The Town and Village of Middleburgh continue to explore the possibility of a joint highway department facility after getting cost estimate from their architect..
Officials received a $16,000 state grant last year to study the feasibility of a combined facility as well as the advantages of combining the departments.
The main point of combining the facilities would be to get the village’s equipment out of their current garage which has been flooded several times.
The options for a shared facility, according to the report prepared by architects Barton & Loguidice, would be an addition to the current town barn on Cotton Hill Road or the use of the town garage across the road.
The architects recommended adding two bays to the existing town barn along with a new break/lunch area.
The addition would give the town six service bays and the village three.
The cost estimate to convert the unheated town garage into a building to be used by the village highway department would be about $216,000, the architects said.
This would include adding a bathroom, new septic system, wall and roof insulation, mechanical equipment, a vehicle exhaust system and insulated overhead doors.
There were two options for an addition to the town barn.
Adding 2,500 square feet to the town barn would cost about $375,000, the architects said.
This plan assumes that MEVAC will remain at the location.
The cost would include a new septic system, a new metal roof over the entire building, and an addition which would include 2,000 square feet in bays and 500 square feet in office space.
If MEVAC is relocated to another building in the village, n addition to the town barn would cost about $270,000, the architects said.
The current village garage could be used to store trucks, plows and other out of season equipment that would not be damaged if there was a flood, according to the report. The building could also be taken down for more parking.
Trustee Gerald Bowman wondered about the availability of grants for the work.
Town Supervisor Dennis Richards told members of both boards to read the report and e-mail the mayor and him with comments.
Dale Nunamann, who is the head of both the town and village highway crews, said there would be some savings, noting the cost of heating fuel at the village garage, which has little insulation.
Board members also discussed having both crews start from the town barn in the morning.
No decision was made but it could be done on a trial basis.
Some issues have to be worked out including that there is a time clock for town workers but not in the village, the crews start at different times and work on different days in the summer.
Mr. Richards said the boards have to be creative and need to look at all areas to save money.
“We are doing everything we can together in the taxpayers’ best interest,” he said. “Let’s see where it goes.”