County Presented Strategic Facilities Plan Outlining Condition of Buildings and Addressing Space Needs

County Presented Strategic Facilities Plan
Outlining Condition of Buildings and Addressing Space Needs
By: Nick Altmire (nick@linkinglewiscounty.com)
04/04/18 10:00am

Shop for 2016 NFL Drafted Player Jerseys at NFLShop.com

Google Suggested Content:

linkinglewiscounty.com

Lewis County's 24/7 Home for News,
Sports, Weather, Events & More

ARCHIVES | ADVERTISE | CONTACT

LEWIS CO. BUSINESS DIRECTORY

MEMBERS | SHOP | CLASSIFIED ADS

owville, NY-

Lewis County Legislators were presented with the long

anticipated Strategic Facilities Plan on Tuesday afternoon, by representatives of

BCA Architects and Engineers. The board commissioned the study in September

at a cost of $48,000.

The plan looks at the various County departments housed in County-owned and

leased facilities, focusing on the current and proposed department space needs,

the current condition of County-owned facilities and future capital needs for

renovated or new County facilities.

County-owned buildings include the Old Courthouse Building on N. State St., the

Department of Social Services Building and the Public Safety building, both on

Outer Stowe St., the Highway Garage building and the Solid Waste Transfer

Station. The County leases space at the Lowville Commons Building on S. State

St., the Industrial Development Agency building on N. State St., the Department

of Motor Vehicles building on State Route 12 and space at Lewis County

General Hospital.

The study found that the majority of departments currently have adequate space,

although the quality of the space in some cases is not what it should be. Some

departments could benefit from more efficient space organization, while others

could benefit from being consolidated or co-located with other departments, the

study suggests. A complete renovation of the DSS building is suggested.

RECOMMENDATIONS IN THE STUDY BY BUILDING:

Old Courthouse Building:

The study indicates that the building is well

maintained and is in good condition, functioning well for the departments

currently located there. Some departments could be relocated to a different

location for efficiency, but overall it is suggested the County continue to upgrade

and maintain the building. The capital outlay portion of the study estimates

approximately $327,000 will be needed over the next five years for upgrading

and maintaining the building.

Public Safety Building:

The Public Safety Building should be maintained by the

county with recommended systems updates as part of a future capital project.

The study also notes that there is a need for an impoundment area for the Sheriff

to use, a need for additional storage as well as some site work that should be

done. The capital outlay estimates costs to upgrade over the next five years at

$1,040,000.

Department of Social Services (DSS) Building:

The study notes that this

building is nearly 30 years old and its systems need to be completely renovated

to extend the useful life of the building. Options outlined include a complete

renovation of the building for DSS or other County departments, or the

construction of a new building, specific to the needs of DSS. A new DSS building

could be built adjacent to the existing building, according to the study, while the

existing building could house departments currently in leased spaces, such as

the DMV, Board of Elections, Office for the Aging and Community Services. The

capital outlay estimates the cost of renovating the existing building at

$3,510,000, with the cost of a new building estimated at $11.5 based on design

plans the County had prepared in 2012.

Highway Department:

The Highway Department has outgrown its main

Highway Garage building, the report states. The sign shop is in fair condition,

with the cold storage shed failing. There is also a need for additional fuel pumps.

The study suggests that the County consider keeping the building for warm

vehicle storage. Recommended options include building an addition to

consolidate the sign and welding shops and provide more warm and cold storage

adjacent to the existing building or to build a new building on the site of the

existing cold storage building that is failing. The capital outlay estimated costs

over the next five years at $2,536,000 for upgrades at the Highway Department.

Solid Waste Transfer Station in Lowville:

The study recommends renovating

the staff area and the installation of a fire alarm system. Estimated costs for

upgrades are $40,000 over the next five years.

Leased Properties:

The study recommends relocating departments in the

Lowville Commons Building to a County owned facility, noting the departments

there are in very inefficient space. The County should consider moving the

Department of Motor Vehicles to another site owned by the county, the report

suggests, stating the building is remote and only marginally functional for its use.

The study recommends that the Industrial Development Agency stay in their

leased building.

If the County decides to implement all of the recommended renovations and

upgrades over the next five years, it would cost an estimated $10.5 - $11 million.

If they decide to incorporate a new DSS building to the plan it would add an

additional $11.5 million.

Legislators requested a few revisions to the report. After receiving a final version

of the study, legislators will need to decide on establishing a five year facilities

plan and how the plan will be funded.

You can view full video of the presentation below: