

Well done, Chautauqua and Mayville. We are leading the way in this effort to keep our drinking water sources safe. Every single other Lakeside community needs to ask their governing bodies why they don't do the same thing.

I just read "Chautauqua, Mayville Join Drinking Water Source Protection Program" on MyNews.OnTheGo

05/01/2025

The Village of Mayville is in the Town of Chautauqua, and is the county seat of Chautauqua County. The Village Office is located on South Erie Street across from the Village Green. Population...

04/19/2025

Mayville Awarded $7.5M For Contaminated Wells
By Gregory Bacon

Mayville is getting some major funding for its water system that, untreated, has traces of "forever chemicals" in it.

Gov. Kathy Hochul announced this week that the village of Mayville has been awarded $7.5 million grant and interest-free financing package for the installation of a new groundwater well and/or installation of treatment for the existing well that is currently contaminated with perfluorononanoic acid, sometimes referred to as PFOA.

The Environmental Facilities Corporation Board of Directors approved over $175 million in financial assistance for water infrastructure improvement projects across the state. Mayville was the only Western New York project to get any funding.

"An investment in our state's water systems is an investment in New Yorkers' quality of life - from safeguarding our drinking water to protecting the rivers and lakes we use for recreation," Hochul said in a news release. "By ensuring communities have the resources they need to complete crucial water infrastructure projects, we can create good-paying jobs and boost local economies while working toward a healthy environment for all New Yorkers."

In December, 2020, Chautauqua County issued a "do not drink" order to village residents after samples indicated the presence of PFNA at levels between 75 and 330 parts per trillion. The order was lifted two weeks later after the village put a new well on line and finished flushing its tank.

Since then, Mayville put a filtering system on one of its wells and is in the process of putting another filtering system on a different contaminated well.

Mayor Rick Syper said Friday the village's engineers were aware of this announcement before it was made. The village has been actively seeking various funding sources.

Last month the state Department of Environmental Conservation announced it would be testing the soil around the Chautauqua Municipal Building and other areas in the village for PFNA. Afterward, it would be developing a plan which could include removing some of the contaminated soil.

The village water became infected with the PFNA after a firefighting foam exercise was held on the grounds of the municipal building, which is the former Mayville school building. It is believed the foam went into the ground and the chemicals spread to the wells.

The DEC's testing is designed to see how far the contaminants spread.

01/11/2025

The village of Mayville and Inspire Good of Western New York are pleased to announce that the Mayville Winter Festival will happen the weekend of
February 14th through 16.
With a host of activities in Lakeside Park and throughout the Town of Chautauqua, the festival will indeed return for 2025.
A Village wide music festival, food and drink experience, expanded uptown business hours, and the world famous Mayville Ice Castle (weather permitting) will be just a few of the attractions featured at this year's event.
A detailed schedule will be released next week In a press release and will be posted on the Mayville Village website. It will also be available on the event's page.

There are still opportunities to participate and sponsor by calling 716 -753-4129.